100 lines
5.3 KiB
Plaintext
100 lines
5.3 KiB
Plaintext
July 1990
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POLICE PRACTICES:
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BOMB DOG TEAMS
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There are times when police departments may require the
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services of an explosives detection dog team. When such an
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emergency occurs, the U.S. Air Force Security Police can respond
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to such requests with military dog teams. However, there is one
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condition that accompanies each response--the Air Force cannot
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be held liable for any damages or consequences arising from the
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search.
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Most Air Force security police squadrons have bomb dog
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teams, which consist of an experienced handler, a highly trained
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explosives detection dog, and a spotter who assists the handler
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and acts as backup. Each team is proficient in detecting
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several common types of explosives and can provide detection
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capability for bomb threats, suspicious packages, airport
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security breaches, and terrorist incidents.
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Team Response
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During the past 2 years, explosives detection dog teams from
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the 63d Security Police Squadron (63d SPS) at Norton Air Force
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Base in California assisted Federal and local authorities in over
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20 incidents. The teams responded to bomb threats at local
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government buildings and shopping centers and cleared VIP
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platforms and routes for such dignitaries as former President
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Reagan, the Duchess of York, and the President of Colombia.
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After receiving a call for assistance from the California
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Highway Patrol, an explosives detection dog team searched a
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vehicle used by an arrested grenade-tossing driver who terrorized
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several miles of California freeway. In another incident, a 63d
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SPS team conducted a baggage and commercial airliner search when
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notified by airport police that the carrier received several bomb
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threats on an inbound aircraft.
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To Request Assistance
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Civilian police agencies should coordinate requests for
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assistance with local Air Force Security Police. The law
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enforcement desk sergeant is the designated point of contact for
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bomb dog requests. The sergeant, in turn, obtains permission
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from the chief of security police and the base commander to
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dispatch the dog team off base. The base commander is advised of
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the nature of the request and any impact it would have on base
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operations. Unless the team is conducting a search on base, or
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there is an impending military mission, the request is honored
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within a matter of minutes. Military necessity governs the
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priority of the dispatch.
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For example, on February 19, 1990, the 63d SPS received a
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request for assistance from the San Bernandino Sheriff's Office.
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There was the possibility that three explosive devices had been
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planted in the county courthouse. Within 3 minutes, the law
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enforcement desk officer received permission to dispatch the
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team. Thirteen minutes later, the team was on its way to the
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courthouse. With this particular incident, a team was on duty
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and available for immediate dispatch. When a team is off duty,
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the handler maintains contact with the law enforcement desk
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officer by informing the desk officer of location and telephone
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number at all times. This is to ensure the handler is in
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constant contact with the law enforcement desk in the event of an
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emergency. When off duty, team response time is less than 1
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hour.
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On the Scene
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Once the team arrives on site, it reports directly to the
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commanding law enforcement officer for a final situation report.
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The handler then briefs the commanding officer on the search
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pattern, the method to be used for alerting and marking the
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device, and any other information that may be pertinent to the
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search. If the dog alerts to an explosive device, the handler
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marks the area or item where the explosive device can be found.
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The explosives detection dog team does not deactivate the
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device. That responsibility rests with law enforcement bomb
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disposal experts. The length of the search, which may take up to
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several hours, depends on the area or the item being searched.
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After completing a search, or in the event an explosive device is
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located, the handler then debriefs the on-scene law enforcement
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commander.
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Conclusion
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Air Force explosives detection dog teams constitute a
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valuable resource that is available to law enforcement agencies.
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Use of this service can counter potentially dangerous situations
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that threaten the safety and well-being of citizens in any
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community.
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____________
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Information for this column was obtained from Capt. James L.
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Setzer, 63d SPS/Operations Officer, Norton AFB, California.
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