Law Enforcement Sensitive
Guide to Writing
Standard Operating Procedures
For Operations Involving the Combined Resources of
Bomb Squads and SWAT Teams
This document is being offered as a recommended model for an SOP governing “Operations Involving the
Combined Resources of Bomb Squads and SWAT Teams.” It is not designed nor is it expected to be all
inclusive. It is designed as a model from which portions of the document can be used and information
added and deleted when writing an agency’s SOP.
PURPOSE
This guide will provide general considerations for writing an SOP for operations in which the combined
resources of bomb squads and tactical teams are required. The following are some of the current and
emerging threat situations that will involve combined SWAT and Bomb Squad resources:
1.
Person Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (PBIED), including Suicide Bombers: (The four
situations listed below are extracted from the First Responder Guide to Person Borne and Vehicle Borne
Improvised Explosive Devices: Categories of Situations and Strategies for Each Category, which is
attached in its entirety as an appendix to this document, and includes specific recommended strategies
for each.)
a) Unrestrained – Non-compliant; or Unrestrained – mentally disturbed
b) Hostage taker with bomb
c) Suicide bomber in moving vehicle
d) Unrestrained: Unaware that law enforcement knows of the bomb
2.
Multiple simultaneous attacks involving firearms and explosives
3.
Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED)
4.
Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear/Explosive (CBRNE) Devices
5.
Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (RCIED)
6.
Standoff Weapons
7.
Criminal activity involving explosive threats, including IEDs, booby-trap situations, high risk
warrants, drug labs, etc.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Definitions – For the purposes of this document, the following terms are used to describe bomb squad
resources in combined SWAT/Bomb Squad operations:
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 Bomb Squad Direct Tactical Support Capable Team: Bomb squad personnel who move with the
tactical team during the tactical phase. They must be able to efficiently and effectively move
with the SWAT team without compromising operations.
 Bomb Squad General Tactical Support Capable Team: Bomb squad personnel who provide
support to the SWAT team from the command post level and conduct bomb squad operations
upon completion of the tactical phase. Examples of general support are: robotics,
communications, breaching, counter surveillance, and use of specialized equipment.
1. Joint Responsibilities:
a. Special Events Support
b. Dignitary Protection
c. Protective Sweeps
d. Explosive Breaching Capabilities (optional)
2. SWAT responsibilities during combined Bomb/SWAT operations include the following items, in
addition to their normal SOP:
a. Assume the lead status, providing overall mission planning and execution.
b. Provide tactical training to agency members and other agencies as requested.
c. Missions assigned to SWAT teams shall include: hostage rescue, barricade, sniper, high-risk
warrant service and high-risk apprehension, dignitary protection, terrorism response, special
assignments and other incidents which exceed the capability and/ or capacity of an agency’s
first responders and/or investigative units.
3. BOMB SQUAD responsibilities during combined Bomb/SWAT operations include the following
items, in addition to their normal SOP:
a. Maintain the forward momentum of the SWAT operations as best as possible
b. Support SWAT when and where IEDs, military ordnance, explosives, labs, or booby-traps
are known to be present or possibly present.
c. Render safe and/or remove suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs), incendiary
devices, explosives, pyrotechnics, flares, ammunition, explosive chemicals and other
hazardous situations, i.e. items classified by the FBI as Weapons of Mass Destruction in
accordance with title 18 USC 2332.
d. Provide for proper and safe transportation, disposal and/or storage of explosives and other
items as referred to above.
e. Assess and evaluate suspicious objects/packages/vehicles.
f. Provide liaison with other state and local bomb squads, Military Explosive Ordnance
Disposal (EOD) units, Federal agencies, and professional associations.
g. Provide robotic support.
h. Provide bomb related training to agency members and other agencies as requested.
TRAINING
The importance, if not REQUIREMENT, for interoperability training with the SWAT operators and bomb
techs BEFORE they respond to an incident cannot be overstated.
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1. Training for SWAT personnel:
a. Basic SWAT Training as determined by the agency, consisting of but not inclusive of
movement, cover and concealment, noise discipline, back lighting, immediate action
drills, office down drills, marksmanship and weapons handling, etc.
b. Interoperability training: Ensure that SWAT operators are trained to recognize potential
mission hazards, such as: area denial devices/booby traps, explosives/explosive
components and IEDs, explosives manufacturing equipment (common to HME), unusual
behavior that may indicate area denial devices are present (i.e. avoiding obvious entries
and/or egresses), or CBRN is present (i.e., respiratory protection/decontamination
equipment), or alarm system components.
c. Recommended additional training:
i. WMD for Tactical Commanders
ii. WMD for Tactical Operators
iii. Suicide Bomber Training
iv. Initial Law Enforcement Response to Suicide Bombing Attack (ILERSBA)
2. Training for Bomb Squad personnel:
a. HDS Basic Course and additional requirements mandated by the National Guidelines for
Bomb Technicians.
