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City Hall175 East 200 NorthSt. George, UT 84770(435) 627-4000
| November 21, 2009 |
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Suspicious Packages and Bomb Threats
Sgt. Hal Carlson With the changes that we are going through in our world, more attention is being placed on the possibility of a terrorist act here in the United States. My assignment with the Police Department is the Emergency Services Coordinator, I also happen to be a bomb technician and HAZMAT technician. One of my recent assignments as a bomb technician was to teach city employees what to do with a suspicious package. We thought it might be a good idea to let the public know also. It would be best to tell you how a bomb technician categorizes packages. There are three types of packages; an unattended package, a suspicious package, and a confirmed improvised explosive device. An unattended package is just that: a package that has been left behind and there is nothing about it that makes it suspicious, except that it has been left there. This can be a backpack, a book bag, lunch box, briefcase, or anything. It happens all the time and anywhere. Book bags are left on school busses. Briefcases are left in courtrooms. Anywhere a person can go, they can leave something behind. You handle an unattended package just like we always have. Start by asking people in the area if the package belongs to them or if they know who the owner is. If no one knows anything about the package you open it up and see if there is any information inside that tells you who the owner is. Once you can identify the owner, you try and return the package to them. A suspicious package is an unattended package that for some reason the circumstances surrounding the package are suspicious. If you were to receive a bomb threat and then find an unattended package, that would be suspicious. If the package is marked differently, looks as if it has been placed there on purpose, or maybe you have just fired an employee. These things could make the package suspicious. So, now you have a suspicious package: what do you do? First thing, DON'T TOUCH IT. Touching it could set it off, if it even is a device. Ask people if they know who owns it or if they know where it came from, without touching it. If you cannot find the owner, isolate the package by clearing people out of the area and not allowing any one to enter the area. A general rule for a safe distance is 300' and behind cover. Then, call the Bomb Squad. If you come across an IED, (Improvised Explosive Device) something that you know is a bomb because you were able to see some of the components or somehow you just know it is one, do the same as you would with a suspicious package, evacuate the area and call the Bomb Squad. Make sure that whoever saw the package stays in the safe area so the bomb technicians can talk with them once we arrive. We are going to want them to give us as many details about the package as they can. If you receive a bomb threat, we will have you take us on a “tour” of the location. We don’t know what is supposed to be there and what isn’t. You should be or become familiar with everything in your business or work area. Keep it free from clutter so that you can readily identify out of place or suspicious items. To contact the Bomb Squad simply call St. George Police Department. The St. George Police Department Bomb Squad is the only bomb squad in the state that is south of Utah County. Our bomb squad is responsible for handling all the explosive/bomb calls in six counties; Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver, Garfield, and Piute. We have all the equipment necessary to handle the calls. We have bomb suits, x-ray equipment, and a robot. This last year all eight of the bomb squads in Utah got robots on a grant. Our squad consists of three officers from St. George Police Department, a fireman from St. George Fire Department, and a deputy from Washington County Sheriff's Office. So just remember, if there is nothing suspicious about the package, then it is an unattended package and can be dealt with as one. However, if there is something suspicious about the package, even if you have just a “gut instinct” about it, don't touch it, clear the area, and call the bomb squad. |
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