Fireworks are considered explosive devices, and they are extremely dangerous. Every year, numerous children and adults are injured or burned as a result of “playing” with fireworks. Fireworks are dangerous and illegal within the city limits of Los Angeles.
The Bomb Squad respond to approximately 500 bomb-related calls for service per year. Approximately 22 percent involved live devices that had to be rendered safe, live devices that have already functioned, live military ordnance, or other illegal explosive devices.
The Bomb Squad has 28 full-time officers and 3 K-9 handlers.
The resident should call 911 and request the police. Patrol officers will respond and give advice regarding bomb threat procedures and options as well completing a "Bomb Threat" report.
Residents should not move or touch the suspected item but should immediately call 911 and report it to the police.
The Bomb Squad is notified and responds whenever a suspected explosive device is found.
Explosive devices can be contained in almost anything. Bombs can be constructed to look like almost any item and can be delivered in any number of ways. Most bombs are homemade and are limited in their design only by the imagination of their maker. Letter and package bombs are not new. While many incidents have involved political terrorism, such bombs are made for a wide variety of motives. Letter and/or package bombs varies in size, shape, and components. They have electric, non-electric, or other sophisticated firing systems.
• Foreign mail, airmail and special delivery;
• Restrictive markings such as confidential, personal, etc.;
• Excessive postage;
• Hand-written or poorly typed addresses;
• Incorrect titles;
• Titles but no names;
• Misspellings of common words;
• Oily stains or discoloration;
• No return address;
• Excessive weight;
• Rigid envelope;
• Lopsided or uneven envelope;
• Protruding wires or tinfoil;
• Excessive securing material such as masking tape, string, etc.; and
• Visual distractions
Bombs can be detonated by a variety of methods including the slightest touch. Therefore, if any suspicious object is located, THE DEVICE SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHED OR DISTURBED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Immediately evacuate the location and notify the police from a neighbor's house or a business. Only conventional telephones should be used as cellular telephone transmissions have the potential to detonate a bomb.
Bomb threats represent a serious and deadly situation that can quickly turn tragic. The destructive potential of even a small device must be seriously considered. Any citizen that receives a bomb threat over the phone should immediately evacuate the location and notify the police from a neighbor's house or a business. Only conventional telephones should be used, because cellular telephone transmissions have the potential to detonate a bomb.
When a bomb threat is called in to you, attempt to keep the caller on the line as long as possible. Ask him/her to repeat the message and be sure to record every word spoken. If the caller does not indicate the location of the bomb or the time of possible detonation, you should ask him/her for this information. It is a good idea to inform the caller that the building is occupied, and the detonation of a bomb could result in death or serious injury to innocent people. As you attempt to keep the caller on the line, listen for any particular background noises such as motors running, background music, and any other noise which may give a clue as to the location of the caller. As you are gathering information about the caller, write down as much information as possible (Click here to download a bomb threat checklist). When the police arrive at your location, be prepared to give an accurate description of the caller's voice. As the caller speaks, listen closely to the voice quality for any regional accents and/or speech impediments the caller might possess.
If any suspicious object is located, THE DEVICE SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHED OR DISTURBED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. Immediately evacuate the location and notify the police from a neighbor's house or a business. Only conventional telephones should be used, as cellular telephone transmissions have the potential to detonate a bomb.
The Bomb Squad was formed in 1950.