Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Bomb Squad Equipment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State bomb‑squad task force seeks new radios, mesh links and cutter tools ahead of Olympics and routine calls
Summary
Representatives of Utah’s bomb squad task force told the subcommittee they need radio interoperability upgrades for robots, hydraulic cutters and other equipment; squads are locally funded for personnel and volunteer to cover the whole state, and some federal grant funds are declining.
Members of Utah’s bomb‑squad task force asked the Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Jan. 31 for equipment funding to upgrade robots, communications and toolsets used by bomb squads statewide.
Jason Whipple, chair of the state bomb‑squad task force and a member of the Washington County Bomb Squad, said Utah has eight bomb squads covering all counties; local agencies pay for personnel costs but the groups share specialized equipment. Whipple and task‑force representatives requested funds to attach mesh‑network communications to robots so multiple units can operate together without radio interference and to purchase hydraulic cutters and other mitigation tools.
Ashley Spadafore (presenting for the task force) said some federal grant dollars that previously paid for equipment have decreased to about $300,000 annually and that the task force needs supplemental state support to prepare for the 2034 Olympics and to sustain daily readiness. The task force said prior legislative support bought new robots that have proved useful; the new request focuses on interoperability and replacement parts.
Ending: Lawmakers thanked task‑force members; committee members expressed support but did not vote on a specific appropriation at the Jan. 31 hearing.
