From the Property/Evidence Subchapter

This headline did not appear in the local paper, but it could have been in a Massachusetts newspaper last March.

In Lake Oswego a citizen found a suspicious looking object, picked it up, drove to the police department and was going to turn it in as found property. An astute records clerk recognized it as a dangerous object and called a supervisor. The city hall building was evacuated and the Bomb Squad came and detonated what they confirmed as a "live" device categorized as "very unstable!"

The disturbing issue is this is not an isolated incident. Officers did indeed place a bomb in city hall in Fitchburg Massachusetts. Several years ago a Portland Officer picked up what he described as a bundle of road flares "with a fake fuse stuck in them" and took them to the property room, only to find out that they were six sticks of dynamite. Training today covers many areas. But don't trust your training alone - listen to your instincts: If it looks dangerous call the ordinance disposal folks who have a safe way to handle it. And be careful for the sake of those who have to handle and care for the evidence locker. They don't like surprises on Monday morning either. Police personnel are killed by many things. Let's hope our own mistakes are not counted among them.

Police Keep Bomb Overnight

Edition: NORTH, Section: LOCAL NEWS, Page B1

FITCHBURG — A small explosive device similar to a pipe bomb was left in the police station overnight, until higher-ups realized it needed to be detonated and called in the Massachusetts State Police bomb unit. The device was detonated on the first floor of the police station, under sandbags.

Police Chief Edward F. Cronin said the device — a 6-inch-long copper tube with a wick protruding from it — was considered harmless at first. He said its strength was similar to a firecracker, and speculated that it was made by a hunter who would have used it to scare birds. ``It didn't have any capability to do structural damage,'' the chief said. 

Still, the chief said the state police bomb unit was called in to detonate it for safety reasons. The unit would not move the device and detonated it in police headquarters.  Sgt. Glenn C. Fossa said a passer-by found the device Sunday while in the area of Flat Rock Road and Prospect Street. The person brought it to police headquarters at about 4:10 p.m. Sunday, and the responding officer made a report.

The officer thought nothing of the device, considering it ``harmless,'' the chief said. The bomb was left in the police evidence room until the officer responsible for checking that room noticed it and questioned if it should have been left there. Chief Cronin called the incident a mistake, and asked residents who find such devices to leave them where they are and call police. Police will respond to the scene and take appropriate action, the chief said.  Sgt. Fossa said members of the state police and a special agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating where the device came from.

[reprinted by permission]