DELAWARE STATE POLICE EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL UNIT

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team is a part-time unit comprised of nine troopers who have successfully completed the Hazardous Materials Technician Course and the FBI-Hazardous Devices School located at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. The rigorous six week school provides initial instruction on electronics, X-ray processing and interpretation, robot operation, and the safe mitigation of hazardous devices containing chemical, biological, nuclear and explosive materials. Members of this unit have a primary assignment in patrol and criminal investigation units and are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Although each EOD Team member attends a minimum of 30 days of training per year along with the increasing number of call-outs, each member is held to the same high standards as their counterpart working in their full time assignment.

For the third year in a row, the DSP Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team had an increase in calls for service over the previous year. Members responded to 136 calls for service during 2005 compared to 129 in 2004 and 68 in 2003.

In 2005, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team assisted other Delaware police departments and various other first responders 56 different times. These assists include suspicious packages, the recovery of explosives or ammunition, and presentations to first responders. There were 11 responses for suspicious packages of which six were live improvised explosive devices (IED’s) rendered safe by the EOD Team.

In 2005, the DSP – EOD Team took delivery of two additional Remotec F6-A Robots. The new robots are equipped with four surveillance cameras capable of seeing in total darkness; the ability to open doors; climb steps; conduct air quality sampling for chemical, biological and radiological hazards; and deploy less lethal munitions. The newly acquired Haz-Probe remote drill/surveillance camera attachment for these robots allows members to remotely view the under side of vehicles, or drill into the trunk or side panel of a vehicle and insert a camera to view the vehicle’s contents. This tool also has the ability to drill through a wall and insert a camera to view the location and potential threat in a specific area of a residence or business.

Physics and calculus, along with being mechanically inclined, have become a necessity to maintain the continued safety and success of the Team’s missions. The EOD motto, “Initial Success or Total Failure”, clearly identifies the number of opportunities available for the technician to successfully complete their mission.