The University of Georgia Police Bomb Disposal Unit exists to provide the University and the surrounding community with safe, timely resolution to bomb threats, suspicious package concerns, and threats from actual hazardous devices. Our primary goal is to protect people from harm related to such threats and concerns.  A secondary goal is to minimize the damage to critical infrastructure and property. As a result of a partnership with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the University of Georgia Bomb Disposal Unit responds to bomb related calls for the Northeast Georgia region. The Bomb Disposal Unit is made up of certified Bomb Technicians.

Our Bomb Technicians receive their training at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Hazardous Devices School in Huntsville, Alabama—the only nationally recognized school of its kind. In addition to receiving their Bomb Technician certification, team members regularly participate in training classes hosted by other agencies such as the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Technical Support Working Group (TSWG). In addition to the team’s primary functions of dealing with explosives detection and disruption, the members are also trained to deal with hazardous material (HAZMAT) situations. All of the members of the Bomb Disposal Unit are required to be certified HAZMAT technicians.

The Bomb Disposal Unit maintains and trains with a multitude of tools and equipment, all of which allow the technicians to do their jobs effectively and safely.  Major equipment includes a robot, a total containment vessel and a state-of-the-art bomb response vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with conventional bomb disposal equipment, the robot, bomb suits, x-ray equipment and hazardous material response gear. The bomb response vehicle and total containment vessel are part of the state’s regional response in case of major bombing emergencies. The Bomb Disposal Unit, like many other areas of the Police Department, represents a substantial investment of monetary and human capital aimed at making the University community safer.