Bomb Squad Transfers Approved

By Vernon Tarver

Posted: November 29, 2009 at 4:46 a.m.

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BENTONVILLE — The transfer of the Springdale Bomb Squad to Bentonville came one step closer to reality this week. The Bentonville City Council approved two new positions in the Police Department to be filled by bomb squad specialists.

The squad’s move to Bentonville was announced in October and is to be operational in Bentonville on Jan. 2. The move to Benton County was prompted by budget cuts in the Springdale Police Department, Bomb Squad Sgt. Russell Hinds said. Before the move could be made, the Bentonville City Council had to approve hiring the two officers.

The squad consists of three bomb technicians, one of whom serves as squad commander. Bentonville police had one bomb technician, leaving two more spots to fill.

Bentonville Police Chief James Allen explained in a Nov. 16 letter to Mayor Bob McCaslin that the positions will be filled by officers moving from the Springdale department.

“One is a sergeant and one is an officer with eight years of experience,” Allen wrote. “To encourage them to relocate we must make the compensation comparable to what they are making in their (Springdale) position.”

The council approved additional pay of $6,000 annually for the bomb commander position and an extra $4,000 annually for the second bomb technician position.

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