Bomb Squad

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police Bomb Unit is a nationally accredited, part-time unit comprised of six technicians and one coordinator. The unit trains at least eight hours per month, and each technician goes through rigorous training at Redstone Arsenal, as well as other classes mandated by Homeland Security, to obtain certification as a Bomb Technician. Two of the Bomb Unit Technicians are also assigned to the SWAT team to conduct explosive entries on barricaded structures.

This unit utilizes highly technical equipment and expertise to detect and disrupt explosives and other hazardous devices. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police Bomb Unit is the primary responding Bomb Unit for most of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. The unit averages between 60 and 80 calls per year and works closely with military and federal EOD units to resolve issues regarding hazardous devices.