Thou Shall Count To Three

“Like you got a pair.”  The instructions on how to shout fire in the hole are simple enough for a city manager (with either testes or ovaries) to follow.  Shout it three times and push the button – hard – for three seconds.  It seems the shift will end with a bang.  A shaped charge of C4 to cut the pipe bomb open, now safely waiting in a hole, is awaiting my shouting and thumb on the detonator. 

The Hurt Locker has come to Hilby, complete with a very smart, very serious and very funny foursome from the Monterey County Sheriff Bomb Squad.  Here’s an operating theory.  The constant stream of deadpan jokes do more than relieve the tension of a job undoing all manner of knucklehead, and sometimes downright evil, adventures in chemistry and electronics.  The non-stop wit serves as a constant test / demonstration of just how sharp these guys are.  If you can’t be funny while dismantling bombs, you’re not as cool and quick as you need to be to do the job.  Just a theory. 

Earlier, in the technology-packed trailer, the guys were explaining how a smart bomb maker goes about his craft.  Not making any assumptions about guilt or innocence, for there is an entire justice system for that, but the bomb we have was not assembled by a smart bomb maker.  The x-ray shows it’s dumb, crude and dangerous.  You couldn’t pay me enough to do what these guys do. 

Some excellent police work has led to the block being cleared and the bomb squad arriving.  Riding with Officer Hoffman, we arrive to a home SPD has visited before.  There’s a caution tag on the address and Officer Hoffman waits for another officer to arrive before proceeding.  Officer Snell and Officer Rogish arrive in short order and the individual who is cause for concern is secured without incident.  An inspection of the home, which was authorized by the individual, finds two hand-crafted devices with fuses. 

The ride-along was not especially notable prior to the bomb squad call, except for an accident which appeared to be caused by a driver running a red light into a squad driven by Officer Rogish.  Good traffic management and excellent coordination with SFD cleared the intersection promptly and professionally, and it appears no one was significantly injured.  Officer Rogish’s forearm may be bruised, but you wouldn’t know it three hours later at the Hilby address.  Sargeant Law and Commander Veloz are also on scene, overseeing the situation in the cold drizzle. 

Everyone has done a great job today, and it’s good to see the department operate first-hand.  Professional.  Smart.  Caring.  Working as a team.  It’s how it’s supposed to be done.

Thank you.  Stay safe.