Clallam sheriff seeks grant for tactical robot

Commissioners to consider request

PORT ANGELES – The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is applying for $78,000 state grant to buy a SuperDroid tactical robot for use in crisis negotiations, audio-video surveillance, detection and inspection of hazardous or suspicious materials or packages as well as piercing windows and deflating car tires.

The Clallam County commissioners heard a presentation on the proposal at their Monday work session and will formally consider the grant application during their regular meeting set for 10 a.m. Tuesday in the commissioners’ meeting room at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St.

“I have seen a similar device deployed by the FBI SWAT team up Deer Park Road during an active shooter event,” said Chief Criminal Deputy Amy Bundy with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

“This device allows us to go into remote areas, houses, climb stairs and separates us from any potential harm’s way. We can clear buildings with it,” she said.

“We talk and do crisis negotiations with it. It also has the ability to detect hazardous materials. It also video-records.”

Bundy said the closest similar device is operated by the Thurston County SWAT and the Tacoma Police Department might have one.

“So even in the courthouse last year, we had a suspicious package that required a State Patrol bomb squad to show up. Now, typically they have to go down to get their truck with their robot and it’s a several-hour response time from Olympia,” she said.

Diane Harvey, sheriff’s office special assistant, said it is a customized robot and the company has been doing this for 25 years.

“They also have a package of tools that can be attached to this particular robot to do things such as piercing windows. It’s not just audio-video surveillance. It can cut wire. It can deflate tires. So if we had a barricaded suspect with a car, we could deflate the tires,” Harvey said.

“Also it can act as a diversion when we talk about life safety. The goal is to make it a regional asset but other agencies have to be trained with it,” she said.

________

Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.

More in News

Tracy Ryan, a nurse at Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend, stands in front of one of the hospital’s maternity ward rooms. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)
Rural maternity wards are struggling to stay afloat

State and federal lawmakers are trying to help

Jefferson County approves transportation plan

Six-year improvement outlook budgeted for more than $94M

Rainwater collection presentation canceled

The Rainwater Collection 101 presentation scheduled for 6:30 p.m.… Continue reading

Rear Admiral Charles E. Fosse, right, U.S. Coast Guard District 13 commander, was the guest speaker at the U.S. Coast Guard Station Port Angeles’ annual Veterans Day celebration on Monday. Chaplain Mike VanProyen, left, and Kelly Higgins, the commanding officer at Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, also participated in the ceremony. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Hundreds gather in Port Angeles to honor service members

High school band, choral groups highlight event

Former Marine Joseph Schwann of Port Townsend smiles as he receives a Quilt of Valor from Kathy Darrow, right, and another member of Quilts of Valor during the Veterans Day event at the American Legion Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 in Port Townsend on Monday. Group leader Kathey Bates, left, was the emcee of the event. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Quilts of Valor

Former Marine Joseph Schwann of Port Townsend smiles as he receives a… Continue reading

Port Townsend ethics complaint dismissed

Officer examines argument on open meetings

Friends of the Library to host annual meeting

The Port Angeles Friends of the Library will conduct… Continue reading

Peninsula College to stage ‘The Thanksgiving Play’

Peninsula College will present its production of “The Thanksgiving… Continue reading

Ceramic sculpture “Flora-Fauna” by Thomas Connery.
Library to host reception for ‘Second Look’ exhibition

The North Olympic Library System will host a reception… Continue reading

Sequim City Council members finalized through their consent agenda to ban the sale of fireworks effective October 2025. They held a public hearing last month that garnered mostly support for the ban. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim finalizes ban on fireworks

Ordinance change will go into effect next October

Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Rich Krebsbach, manager of the Highland Irrigation District, asks questions of Rhiana Barkie, Clallam County public works project coordinator. The map is one of four new options for the Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir project. Public input is being taken through the county’s website at https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/188/Dungeness-Off-Channel-Reservoir-Project.
Sequim reservoir project draws crowd, questions

Clallam County, FEMA public comment period open through Nov. 21