NCJ Number
45368
Journal
POLIZEI BEAMTE Volume: 58 Issue: 15 Dated: (10 AUGUST 1977) Pages: 229-231
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE ARTICLE OUTLINES MEASURES WHICH POLICE SHOULD TAKE WHEN A BOMB THREAT IS RECEIVED OR FOR SOME OTHER REASON A BOMBING IS EXPECTED.
Abstract
A BOMB EXPLOSION MAY BE SUSPECTED WHEN AN OBJECT IS FOUND WHICH CANNOT BE SATISFACTORILY IDENTIFIED OR LINKED WITH THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS FOUND OR WHEN SOMEONE MAKES A THREAT OF AN EXPLOSION IN ORDER TO FRIGHTEN A GROUP OF PEOPLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE POLICE MUST TAKE SOME ACTION TO PREVENT AN EXPLOSION AND TO PROTECT PERSONS AND PROPERTY FROM HARM. SEVERAL EXAMPLES ARE GIVEN WHICH ILLUSTRATE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH POLICE MIGHT SUSPECT A BOMB, WHETHER A BOMB THREAT WAS CALLED IN OR AN UNIDENTIFIED, SUSPICIOUS OBJECT WAS FOUND. WHEN THE POLICE DO HAVE FIRM GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT A BOMB HAS BEEN PLANTED, THEY SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: TAKING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY; SECURING THE SUSPICIOUS OBJECT AND DISPOSING OF IT; AND COLLECTING EVIDENCE. OF COURSE, NOT ALL OF THESE MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN BY POLICE OFFICERS ALONE; THERE ARE TECHNICAL SPECIALISTS IN THIS FIELD WHO SHOULD BE CALLED IN. EACH OFFICER SHOULD, HOWEVER, TAKE THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS: LEAVE THE SUSPICIOUS OBJECT ALONE; EVACUATE OCCUPANTS TO A SAFE DISTANCE; OPEN WINDOWS AND DOORS; IF POSSIBLE, CLOSE OFF GAS, WATER, AND OIL LINES; AND PLACE A BARRICADE AROUND THE BUILDING. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT QUESTIONS IS WHETHER THERE ARE SUFFICIENT GROUNDS TO JUSTIFY THE EVACUATION OF AN ENTIRE BUILDING. A RELATED QUESTION INVOLVES WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DECIDING WHETHER A BUILDING SHOULD BE EVACUATED -- THE OWNER OR THE POLICE? ANOTHER CRITICAL QUESTION IS HOW THE MATTER SHOULD BE HANDLED UNDER CRIMINAL LAW; I.E., HOW THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT AND WITH WHAT OFFENSE THE PERPETRATOR OF THE THREAT SHOULD BE CHARGED. IN SUMMARY, IN THE EVENT OF A SUSPECTED BOMB: (1) THE POLICE, EXPLOSIVES SPECIALISTS, AND FIRE AND MEDICAL UNITS SHOULD BE CALLED OUT; (2) ALL MEASURES NECESSARY FOR THE PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE TAKEN; (3) IN GENERAL, THE POLICE SHOULD BE THE ONES TO DETERMINE WHETHER EVACUATION IS NECESSARY, WHEN POSSIBLE IN CONSULTATION WITH EXPLOSIVES EXPERTS; (4) ONLY EXPLOSIVES SPECIALISTS ARE TO HANDLE THE SUSPICIOUS OBJECT; (5) THE CRIME SCENE SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY SEARCHED, AND SUCH EVIDENCE AS WRITING SAMPLES AND FOOTPRINTS SHOULD BE TAKEN; AND (6) THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE SHOULD BE CALLED IN AS SOON AS THE SPECIALISTS HAVE POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS AND THUS IT IS CERTAIN THAT A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED. FOR PART 2, SEE NCJ-45369. --IN GERMAN. (VDA)