Lodi bomb squad goes through rigorous training
-
Print
-
Create a hardcopy of this page
-
Font Size:
-
Default font size
-
Larger font size
Posted: Sunday, March 16, 2008 10:00 pm
Lodi bomb squad goes through rigorous training
The history of bomb squads in the U.S. dates back to World War
II in the early 1940s. Early bomb squads had the responsibility of
disarming unexploded military ordnance on the battlefields. In
1992, the Lodi Police Department developed the Bomb/Arson Unit to
handle explosive devices and suspicious items.
The Bomb Unit deals with live explosives such as dynamite,
modified hand grenades and improvised pipe bombs. They also
investigate and handle suspicious devices and packages.
Members of the Lodi Police Bomb Unit attend school in
Huntsville, Ala. on the U.S. Army base Redstone Arsenal. This joint
Army-FBI training facility is called the Hazardous Devices School
(HDS) and lasts six weeks. The training must be successfully
completed before the student may graduate and earn the title of
Bomb Technician.
The Basic HDS course includes: robotics; booby traps;
commercial, improvised and military explosives; x-ray use and
interpretation; electronics; chemical and biological weapons;
hazardous materials; and personal protective equipment. This
training is intense, and a passing grade is required on all
subjects. If a student fails to meet standards, they are sent home.
Bomb technicians are required to attend recertification classes in
Alabama every three years to maintain their accreditation.
The Lodi PD Bomb Unit is also associated with the San Joaquin
Metro Bomb Squad. The Metro Squad consists of officers from Lodi
PD, the San Joaquin Sheriff's Dept., Stockton PD and Manteca PD.
All participating bomb technicians have attended the same HDS
training and work together on emergency calls involving explosive
ordinances.
After each bomb technician has completed the Basic HDS, they are
allowed to wear a unique badge known as the EOD (Explosive Ordnance
Disposal) "crab." This qualification badge has been adapted by
civilian bomb squads from their military counterparts. Each part of
the "crab" has a significant meaning:
- The wreath is symbolic of the achievements and laurels gained
in minimizing incidents through the ingenuity and devotion to duty
of its members. It is in memory of those EOD members who gave their
lives while performing EOD duties.
- The bomb is copied from the design of the WWII Bomb Disposal
badge, and represents the historic and major objective of the EOD
mission: the unexploded bomb. The three fins represent the major
areas of nuclear, conventional and chemical/biological
interest.
- Lightning bolts symbolize the potential destructive power of
the bomb and the courage and professionalism of EOD personnel.
- The shield represents the EOD mission - to prevent a detonation
and protect the surrounding area and property.
Bomb squad members are also part of the Fire Investigation Unit.
Along with trained members of the Lodi Fire Dept., the bomb
technicians jointly investigate fires with major property damage or
when a death is involved. This cooperative venture has been very
successful in the investigation and prosecution of several subjects
responsible for setting fires within the city of Lodi.
There are several mottos associated with EOD units, but the
original motto still has the most meaning: "Initial success or
total failure." The EOD team t-shirts we wear have another saying:
"If you see me running, try to keep up."
Sergeant Dale Miller has been a member of the Lodi EOD Team
since 1992.
Questions, comments or advice for Behind the Badge can be
e-mailed to jbiskup@pd.lodi.gov, mailed to
Jeanie Biskup, Lodi Police Department, 215 West Elm Street, Lodi,
CA 95240, phone 333-6864.
Posted in
Guest columnists
on
Sunday, March 16, 2008 10:00 pm.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thanks for visiting Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 free articles every 30 days. You will see 10 articles for free before being asked to register, and then you can view 10 additional articles by registering or logging in. Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thanks for visiting Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 free articles every 30 days, and you currently have (%remaining%) free articles remaining ((%remaining_reg%) before being asked to register and (%remaining_sub%) before being asked to subscribe). Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thanks for visiting Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 free articles every 30 days, and you currently have (%remaining%) free articles remaining ((%remaining_reg%) before being asked to register and (%remaining_sub%) before being asked to subscribe). Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thanks for visiting Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 free articles every 30 days, and you currently have (%remaining%) total free articles remaining ((%remaining_reg%) before being asked to register and (%remaining_sub%) before being asked to subscribe). Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thank you for reading Lodinews.com. You have viewed (%viewed%) of your 20 free pages in 30 days. Please login or register at this time and enjoy the next (%remaining%) articles free of charge. After your 20 free articles, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thank you for reading Lodinews.com. Because you have already viewed this article, you may view it again as many times as you would like without subtracting from your remaining free article views.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thank you for registering on Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 articles for free every 30 days, and you currently have (%remaining%) remaining. Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thank you for reading Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 articles for free every 30 days, and you currently have (%remaining%) remaining. Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thank you for reading Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 articles for free every 30 days, and you currently have (%remaining%) remaining. Then, if you enjoy our site and want full access, we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thank you for reading Lodinews.com. You're entitled to view 20 articles for free every 30 days. This is your last free article this period. On your next article we'll ask you to purchase an affordable subscription.
(%remaining%) Remaining
Thank you for reading 20 free articles on our site. You can come back at the end of your 30-day period for another 20 free articles, or you can purchase a subscription at this time and continue to enjoy valuable local news and information. If you need help, please contact our office at 209-369-2761.
posted at 4:15 am on Fri, Mar 21, 2008.
It seems Lodi has a really BIG problem.
Should we go stalk up on shells and dig a bunker?
How about just plain WORK EXPERENCE for them. Is that possible?
Watch for "blogger hater name caller guy" He's gonna post in a minute here.
posted at 4:47 pm on Wed, Mar 19, 2008.
max stanfield: You are correct on many levels! Wish Chief Main would read this! But WE DO NEED EOD! We also need SWAT, although the Jacob Albert Torrez proved them to be lousy shots and cost us millions.
I support LPD 100%! I just wish they could shoot better. Hopefully their bomb disposal has a higher rate of doing a proficient job!
posted at 2:59 pm on Wed, Mar 19, 2008.
My friend Todd said good luck getting the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department to show up for anything.
posted at 6:02 pm on Tue, Mar 18, 2008.
Leonard, I'm sure the S.J. Sheriffs dept. has a bomb expert who could be here in similar time. And they could also mobilize a S.W.A.T. team quickly. This is nothing more than a continuing inefficient use of public funds. Keep grabbing those ankles.
posted at 5:17 am on Tue, Mar 18, 2008.
Max: When you have a bomb somewhere, it is a little late to head out to Alabama for six weeks of training.
posted at 4:05 pm on Mon, Mar 17, 2008.
Good program, good training, best to get ready. but, How many bombs has lodi had in the last 20 years ?? Shouldnt the focus of the police department be on real problems? LIKE GANGSTERS, PREVERTS, LOOSERS, BOTTOM FEEDERS, GARBAGE PEOPLE, SCUM, ROBBERS, ASSAULTERS, BURGLERS, THEFT'ERS, RAPISTS, AND A BAG LIST OF SCUM. yOU NAME IT, WE HAVE THEM. Why worry about a bomb that never showed up, never went off ???? GAWD THIS IS AN EASY CALL.