b. Training considerations for Bomb Squad Direct Tactical Support Capable Team
i. Bomb technicians providing direct tactical support and moving with the team
must undergo training as determined by the agency, including the following
tactical related subjects:
1. Movement
2. Cover and concealment
3. Noise discipline
4. Back lighting
5. Immediate action drills
6. Officer down drills
7. Firearms marksmanship, and weapons handling
ii. The following are additional bomb technician training areas that should be
considered:
1. Hand entry
2. Advanced Threat Assessment
3. Advanced Electronics
4. Electronic Countermeasures
5. Tactical movement
6. Low light
3. The following training areas are appropriate for either SWAT or Bomb Squad personnel:
a. Government sponsored or commercially available Bomb/SWAT Interoperability Training
focused on mission objectives.
b. Explosive Breacher Training: Bomb technicians or SWAT operators who have
successfully completed a formal explosive breaching program of instruction may serve as
the primary or assistant breacher.
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4. Management Training:
a. FBI HDS Executive Management Course
b. Tactical Command and Decision Making Course
PROCEDURES
1. General Principles and Priorities:
a. Priorities of life safety for SWAT:
i. Hostages
ii. Innocent Citizens
iii. Police Personnel
iv. Suspects
b. Bomb Squad Safety and General Principles:
i. Public Safety
ii. Safety of the officers on the scene, including the bomb technician.
iii. Protection and preservation of public and private property.
iv. Collection and preservation of evidence.
v. Convenience to the public/restoration of service.
2. Operational Planning Issues:
a. Calculating potential scene blast, fragmentation, and personnel standoff distances.
b. Proficiency in reading floor plans, blueprints and other standard building/target area
schematics to identify potential areas where denial devices (i.e., booby traps) may be
placed.
c. Conduct breaching operations as required, using trained breacher personnel.
3. Operational considerations for Bomb Squad Direct Tactical Support Capable Team.
a. Operational Planning and Brief: Input to an assault plan and interpretation of available
intelligence is vital to the success of the mission. The goal of the briefs are to ensure
everybody involved comprehends and can recognize the IED threat, knows what each
others’ assets are and their availability, where they are located, how to move them and
what actions will likely be taken, and clear up any ambiguities. The brief should be just
that, brief. The only way to accomplish this is to have trained together regularly.
i. Two forms of briefs should be given:
1. Entry team level briefing, where the bomb techs attached to the team will
cover the particulars to their entry point, route and area of responsibility
and the SWAT team leader will give their concerns. This can include
development of a joint operational plan.
2. The second briefing should be given by both the SWAT and the Bomb
Squad commander to the whole force.
ii. The following subjects should be covered in the briefing:
1. Introductions of team members, including experience and any applicable
specialties.
2. Capabilities related to the current incident.
3. Intelligence (e.g. from bomb techs, SWAT operators and outside sources).
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4. Team Composition, including number of bomb techs, size and structure of
SWAT entry team, snipers/over watch, etc.
5. Location of Assets (e.g. bomb techs’ location in the stack, additional
equipment, etc.)
6. Suspect/s Threat (e.g. number of suspects, background, weapons, location,
etc.)
7. Hostages (e.g. number, age, description, location, etc.)
8. Explosive Threat (e.g. booby traps, military ordnance, IEDs, homemade
explosive labs, dissemination devices, etc.)
9. Marking System for Explosive Hazards (This should be a reminder based
on previous training.)
b. Bomb Squad Team Composition: Each response is incident driven and operators/bomb
techs must be flexible. A minimum of three bomb techs (two for initial entry and one,
possibly a supervisor, for follow up entry and support) are recommended. If more bomb
squad assets are required, they should operate as additional pairs.
i. The equipment carried by the Bomb Squad Direct Tactical Support Capable Team
will be far less than that carried on the bomb truck, and requires a balance of
sufficient tools to complete the mission, while still being able to move swiftly and
perhaps covertly with SWAT operators. This tactical support set of equipment is
more than one bomb technician should carry, so breaking the tools down into
three sets is recommended.
1. #1 kit(#1 Bomb Tech): Small tool kit suitable for immediate action RSPs,
such as gagging or cutting. The team member carrying this kit has the
responsibility to make the threat assessment and decide upon the RSP.
2. #2 kit (#2 Bomb Tech): Small backpack with heavier tools (e.g. cutting,
entry, disruptors, and breaches). These are preloaded and carried in such a
manner the Number 1 can easily access the tools. His responsibility in
addition to carrying the bulk of the equipment is to provide a check of the
Number 1’s intended course of action.
3. #3 kit (#3 Bomb Tech): Consists of tools that may not be necessary during
the assault phase, but may be required later (e.g. X-ray system, heavy
access gear-power tools, etc.). The bomb squad supervisor generally
delivers this kit and is not normally involved in the assault.
ii. Reasons for operating as a pair include the risk inherent in this type of operation.
