U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact
Deborah McCarley 602-650-3201

April 11, 2006

Nature of Incident - YCSO Bomb Squad accredited by FBI

Location of Incident - Yuma County Sheriff's Office

On 4/11/06 at 1200 hours, Acting Special Agent in Charge Keith Bennett, of the Phoenix office of the FBI, will be at the Yuma County Sheriff's Office to present Sheriff Ralph Ogden with the FBI accreditation for the Yuma County Regional Bomb Squad.

Acting Special Agent in Charge Keith Bennett stated, "I would like to congratulate the Yuma County Sheriff's Office on the accreditation of its Public Safety Bomb Squad. This agency now joins the ranks of other state, local, and federal agencies trained and equipped to be our country's front line of defense against deadly terrorist and criminal acts involving hazardous devices."

The members of the Yuma County Regional Bomb squad were trained at the Hazardous Device School (HDS) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. This facility, funded and operated by the FBI and U.S. Army, has 14 mock exercise training villages on 295 acres of land. HDS is the only institution of its kind in the United Sates and one of only two in the world which trains and equips bomb technicians. Bomb technicians must first become certified hazardous materials technicians and then complete a six week course at HDS. Technicians are trained to respond to a myriad of incidents to include suicide bombers, large vehicle bombs, and stand-off weapons. Once accredited, bomb technicians are required to continue their training on a regular basis due to changing technology, crime trends and up-dated equipment.

In 2004 the Yuma County Sheriff's Office was one of only five proposed squads selected nationally to receive bomb squad certification. This set in motion a nearly two year process which has culminated in Yuma County being the 13th bomb squad in the State of Arizona. This team will greatly enhance the response capability for hazardous devices located in Yuma County.

The Yuma County Regional Bomb Squad will also be on hand to provide a short demonstration of it's capabilities for the media. All members of the media are invited to attend this presentation and demonstration at YCSO on 4/11/06 at 1200 hours.

Information Released By: Captain E. Bratcher Date: 4/7/06 Time: 1115