NCJ Number
175811
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 25 Issue: 6 Dated: June 1998 Pages: 42-44-48
Date Published
1998
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Domestic terrorism is on the rise in the United States, and the operation of bomb squads by police departments is becoming more costly.
Abstract
Due to the expense of establishing and maintaining a complete bomb squad, not every police department has one. As government downsizing continues, bomb squads have to be careful how they deploy their resources. Some bomb squads have other duties within the police department and respond as a bomb squad when needed. For example, Chicago's bomb squad is a full-time unit while Miami's bomb squad has other duties. The primary goal of any bomb squad is to eliminate the danger without risk to human life. Sometimes, that means defusing a bomb on the premises or removing the bomb to a remote location and blowing it up. Bomb squads must keep current with technology and must receive proper training. Most bomb squads are trained with the military at the Hazardous Devices School at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Because domestic terrorism is in the public eye more than ever, bomb squads have to be vigilant and plan an appropriate course of action in the event of a bomb threat. 2 photographs