Bomb techs have a blast during drill

CAMP WILLIAMS — Bomb technicians from several local police agencies today are searching through the mangled remains of two old cars and a truck.

Blown up as part of training exercise, each of the vehicles contained a different type of explosive. It will be the post-blast investigators' job to figure out what exactly caused the explosions.

"I kind of liken it to putting together a jigsaw puzzle," said Carolyn Reck, a veteran ATF explosives enforcement officer and course instructor. "You have to enjoy puzzles."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Sandy Police Department and Unified Fire Authority held a post-blast investigation school for area bomb technicians and post-blast investigators at Camp Williams on Tuesday. The training is designed to teach them to manage a bomb scene and analyze explosives debris.

Bomb situations are one of the greatest threats to law enforcers. Initial responders find themselves in grave danger.

"Basically, an improvised bomb can look like anything," Reck said.

About 99 percent of law enforcement calls about explosives are criminal in nature, said Marvin Richardson, Denver field division ATF special agent in charge. The remaining 1 percent is classified as terroristic. The division covers Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana.

Salt Lake County's Unified Fire Authority bomb/arson squad goes out on 350 to 400 calls a year, with about a third of those involving explosives. It could be anything from illegal fireworks to sophisticated devices with timers. It could be vandalism or homicide. Two bomb technicians are on call 24/7 and are expected to arrive on a scene within 30 minutes.

"My wife and I can't go to a movie in the same car," said Bob Halloran, UFA bureau manager and bomb technician. "It creates a bit of stress and a burden, but we do it."

It takes a certain mentality to work with explosives, Richardson said.

"They are going to be some of our coolest customers in law enforcement. They're not going to be the nervous type," he said.

Halloran said constant training and knowing fellow bomb technicians have as much knowledge as you do eliminates nerves and breeds confidence.