The remote arm of the law
Lodi Police Foundation raises nearly $72,000 for bomb squad robot
The Lodi Police Foundation has provided the funding to purchase a new Mini-CALIBER SWAT and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Robot. They raised nearly $72,000 to cover the total purchase of the robot, which the Lodi Police Department will use to safely dispose of potential explosives and do quick searches of residences.
The department was in need of a new EOD robot to maintain the bomb squad’s certification with the FBI. The Lodi bomb squad did not have its own robot and instead was one of several agencies in agreement to borrow from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office when it was needed.
However, the FBI has changed its regulations and requires that every bomb squad have its own robot, according to Lodi Police Sgt. Steve Maynard, who is the bomb squad commander.
Not only does the robot meet these regulations, it also offers the opportunity to maintain officer and suspect safety in a variety of different situations by keeping potential danger remote.
“If I don’t have to put a bomb technician in a blast suit, I won’t,” Maynard said.
The bomb squad responds to about 14 calls a year — one to three calls per month, on average. About half of those calls end up involving actual explosives, Maynard said. He has seen small bomb factories in people’s apartments and young adults creating things they’ve seen on the Internet, he said.
Bomb squad technicians removed the new 60-pound robot from its crate packaging on Wednesday morning in the Lodi Police Department’s Community Room. The robot features five different cameras, a microphone and a movable arm on which police can attach a variety of tools, including a disrupter for bomb disposal.
The bomb squad will maintain and repair the robot when necessary, as they have done with the robots they’ve used in the past.
Officer James Landis was one of the first to try out the controls on Wednesday, which feature a handheld screen and a lever, antennae, buttons and a control stick.
Over the past year, the Lodi Police Foundation has been working on fundraising for the new robot, which police were able to order just a few months ago.
“We are happy to provide the addition of needed equipment to protect the community and help the department gain the necessary tools to do so,” said Tracy Williams, chairwoman of the Lodi Police Foundation.
“Being able to have it at a moment’s notice, we hope it saves many lives — both on our side and on the suspect’s side.” LODI POLICE SGT. STEVE MAYNARD
Through these efforts, no city funds were needed for the purchase of the new robot. Lodi Police Chief Tod Patterson was grateful for the foundation’s assistance in donating the money.
“This is a vital piece of equipment that the department needed to render possible explosives safe for our community,” Patterson said.
Maynard said the use of the robot can be a potential lifesaver, circumventing the need to send people into deadly situations.
The SWAT team can use the robot to remotely communicate with and locate suspects during a standoff, for example, or clear an area when a suspect’s whereabouts are unknown.
It comes in a backpack that officers can wear and quickly deploy when needed.
“Being able to have it at a moment’s notice, we hope it saves many lives — both on our side and on the suspect’s side,” Maynard said.