ABILENE, TX — The lives of Abilene police departments bomb squad and swat members are put on the line to protect us.
"Both swat and bomb cover several counties. The swat covers 19 and bomb covers 21" says Ohnheiser.
Covering that much territory means more work... and more work means it's crucial for the equipment to be top notch.
So the department is pleased to be able to receive a grant from
homeland security for 85 thousand dollars.
"There are specifications on that grant and what that grant money is spent on and its used to outfit those units.. Both swat and bomb" says Ohnheiser.
The funds will go towards enhancing current bomb squads x-ray devices, technician tools, and their F6A robot.
"It's over 10 years old .. Its needs some maintenance and some upgrades.so we will spend some money on that" says Ohnheiser.
The robot is worth 200k and plays an important role.
"Instead of us walking down on something that could be suspicious.. We can just drive the robot down..its got cameras all over it.. We can move things with it instead of us personally going down and doing it..and it has the capability of disrupting packages for us"
As for the swat team... They will use funding for communication and negotiation equipment.
APD's one bomb squad covers 21 counties....with 5 technicians.
Compared to the metroplex who has 5 bomb squads based on population.
"Not anyone can start a bomb squad. Its regulated by the FBI they decide who can start a bomb squad and whose capable of maintaining a bomb squad" says Ohnheiser.