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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 12, 2007 Click image for larger view Oregon State Police Detective Blain Allen operates the remote-controlled robot used by the bomb squad. (Mail Tribune / Jim Craven) Defusing threats OSP's remote-controlled robot helps to protect cops and citizens By chris conrad Mail Tribune Oregon State Police's own version of "RoboCop" has had a busy few weeks dealing with a threat to blow up a local television station and being damaged in a Grants Pass explosion. But the way Jackson County bomb squad bomb technicians Detective Blaine Allen and Sgt. Eric Fox see it, better the robot than a living, breathing police officer at the receiving end of a pipe bomb. "Before this we were the robot," Allen said. "It can take a lot more damage than a person can." Allen, who works for OSP's major crime team, has been an 11-year veteran of the bomb squad. Fox, who works for the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, is the only other local cop qualified to handle the nearly 300 bomb calls Southern Oregon gets per year. They work part-time with the bomb squad in addition to the long hours of patrol and investigative police work. Advertisement The robot itself, a $150,000 piece of hardware paid for by Homeland Security grants, is top of the line in its field. It comes with four cameras, two 12-gauge cannons for blowing down doors and detonating explosives, a microphone and a super-strong gripper arm that came in handy during a five-hour standoff outside KTVL-Channel 10 last month. A man threatening to blow up the stations barricaded himself inside his van. He had several cans of gasoline around the van, which made for easy pickings for the robot, Allen said. "We used the microphone to negotiate with him," Allen said. "And every time we sent the robot we stole a can of gasoline." The robot also delivered a cell phone to 49-year-old Mark Allen Dickey, who eventually was charged with disorderly conduct, menacing and possession of a hoax destructive device. And though that particular explosive was fake, the bomb squad deals with several each year that are very real, Fox said. "On occasion we get some pretty sophisticated bombs," he added. "A lot of the time it's pipe bombs that people build and just leave around." A week after the KTVL stunt, a small bomb was found near a Grants Pass church. The discovery forced an evacuation of downtown Grants Pass. The robot earned its keep that day. As it approached the small plastic soda bottle wrapped in tape and detonated the device by shooting it with a small-caliber round. The explosion damaged the front of the robot. "It worked fine after that," Allen said. "It just looked like it'd been through a wrestling match." The squad will add a third member shortly, to help with the robot's considerable upkeep. "To maintain this equipment is a full-time job that two part-time people are doing," Fox said. Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary