NCJ Number
193276
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 69 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2002 Pages: 60-62
Date Published
2002
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the lessons learned by the Virginia Tech Police Department as a consequence of a suspected bomb in a men’s restroom of the campus library.
Abstract
On October 11, 2001, one month after the terrorist events in the United States, a suspected bomb was detected at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). To further complicate the situation, a powdery white substance discharged from the device. While the suspicious device would later prove to be a hoax, a review of the police, public health, and university personnel after the discovery of the bomb revealed some important lessons about emergency response on campus. These actions fall into several categories: 1) Jurisdiction--several jurisdictions were represented and each agency had expertise and resources to offer. In these circumstances, it may not be clear who is in charge. Because the event took place on university property, jurisdiction fell to the Virginia Tech Police Department. However, the chief of police at Virginia Tech deferred to the expertise of Virginia State Police Lieutenant Jim Ruhland, a trained bomb technician. 2) Secondary response--the State police obtained resources from throughout the State. The bomb technicians, bomb disposal unit, and bomb technician canines were asked to respond. Response time was slow because several State police officers from the area were attending a training session in emergency and bomb response. 3) Possible hazmat situation--confusion in protocol and differing policies of the State police and FBI caused a delay in deploying needed resources to address a possible hazmat situation. 4) Media response-due to the heightened sense of awareness of possible terrorist attacks, this incident received national attention. A staging area for the media was established. 5) Liaison to key officials-the police chief and university relations department kept the lines of communication open with top university officials. In conclusion, the response to this incident was an educational experience. The police department is now working on mutual aid agreements and establishing a multijurisdictional protocol.