Mississippi Bomb Teams Receive Federal Grants

Mississippi Bomb Squads have received $300,000 in federal grants to improve response and readiness. MPB's Patty Davis has more.

Bomb teams from Clinton, Tupelo and Biloxi will each receive $100,000 grants. It's part of a national effort to enhance the capabilities of individual states for responding to acts of domestic and international terrorism. The Clinton Bomb Team commanded by Todd Peterson has been certified since 2004. His department will use the funds for additional training & detection equipment.

"It helps us to stay on top of the new technology and the new protective equipment that comes out each year for bomb technicians, and save our lives as well as prevent loss of life in the public".

The Tupelo team led by Captain Alan Gilbert, could be called upon to respond in a 30 county radius. There the funds will be used for a mobile command center.

"This will help us respond better, to have our equipment all in one place. There no second chances when these guys are out on the streets or responding to a call".

J.W. Ledbetter, Director of the Mississippi office of Homeland Security says one certified member the Jackson team is currently deployed, and another is training to fill that slot.

"As soon as they get their guy in place, certified, we'll be ready for them with additional funding as well".

Each bomb team is equipped with robots that can be sent in to investigate a suspicious item, or even help retrieve a downed officer. Bomb Squad teams are trained to respond to traditional bomb threats, as well as scenarios involving weapons of mass destruction and biological agents. For MPB News, I'm Patty Davis.