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So far, East Lansing Police Department hasn't needed its arson reward fund

October 8, 2015
<p>East Lansing Police Department on Aug. 29, 2015. Courtney Kendler/The State News</p>

East Lansing Police Department on Aug. 29, 2015. Courtney Kendler/The State News

Photo by Courtney Kendler | The State News

After the East Lansing Police Department announced it would be giving hefty rewards for those who reported individuals setting couch fires, the ELPD has had no incidences of related arson for the past two football weekends, according to an ELPD statement.

The City of East Lansing has dedicated a reward fund in which those who report arsonists would be given about $200 to $400 depending on the level of information given and the severity of the incident.

Not a dime of that money needed to be handed out, after zero intentionally set furniture, dumpster or trash fires were set in public places.

"ELPD continues to stress that these intentionally set fires are extremely dangerous for the public as well as first responders with the East Lansing Fire Department and ELPD," the statement read.

East Lansing set aside money for the police after meetings with city manager George Lahanas and interim chief Jeff Murphy as a sort of pre-emptive move to prevent these fires, ELPD Lt. Scott Wrigglesworth said.

He also said there's not enough evidence to say if the policy acted as a deterrent or if there were other reasons why there were no fires set.

The move took place after ELPD responded to seven purposefully set fires during the MSU vs. Oregon game. Wrigglesworth said the number of these incidents police and fire departments have to deal with at night makes it take that much longer to respond to genuine emergencies. 

There is the possibility that if the money is not used for rewards it could be directed elsewhere by the city, since it wouldn't make sense to keep a significant amount of money stagnant if it wasn't being used, Wrigglesworth said.

"It's a double-edged sword," he said, adding hopefully the money wouldn't need to be used, but it would be helpful if it was ever needed.

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