PORT ANGELES – The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is applying for $78,000 state grant to buy a SuperDroid tactical robot for use in crisis negotiations, audio-video surveillance, detection and inspection of hazardous or suspicious materials or packages as well as piercing windows and deflating car tires.
The Clallam County commissioners heard a presentation on the proposal at their Monday work session and will formally consider the grant application during their regular meeting set for 10 a.m. Tuesday in the commissioners’ meeting room at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St.
“I have seen a similar device deployed by the FBI SWAT team up Deer Park Road during an active shooter event,” said Chief Criminal Deputy Amy Bundy with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
“This device allows us to go into remote areas, houses, climb stairs and separates us from any potential harm’s way. We can clear buildings with it,” she said.
“We talk and do crisis negotiations with it. It also has the ability to detect hazardous materials. It also video-records.”
Bundy said the closest similar device is operated by the Thurston County SWAT and the Tacoma Police Department might have one.
“So even in the courthouse last year, we had a suspicious package that required a State Patrol bomb squad to show up. Now, typically they have to go down to get their truck with their robot and it’s a several-hour response time from Olympia,” she said.
Diane Harvey, sheriff’s office special assistant, said it is a customized robot and the company has been doing this for 25 years.
“They also have a package of tools that can be attached to this particular robot to do things such as piercing windows. It’s not just audio-video surveillance. It can cut wire. It can deflate tires. So if we had a barricaded suspect with a car, we could deflate the tires,” Harvey said.
“Also it can act as a diversion when we talk about life safety. The goal is to make it a regional asset but other agencies have to be trained with it,” she said.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.