SWAT operators will expect bomb techs to make a threat assessment and conduct
a manual render safe procedure in a very short time. The requirement for speed
exponentially increases the chances of a mistake being made, so the additional
risk of a second tech is offset by the broader perspective of having two techs
looking at the problem. The bomb squad supervisor also plays a vital role with
providing command and control and an IED focal point, while having access to
the larger picture.
c. Other considerations for Bomb Squad Direct Tactical Support Capable Teams:
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i. When a suspect item is encountered, the tactical team requests bomb technician
support, including an assessment. During this assessment, the tactical team
provides cover of high threat areas.
ii. The bomb technician determines if the device can be marked and bypassed safely
or rendered safe, and if render safe is the best option, how long it will take and
whether noise could compromise the mission. The bomb technician making the
determination shall have sole discretion on any render safe procedure to defeat the
suspect IED. This assessment must be relayed to the Tactical Team Leader for an
operational decision regarding the course of action, taking into account the
hazards from the disruption tool and the hazard from the potential detonation of
the IED.
iii. After any render safe procedure, the bomb technician will ensure the device is safe
and the area is clear for passage of the tactical team.
iv. The bomb technician is responsible for marking suspect items that have been
addressed so that other personnel can see whether an item and area have been
cleared and if it is safe to pass.
v. Departments should establish a system of marking suspect items everyone within
the department will recognize. Examples:
1. Green = Cleared or rendered safe - Area SAFE to pass
2. One Green and one Red marking item attached together = Device NOT
FULLY safe (explosives may still be present). Use caution to pass.
3. Red = NOT SAFE TO PASS OR ENTER. Use alternate route.
vi. If an unmarked suspect item is found, the finder should make appropriate
notifications and stay behind cover/safe location till assessed by a bomb
technician.
d. Once the tactical objective is complete, the operational lead will transfer to the bomb
squad for follow-up operations related to any remaining explosive hazards. The tactical
element becomes mission support to the bomb squad during this phase.
EQUIPMENT CONSIDERATIONS
Bomb Squad General Tactical Support Capable Team:
1.
Robotic Equipment
a.
Determine if robotic equipment can be used effectively to support the mission.
Bomb Squad Direct Tactical Support Capable Team:
1.
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Interoperability of Equipment:
a.
Bomb technician personnel protective equipment must be compatible with the SWAT
mission (i.e., body armor/helmet/communication equipment, night vision goggles/ PPE)
b.
Bomb technicians must ensure their mission specific equipment (i.e., disrupter, x-ray and
other diagnostic tools, etc.) is configured for fast moving SWAT operations.
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i.
ii.
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EOD Entry Kit Items:
1.
Red and green chemical lights (or other method of marking threats)
2.
Small zip ties
3.
Tactical firing line or shocktube
4.
Head lamp with red and blue lens
5.
Flashlight
6.
Blackout shroud
7.
Duct tape
8.
Electrical tape
9.
Engineering tape
10.
Non conductive probe
11.
Hand tool kit
a.
Small screwdriver with multiple bits
b.
Small pry bar
c.
Wire cutters
d.
Dental hooks and probes (protected)
e.
Clamps
f.
Forceps
12.
Hand-held metal detector
13.
Hook and line; Endless loops
14.
Search Mirror
15.
Shears
16.
NVGs
17.
X-ray System
18.
Carabiners
19.
Cordless drill
20.
Lighter or small torch
21.
Rotary cutting tool
22.
Hot knife
23.
Binoculars
24.
Epoxy kit
25.
Ceramic Knife
26.
Multi-tool
27.
Spare batteries
28.
Thermal imaging cameras
29.
Fiber optic cameras/video
30.
Wire attack kits, including:
a.
Multi-meter
b.
Specialized diagnostic instruments, such as Saber
c.
Electric fast acting fuse, such as Kukri
Explosive Tools
1.
PAN type disrupter
2.
Compact general disruption tools (Aquadets, MWB, Hydrajet, etc.)
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Initiating system for disrupter tools
REFERENCES TO CONSIDER
A. National Guidelines for Bomb Technicians
B. National Strategic Plan for U.S. Bomb Squads
C. First Responder Guide to Person Borne and Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices:
Categories of Situations and Strategies for Each Category
D. Additional Department General/Operations Orders
E. NTOA National SWAT Standards
F. HSPD-19 Implementation Plan
DEFINITIONS
Importance of Common Terminology: To ensure effective operations during high-risk incidents, all
personnel must be proficient in and have basic understanding of Bomb Squad and SWAT disciplines,
mission parameters, terminology, basic concepts, movements, and tactics.
Render Safe Procedures (RSP): That portion of improvised explosive device disposal procedures which
involves the application of special disposal tools and methods to provide for the interruption of functions
or separation of essential components of improvised explosive devices in order to prevent detonation.
Evacuation Distances: Minimum distances for evacuation of persons as shown on the TSWG “Terrorist
Bomb Threat Stand-Off” card (See Appendix A)
APPENDIX A:
First Responder Guide to Person Borne and Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices:
Categories of Situations and Strategies for Each Category
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