Ugly problem, simple solution

Jennifer Miller has an article in the Delaware County Daily Times about the recent spate of arson in Coatesville:

Representatives from local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies said Monday afternoon they are doing everything possible to stop what seems like a never-ending string of city arsons and to prosecute anyone eventually held responsible. District Attorney Joseph Carroll, State Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski, and Special Agent in Charge Mark Potter of the BATF&E joined city Police Chief William Matthews at a news conference in City Hall and attempted to reassure the public that all possible resources are being used. The conference was held a day after a suspicious fire destroyed fifteen row homes in the 300 block of Fleetwood Street, adding to roughly thirty other city fires under investigation, nearly half of which have occurred in the last three weeks.
The high-ranking law enforcement officials also wanted to show the public agencies are indeed working together no matter what some skeptical residents may believe. “I want to assure you, the Coatesville Police Department is not alone in this,” Matthews said. Pawlowski, a Chester County resident, said Governor Ed Rendell had called him Sunday night to discuss what the state police could offer Coatesville and had asked him to meet with Matthews. “Governor Rendell is very concerned for the safety of citizens, and he understands the fear of the citizens,” Pawlowski said.
Earlier Monday, infuriated residents poured into City Hall, expecting city officials to brief them on the arson investigation. While city officials responded to demands Sunday and answered residents’ questions after they stormed City Hall, by Monday afternoon officials were less accommodating and told residents to return Monday night during a City Council meeting.
About noon, reporters and cameramen followed roughly fifty residents inside City Hall as they attempted to force city officials into holding an impromptu meeting. The demands worked on Sunday, with Matthews, City Manager Harry Walker and City Council arriving at City Hall to address an unruly and angry crowd of more than a hundred citizens. But about 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Walker entered City Council chambers, where residents were grilling City Councilman Kareem Johnson, and stood on a chair to announce no formal meeting had been scheduled and city officials would not be answering questions. “Right now your government is working very hard on this to curb and suppress the outbreak of arsons,” Walker said. “No meeting has been called officially by this city. We are not prepared to have a meeting.” Walker told residents they could attend Monday night’s City Council meeting, where the arsons would be the focal point. While state police fire marshals have assisted from the early stages, Pawlowski said state police have increased the number of their investigators and offered technology and other investigative tools. Additionally, Potter said, ATF has offered its “unique investigative expertise to assist our partners”. Potter said the ATF, state police, district attorney’s office, and Coatesville Police Department are unified and on the same page. “We will work together day and night to assist the investigation,” Potter said.
Carroll, who recently moved to the city, previously sent his detectives to the city to assist with the arson investigation on which they continue to work. “All law enforcement agencies recognize the significance of what’s going on here in Coatesville,” Carroll said. “Everything is being done that can possibly be done by law enforcement at this point.” Carroll warned residents not to patrol the neighborhoods at night because it could actually hinder investigators’ efforts to identify criminals. Instead, Carroll advised residents to be vigilant from their homes and report any suspicious people immediately. The news conference offered reassurance to the public that investigators have a handle on the situation.
Matthews said the combination of resources and investigators is not a recent development and the team effort was launched prior to the weekend’s devastating arson that destroyed fifteen homes. But, while the city has logged more than thirty arsons since late 2007, only in the last several weeks did the city call in the ATF. Matthews also addressed the public’s recent criticism over his failure in the last twenty months to launch an organized Town Watch, a project on which he has repeatedly said he has been working. “We are going to implement a viable Town Watch program. We have hundreds of citizens willing and able to help,” Matthews said. “Until it is organized, I’m asking citizens to be on alert.”
To foster a quicker responses to arsons, officials released a phone number for a roving police patrol supervisor during late evening and early morning hours. Residents can call 610.636.0514 to report suspicious activity. The Citizens Crime Commission is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the fires. The Citizens Crime Commission tip line is 215.546.TIPS.

Rico says a Town Watch is good, but an alert citizen with a big ol' shotgub will do more to bring this arson binge to an end than anything else...