2005-42
NEWS RELEASE:   November 15, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM:   The Kansas Highway Patrol
CONTACT:   LT John Eichkorn 785-296-6800

Troopers Attend Terrorist Interdiction Training Course

Twenty-three agencies participated in weapons of mass destruction training

Eighty law enforcement officers from 23 agencies in Kansas and out of state attended the Advanced Commercial Vehicle Criminal and Terrorist Interdiction training October 24 through October 26 in Salina. The training course is nationally known and recognized as the only one of its kind in the world. Joe David, a retired California Highway Patrol trooper, presented the program.

The three-day hands-on training course, called Desert Snow, subjected officers to 150 types of concealment methods, more than 30,000 pounds of simulated drugs, $20 million in simulated currency, and enough explosive devices to buckle a highway system, destroy commercial and government buildings and bring down commercial jetliners. During the training, officers inspected a variety of commercial vehicles that had unique hidden compartments.

"We're pleased to be able to provide the law enforcement community with this quality and type of training," said Patrol Capt. Mark Bruce. "Over 8.5 million trucks are registered to transit the highways of the United States, and commercial motor vehicles smuggle tons of illegal drugs in addition to having the potential to deliver weapons of mass destruction across our nation's highways."

The training course was provided through funding from the State Homeland Security Grant Program administered by the Kansas Highway Patrol Homeland Security Operations section.

Agencies that participated in the training included: Augusta Department of Safety, Brown County Sheriff's Department, Chapman Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff's Department, Chicago, Ill. Police Department, Dodge City Police Department, Doniphan County Sheriff's Department, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Finney County Sheriff's Office, Ford County Sheriff's Office, Garden City Police Department, Geary County Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police, Iowa State Patrol, Jackson County Sheriff's Department, Junction City Police Department, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Highway Patrol, Nemaha County Sheriff's Department, Newton Police Department, Nickerson Police Department, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Saline County Sheriff's Office, Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, Topeka Police Department, Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office and Wichita Police Department.