One of Garland PD's two Bomb Unit robots

Garland Police and Fire Departments have several specialized units that are regularly sought to assist other cities. One of those is the Police Bomb Disposal Unit.

From Garland Police website: "The Garland Police Bomb Disposal Unit is accredited by the FBI Bomb Data Center as a Type One Team capable of responding to two simultaneous events, while utilizing robotics and delivering Large Vehicle Bomb Countermeasures. The Garland Bomb Unit consists of six certified Bomb Technicians and two trained Bomb Assistants."
 
Because of the Unit's expertise and competence, Garland has received Homeland Security grants for specialized equipment that is desireable for the area. A condition of the grants is assistance to other departments. The Unit has received two robots for use with bomb disposal but the robots are very useful for other duties, too. For example:
 

Posted on Wed, Mar. 07, 2007
Police robot helps defuse overnight standoff in Richardson
By Bill Miller
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

 

A 47-year-old man who engaged Richardson police in an overnight standoff was taken into custody after SWAT officers rolled a robot into his home, according to reports.

 

John Dwayne Frears was in the Richardson jail early Wednesday, charged with felony aggravated assault on a public servant, said Lt. Daniel Robb, police spokesman. Bond was set at $50,000.

 

The incident began at about 2:40 p.m. Tuesday when officers went to Frear's home in the 700 block of Sherwood Drive to check on him.

 

It was unclear early Wednesday who asked officers to make the welfare check, but when they arrived, no one would answer the front door, Robb said in a news release.

 

Officers entered the home through an unlocked back door and were met by Frears who pointed a handgun at them, Robb said.

 

"When the subject refused verbal commands to drop the weapon, officers exited the location and established a perimeter," Robb said.

 

SWAT officers and negotiators responded, but the man refused to communicate with them. They called for help from Garland police, who arrived with their robot.

 

"Garland Police Department personnel were able to make entry into the residence with this technology, allowing Richardson officers the ability to safely see and communicate with the subject," Robb said. "As a result of this communication, the subject exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident."

Reaction from Garland Police Chief Mitch Bates:

"[It is] an example of our regional response to requests for our Bomb Unit, which utilizes two robots (obtained through Homeland Security grant funding) for such situations, not just for bomb calls. We assisted Richardson PD in this instance.

"The suspect was barricaded in a house after pointing a gun at the Richardson officers and threatening to shoot them. We utilized our robots to assist them for the safety of the officers. There is a two-way radio included with the robot, so the negotiators were able to communicate with the suspect via the robot which ultimately led to his surrender without any further resistance or injuries to anyone."

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1 comment

Comments:

Comment from: joe [Visitor]

These officers were trespassing and abusing the badge Mr.Fears had every right to protect his property from any type of intrusion, think about it ... if we were to walk threw some strangers back door he would have the right to shoot us it we would be trespassing it is also called unlawful entry , in this day in age under the current situation(people pretending to be officers or officers operating in a criminal element he had the right to do what he did. Did the officers have a warrant to enter the said house ? case closed.wake up people this IS police abuse. It isn't a big deal until it happens to you. I hope he sues them for all he can.

05/07/07 @ 14:21

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