By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
BENTON TOWNSHIP – Possibly one of the Berrien County Sheriff's Department's most interesting pieces of equipment – and one many may not be aware of exists to service the area if needed – is the bomb team's robot. The unit, which operates by remote is what was used when a bomb threat was called in from the Harding's supermarket in Buchanan. "We sent it inside the store, so we could see what was going on in there," explained Deputy Chris Corteville. "A mechanical 'arm' extends in order to remove threatening elements and the unit is equipped with cameras for surveillance as well as shotgun barrels.
"We've got the capability to respond to just about any call you can think of," Corteville said.
Like keeping the peace.
"This is 'peace-keeper'," said Chief Deputy Samuel Harris, leading reporters, who were touring the sheriff's department's facility in Benton Township, to a jagged, military style vehicle that is part of the department's Tactical Response Unit, or "TRU" team and is a heavily stocked truck of weapons and ammunition. The two vehicles assigned to this team are kept locked and stocked since deputies responding to calls that would require these particular units are often coming to the facility straight from home, without any equipment on them.
"We train, for the worst case scenarios," Harris said. "Still, we're happy when we don't have to use this equipment."
Training is a big part of what surrounds the department's equipment. For every team, every tactic, and every case – the deputies need extensive and continual training so they are fully equipped to handle the situations in which they enter.
The facility, finally, expands into a crisis management center space and central dispatch. A wide open room with multiple flat screen televisions affixed to the wall, and multiple communication positions set up like something out of a television crime drama. Long mahogany tables are covered in telephones and computer monitors. Each table is designated, said Sheriff Paul Bailey, for a specific function: rumor control, press relations, human services and health department relations to name a few.
The centralized dispatch center will house dispatch for the township – leaving two positions no longer needed in Niles. Those two employees, Bailey said, would be welcome to apply for the added two positions that the county would need at the Benton Township facility – along with other applicants.
The room also utilizes flat screen televisions to project different information including weather and the status of alarms throughout the county. Computer systems allow dispatchers to converse with multiple units and connect those units to each other for more effective communication.
Much of the equipment acquired for the specialized teams, Bailey said, is available to the department because of their status as a regional response team, one of only 15 in the state. Federal dollars help in the costs for that equipment leaving the general fund budget untouched. And while each of the specialized service teams are available throughout the county, even with the department's contract with the township, should the equipment be needed within those lines it would not cost the township any additional money.
For the most part, the equipment sits within the Benton Township facility – in a constant state of readiness should the people of Niles find themselves in the position so many throughout the nation find themselves in right now.
It may be a comfort to the department to not have to use the equipment. But with dangerous and devastating realities being highlighted every night on the evening news – for residents of the township, the city and the county it may be comforting to know – they won't be unprepared.