ATF, Colorado Springs PD Demonstrate Mobile App for Explosives Reporting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Explosive devices? There is an app for that.

The mobile Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS), developed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives through the U.S. Bomb Data Center, allows bomb squads and fire investigators to report incidents from any mobile device. The Colorado Springs Police Department Regional Explosives Unit was one of the first squads in the country to pilot the new app in 2015, and their critical feedback supported a new release of the app nationwide earlier this past spring.

Mobile BATS centralizes incident reporting, notification and information sharing to help bomb squads detect, deter and prevent future criminal and terrorist attacks in real time.

    What: Mobile BATS demonstration and availability for interviews

    Who:   Special Agent Tim Kelly, ATF’s Denver Arson and Explosives Group Supervisor Sergeant Chris Arseneau, CSPD Regional Explosives Unit Supervisor

    **CSPD Chief Pete Carey, El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder and ATF Special Agent in Charge Debora Livingston will provide brief statements but are not available for questions.***

    Where: CSPD Police Operations Center, 705 S Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO, 80903

    When: Thursday, June 22, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Please RSVP by 4 p.m., June 21, to PIO Lisa Meiman at ATF’s Denver Field Division at 303-575-7611 or Lisa.Meiman@atf.gov (link sends e-mail). Media should plan to be on site by 11:15 a.m.

About the U.S. Bomb Data Center and BATS

The U.S. Bomb Data Center (USBDC) serves as the national repository for explosives- and arson-related incidents. Its purpose is to collect data and to provide those federal, state and local agencies having jurisdiction with information and intelligence to assist in the investigation of bombings, arson, and the criminal misuse of explosives. The database that houses this information and the source of intelligence is the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS). BATS contains information on more than 450,000 explosives- and arson-related incidents investigated by ATF, FBI and other federal state and local law enforcement and public safety agencies. Currently the USBDC has more than 2,500 interagency partners and more than 12,000 registered users of BATS.

Mobile BATS provide agencies with a system for real-time reporting of explosives and arson related incidents into BATS from any mobile device. By permitting on-scene access to BATS, investigators can provide more timely and comprehensive incident information into the database and to investigators within their area and nationwide.

Please see the attached fact sheet for more information on the U.S. Bomb Data Center.

About the Colorado Springs Police Department Regional Explosives Unit

The Regional Explosives Unit, comprised of Colorado Springs Police Officers and El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputies, is responsible for all explosives related calls in the South Central Region of Colorado to include the counties of El Paso, Teller, Park, Lake and Chaffee. The unit is staffed by five full-time bomb technicians, and 10 part-time technicians and para-technicians. In 2015, the Unit also assumed all arson investigations for the City of Colorado Springs. The Regional Explosives Unit is accredited as a bomb squad by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and routinely works with numerous federal agencies. The Unit works in concert with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on all domestic explosives-related cases.