Bomb Squad (Explosive Disposal Unit)

The Metropolitan Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) identifies, transports and disposes of all criminal explosives and ordinance materials in Clackamas County and the Portland metropolitan area.

The EDU includes two Clackamas County Sheriff's Deputies -- plus 13 other highly trained bomb technicians from the Portland Police Bureau, Gresham Police Department, Clark County Sheriff's Office and Port of Portland.

The unit is staffed with a full-time supervisor from the Portland Police Bureau. Members are on-call 24 hours a day.  

Team members are intensively trained to recognize, handle and dispose of ordinance and explosive materials and devices. They must successfully complete a five-week FBI explosive-ordinance training course at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. They're also required to maintain proficiency through regional team training -- and must attend a two-week explosive-ordinance refresher course every three years at Redstone Arsenal.