Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced in June that $2 million in federal Homeland Security Grant Program funding has been secured, allowing the state's 12 local FBI-accredited bomb squads to sustain and enhance their capabilities to detect, interdict, and respond to improvised explosive devices. This marks the twelfth consecutive year that New York has provided dedicated federal homeland security funding to local bomb squads, with over $19.6 million awarded since its inception.
"This funding is critical in providing our law enforcement with the equipment and training they need to keep New Yorkers safe," Governor Cuomo said. "These brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect the communities they serve, and these resource will help ensure they continue to have the tools they need to get the job done."
As a condition of the grant requirement, accredited bomb squads will test their skills and preparedness by participating in the Division's annual "Excelsior Challenge" at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany in early October. Last year, more than 100 bomb technicians, explosive detection canine handlers, and tactical team officers from across New York State attended the three-and-a-half-day training, participating in scenario-based activities centered on current threats and past attacks from around the world including Barcelona, London, Nice, Orlando, Paris, and St. Petersburg. The State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) has also been the host of the national "Raven's Challenge" bomb squad exercise conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Justice in 2015 and 2016. The SPTC was chosen to host this exercise again in April 2019. These trainings enable local, state, and federal bomb technicians to share valuable tactics and best practices from the field to improve their response to incidents involving explosive devices.
Additionally, squads are required to collaborate regionally (based on FBI regions) to review their capabilities, identify gaps, and develop regional spending plans for these funds. Squads in each region must reach consensus on their respective spending plans to ensure that funds are being used in the most efficient and effective way possible.
