Bomb Squad
The Lodi Police Department has one of the two accredited bomb squads in San Joaquin County. This bomb squad is manned with two certified bomb technicians. The Lodi Police Department bomb squad is part of a countywide team, that includes bomb technicians from Stockton Police Department, Manteca Police Department, and San Joaquin Sheriff. Our bomb techs respond to calls involving explosive devices or post-blast investigations throughout the entire county.
Training
The bomb techs begin their training at a five-week long basic school, conducted by instructors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Army, at the Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. In order to maintain certification as a bomb tech, they are required to attend a one-week long refresher, every three years at Redstone.
At Redstone, they are instructed in various fields, such as:
- Blast effects
- Booby traps
- Chemical and biological weapons
- Electronics
- Improvised explosives
- Investigation techniques
Their training does not end there. Every month, they participate in training with members of the other bomb squads. Our techs also belong to the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators (IABTI), which also hosts annual training conferences to keep our skills and knowledge updated. Our bomb techs also have extensive training in the field of fire investigation, and work hand-in-hand with the Lodi Fire Department on suspicious or intentionally set fires.
Equipment
Our unit has been fortunate to have the support of the Police Administration and City Council, which allowed us to purchase the necessary tools and protective equipment in order to effectively and safely perform our duties. These tools include:
- A PAN disrupter
- A Safeco bomb suit
- A state of the art x-ray unit
Suspicious Packages
Just remember, if you feel that you have come across a suspicious package that you suspect may contain an explosive device, don't touch it! Just call Lodi Police Department at 209-333-6727.