Fennewald Announces Post-Blast
Training for First Responders
JEFFERSON CITY, June 19, 2006-A bombing crime scene/post-blast
investigator course taught by federal, state and local investigators
took place today in Mid-Missouri utilizing homeland security funds
to help fund the training.
“The Office of Homeland Security is committed
to spending homeland security dollars appropriately and effectively
to ensure Missouri has the education and training tools necessary
to prepare them to manage today’s increasing threat of terrorism,”
Fennewald said.
Today first responders from around the state took part
in a course designed to educate them in the proper investigation of
any post-blast explosives incident. The course covered the following
topics: explosives recognition, improvised explosive devices, and
scene processing and evidence collection.
The training included a mix of classroom and hands-on
field exercises. The class gathered in a field exercise where the
class participants, divided into teams, investigated an actual bomb
scene, which has been staged by the instructors. These teams then
present their findings back to the class as if they were preparing
to present the case for prosecution.
This course is truly a cooperative effort of the Department
of Public Safety agencies including State Fire Marshal Office and
Missouri State Highway Patrol, the University of Missouri Police Department,
Boone County Fire Department, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), International
Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators (IABTI) and several
local agencies in the effort to provide investigative first responders
with critical training in the investigation of explosives incidents.