NCJ Number
62504
Journal
Police Times Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1975) Pages: 1,4-5,8-10
Date Published
1975
Length
6 pages
Annotation
HANDLING BOMB CALLS, PREPARATION FOR BOMB THREATS, EVACUATION TECHNIQUES, WRITTEN THREATS, BOMB SEARCH TECHNIQUES, BUILDINGS PRESENTING SPECIAL PROBLEMS, AND MEDIA RELATIONS DURING THE CRISIS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
A BOMB THREAT SERVES ONE OF TWO PURPOSES. EITHER THE CALLER HAS DEFINITE KNOWLEDGE OF EXPLOSIVE PLACEMENT AND WANTS TO MINIMIZE PERSONAL INJURY OR THE CALLER WANTS TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF ANXIETY AND PANIC WHICH WILL DISRUPT NORMAL ACTIVITIES. FOR ALL ORGANIZATIONS, LINES OF AUTHORITY AND PLANS MUST BE MADE IN ADVANCE TO HANDLE BOMB THREATS. A CONTROL CENTER SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED, AND MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO OPERATE THE CENTER SHOULD HAVE DECISIONMAKING AUTHORITY. THE MOST SERIOUS DECISION IS WHETHER TO EVACUATE IN THE EVENT OF A BOMB THREAT. MANAGEMENT'S FIRST CONCERN MUST BE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE. TEST RUNS SHOULD BE MADE TO MINIMIZE CONFUSION. PREPARATION STEPS SHOULD INCLUDE CONTACTING THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE AVAILABILITY OF BOMB DISPOSAL UNITS. PACKAGES SHOULD BE INSPECTED ON ARRIVAL; THE BUILDING SHOULD BE INSPECTED FOR AREAS WHERE A BOMB COULD BE PLACED, SUCH AS ELEVATOR SHAFTS AND CEILING AREAS. SECURITY PERSONNEL MUST BE ALERT FOR UNFAMILIAR PERSONS OR OBJECTS. IN ADDITION, CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED, AND AN EVACUATION UNIT CONSISTING OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL MUST HAVE ADEQUATE TRAINING. WHEN A BOMB THREAT IS CALLED IN, EVERY WORD SHOULD BE RECORDED AND THE CALLER KEPT ON THE LINE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. WHEN THE THREAT IS WRITTEN, ALL MATERIALS INCLUDING THE ENVELOPE SHOULD BE SAVED FOR ANALYSIS. BOMB SEARCH TECHNIQUES USUALLY INVOLVE TWO TWO-MAN TEAMS; THE FIRST TEAM WILL ENTER THE ROOM AND LISTEN FOR CLOCKWORK MECHANISMS; THE SECOND TEAM WILL DIVIDE THE ROOM BY SECTIONS AND BY HEIGHT AND CONDUCT THE SEARCH. AREAS WHICH OFTEN CREATE SPECIAL PROBLEMS FOR THE SEARCH TEAMS INCLUDE SCHOOLS, CHEMISTRY LABORATORIES, OFFICE BUILDINGS, CONVENTION HALLS, AND AIRPORT TERMINALS. ALL INQUIRIES BY THE NEWS MEDIA MUST BE DIRECTED TO ONE APPOINTED SPOKESMAN TO ENSURE ACCURACY OF STATEMENTS. (LWM)