State Sen. Harckham obtained a grant for the Hazardous Devices Unit last year that enabled it to proceed with plans replace an aging response vehicle. The new vehicle has since been built and put into service. The senator stopped by the Special Operations Division this afternoon to check out the vehicle and the equipment that is carried on board.

County Executive Latimer, Deputy County Executive Jenkins and Commissioner Raynor were also on hand to thank the senator for his efforts in obtaining the grant for the WCPD.

HDU, known more informally as the Bomb Squad, is comprised of seven highly skilled and exceptionally trained technicians. The unit responds to calls for service that include possible improvised explosive devices, bomb threats, military ordinance, volatile chemicals, deteriorated explosives and dangerous fireworks.

HDU utilizes specialized equipment, including the robot pictured here, to approach, inspect, disarm and/or remove all types of explosive devices. HDU members are also adept at examining explosive devices in order to identify persons responsible for manufacturing them.

In addition to explosives, HDU members are trained to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear devices.

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