PRESS RELEASE
To: NEWSROOM
For Immediate Release
Contact: Asst. Chief Brian Crawford: 673-6652 or cell: 455-2609

March 27, 2007 - Fire Department to Unveil New Bomb Task Force Response Unit

Shreveport Fire Department unveils its latest weapon against crime

The Shreveport Fire Department is all set to unveil its latest weapon against crime and terrorism in our area: a new state-of-the-art Bomb Task Force Response Unit. The unit will be unveiled and demonstrated at a press conference. The logistics of that event are as follows:

What: New Bomb Task Force Response Unit
(unveiling & demonstration)
Where: Shreveport Fire & Police Training Academy
6440 Greenwood Rd.
When: Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Time: 10:00 a.m.

The prototype hybrid vehicle, a 2007 GM C-5500 custom build unit by Excellance Inc. of Huntsville, Alabama, carries a price tag of $150,885. It was paid for by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. The high-profile unit has a host of specialty features including:

§ A housing and deployment area for the androgynous hazardous duty robot
§ An on-board 7 kw diesel generator that powers the unit when it is not attached to a permanent electrical source.
§ The vehicle also has a telescopic inferred camera.
§ Additionally the unity houses electronic equipment, bomb suits and other bomb task force equipment.

The vehicle plus equipped has a total value of over half-a-million dollars. It will be housed at the Investigations Section at 1700 Snow Street. It replaces a Ford utility van that has served as the Task Force vehicle since 1982.

A full demonstration of the new unit’s capabilities will be provided during the press conference. Members of the media will have full access to the unit afterwards. The event is open to the public. ###