Mission Statement

Provide support and assistance to local municipalities in determining origin and cause of significant fires and fatalities within stricken jurisdiction throughout the south suburbs of Cook and Will County.

Establish and maintain available resources to include qualified investigators, equipment and resources from participating fire and police agencies combining the collective strengths under one unified team while allowing them to maintain their autonomy bringing together the best investigative talent from the participating jurisdictions.

Provide the mutual aid to those departments requesting task force assistance by providing available resources and expertise from the participating agencies in determining origin and cause while combating the crime of arson and accomplishing successful prosecution of the arsonist.

History

The tasks force was formed in the fall of 2001. The task force was comprised of the six original founding fire departments which include Alsip FD, Crestwood FD, East Joliet FPD, Frankfort FPD, Homer FPD, and Orland FPD and two participating police agencies; Orland Hills PD, and Palos Park PD.

In the spring of 2002, Lt. William Leddin, Arson Investigator with Orland FPD was appointed as the Task Force Commander. Under Commander Leddin’s leadership the task force continued to expand to include ATF, Cook County States Attorney Arson Prosecution Unit and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police.

Due to the rapid growth and acceptance of the task force concept a governing board was created consisting of representatives from each of the six participating fire and police departments and representatives from ATF and Cook County States Attorney Arson Prosecution Unit.

In 2004 the task force under went another expansion to include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Will County States Attorney and Will County Sheriff Police Investigations.

2005 due to the increasing growth of the task force the Executive Governing Board approved expanding the task force command structure to include four Deputy Commanders. The four Deputy Commanders took responsibility over training and education, equipment and records; inter-governmental Liaison and K-9 units.

Today

The task force has expanded to 108 participating federal, state, county, municipal police and fire departments throughout the south suburbs. The current command structure includes a Commander, four Deputy Commanders, five M.A.B.A.S. Division Advisors, six Training Officers and three Coordinators.

The governing board consists of one Representative from each of the five participating M.A.B.A.S. Divisions, representatives from three participating municipal police departments, Cook and Will County States Attorneys Office, Illinois State Fire Marshals Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Department of Justice Alcohol Tobacco and Fire Arms.

Training

The goal of the task force training division is to provide the highest quality of training and continuing education available to each investigator through monthly training and quarterly training seminars. The training division is responsible to keep all the participating investigators apprised of the latest innovative and investigative techniques, providing didactic, demonstrative and practical experiences.

Training is held on the third Thursday of every month starting 7:00 pm to 10:00pm at the Tinley Park Police Department located at 7840 W. 183rd street, Tinley Park, Illinois.. Monthly and quarterly seminars are open to all certified fire, arson and law enforcement investigators throughout the state and metropolitan areas.

Proven Success

Since our conception in fall of 2001 the South Suburban Fire Investigation Task Force has responded to numerous requests for assistance resulting in the arrest and successful prosecution of several arsonists. Trained over 30 new fire and arson investigators; provided hundreds of hours in continuing education, seminars and practical experience to participating investigators.

Membership

The South Suburban Fire Investigation Task Force is composed of elite personnel chosen and assigned to the task force by the Executive Governing Board. Applicants must be an Illinois Stated Certified Fire or Arson Investigator or Illinois State Certified Police Officer; active member in good standing of a recognized fire or police department; no felony convictions; recommended for membership by the Chief of assigned department.

Members failing to meet the minimum requirements and standards for the membership will be removed from the task force upon recommendation by Task Force Commander and the Executive Governing Board.

Response Criteria

An investigation by the South Suburban Fire Investigation Task Force is initiated when a Fire or Police Department Incident Commander requests either by direct call out or through a mutual aid response/box alarm assignment.

Task Force requests are initiated by contacting the
Orland Central Dispatch Communications Center at (708)349-3121

The following criteria for call outs include but not limited to:

1. Great Bodily Injury, significant or debilitating injury or fatalities involving firefighters, police or civilians.
2. Multiple fatalities
3. Large Commercial Structures involving fire or explosion.
4. Multiple working fires within the same jurisdiction or MABAS Division
5. Large fire losses requiring additional investigators and equipment
6. Serial arsons occurring within a given jurisdiction or MABAS Division
7. Mutual Aid request from a non participating agency meeting the above criteria.

Initial Response

Task Force Commander(s) or On Call Division Designee(s)

Second Alarm Assignment

Team response designated by the number of investigators or equipment requested to the scene by Incident Command and Task Force Commander

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