THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409290463
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
The state police may change the way they keep track of materials used to train bomb-sniffing dogs in the wake of the arrest of trooper Vernon R. Richards, a ranking officer said Wednesday.
Richards, a bomb-squad member, allegedly made and planted five explosive devices in Hampton and Virginia Beach, then ``found'' them during searches with his black Labrador, Master Blaster. He was arrested Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Gerald Massengill said gunpowder, detonation caps, and casings used for explosive devices are used by state police dog handlers to train bomb sniffers like Master Blaster. The items are issued to handlers by the state police in Richmond, Massengill said.
But the force needs to better keep track of what has been issued and how the items are being used, he said.
``We are going to review some of the policies we have in place dealing with availability of training aids,'' Massengill, director of field operations, said in a telephone interview. ``They are essential to the program, and canine handlers have to have access to that type of stuff.''
Some state-issued material may have been used to construct one or more of the five devices that police say Richards planted on Sept. 13 at the Hampton General District Court building, and at Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach on July 16 and Coliseum Mall on June 17.
Richards continued to be held without bail Wednesday in the Virginia Beach City Jail. A preliminary hearing is to be held in October. If convicted, Richards could face more than 100 years in prison and fines of more than $300,000.
Richards and Master Blaster received recognition and accolades when they found all but one of the devices.
Authorities recovered items that may have been issued by the State Police before Richards was arrested when they searched his home in Hampton and his unmarked State Police car.
Massengill said, however, that no matter what changes are made to better regulate the materials, stopping the kind of abuses that Richards is alleged to have committed would be nearly impossible.
``It would be very difficult to stop it absolutely,'' Massengill said. ``They are training dogs all the time; there is a certain amount of this stuff they have to have. It is the nature of the job. But we are going to take a look at that. In fact, we have already started to look at it.''
Massengill defended the testing procedures used to screen canine handlers.
Massengill said troopers receive a complete psychological evaluation at the entry level and supervisors have the option of using psychological counselors to help troubled troopers at any time.
Massengill said Richards had no history of psychological problems and did not seek help.
He said random psychological testing will not be instituted in response to the case.
``I think random testing would be resisted and is not justified,'' said Massengill. ``I feel our department has a good grip on that situation.''
N.G. Berrill, a forensic psychologist who teaches at the City University of New York, said that the behavior allegedly displayed by Richards is rare and has not been well-studied. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Vernon R. Richards allegedly planted devices and then ``found'' them
later.
KEYWORDS: ARREST EXPLOSIVES BOMB SQUAD
VIRGINIA STATE POLICE by CNB