/ S.O.P / Eff. Date: 7-31-99

Number: 6.25

Title: Bomb Threats

Issuing Authority: L.E. Nippins, III, PSD/CLEO / Eval. Date: 8-31-03
Accreditation 46 Unusual Occurrences and Special Operations
Accreditation Standards: 46.1.5
Revision Date / Page Numbers / Sections / Approved

Subject: Bomb Threats

6.25 (3 pgs)

I.Purpose

The purpose of this general order is to establish guidelines and procedures for responding to bomb threats.

II.Policy

It will be the policy of the department to treat all bomb threats as actual until circumstances dictate otherwise.

III.Procedure

  1. Duties
  1. Central Communications
  1. When a bomb threat is received via telephone, a bomb threat checklist shall be utilized. Every effort should be made to gather as much information as possible.
  2. Dispatch patrols, duty supervisor, fire department, and emergency squad.
  3. Notify other agencies and/or persons as directed.
  4. Maintain active incident and record all pertinent information in chronological order.
  1. Initial Responding officer
  1. Cease using mobile or portable radios ¼ mile from scene. All communications from scene will be conducted via hard-wired telephones.
  2. Locate facility supervisor and/or manager.
  3. Gather as much information as possible in an effort to locate and identify any item that could possibly be an explosive device. If a device is located, the duty supervisor is to be notified immediately and the immediate area evacuated pending further instructions. Under no circumstances is anyone to approach or touch the device.
  4. Complete and submit an incident report containing all information obtained during the initial investigation.
  1. Shift Commander
  1. Evaluate the bomb threat for its potential authenticity by weighing all information and evidence available. Notify the Operations Commander.
  2. Meet with facility management to discuss possible evacuation. The decision to evacuate a given facility will rest with facility management. The department will only require an evacuation when there is evidence to indicate that there is a high likelihood that the threat is real and there is a substantial risk of injury to facility occupants.
  3. If an evacuation is to be conducted, the shift commander will assist with organizing and supervising the evacuation so that it may be carried out in an orderly manner. A perimeter will be established a minimum of three hundred feet away from the facility for crowd and evacuee control. All entrances and exits should be secured to prevent re-entry.
  4. If search is to be conducted, the shift commander will assist with organizing and supervising search team efforts. Combined teams of facility personnel and police officers should be formed to facilitate a thorough and efficient search.
  • All interior and exterior areas should be searched.
  1. If a device is located, at no time will any member of the department, unless trained to do so and then only with supervisory authorization, examine, attempt to neutralize, or attempt to disarm any potentially dangerous or suspicious device, nor will any other person be permitted to do so. The following agencies will be utilized for this purpose:
  • Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, Ft. Dix, New Jersey
  • N.J. State Police Bomb Disposal Squad

448-2618 – Weekdays

882-2000 – Evenings and Weekends

  • Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (A.T.F.), U.S. Treasury Department
  1. Insure that an officer is assigned to conduct a preliminary investigation in accordance with the provisions of SOP 5.06. Have other investigative personnel respond to the scene if necessary.
  1. Investigator
  1. The Investigations Commander will, upon receipt of the report, assign it for follow-up action. The officer assigned to conduct the follow-up may not necessarily be assigned to the division. If the officer is form another division that division commander must approve the assignment.
  2. The follow-up investigation is to be conducted in accordance with the provisions of SOP 5.06.

-End -

Attachments: Bomb Threat Information Sheet

1 of 6.25