New mobile X-ray system to increase efficiency for area bomb squad
GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- If a suspicious package happens to make its way into Lambeau Field for Saturday's Billy Joel concert, the ability to detect what is inside should be quicker than ever before.
“Probably like three, four minutes we can have it X-Rayed and tell us what's inside,” said Lt. Chris Knurr of the Brown County Sheriff’s Department.
New mobile, digital X-ray technology is the reason for the increased efficiency.
The Brown-Outagamie County Bomb Squad’s previous technology was stationary, and took a minimum of 15 minutes to produce an X-ray.
“We're going to be able to take this X-ray system with us and put it on our backs, be able to walk through crowds, walk through large events.
SharpLogixx, LLC in downtown Green Bay donated one of its $57,000 SmartRayVision kits to the bomb squad.
“We're doing something that hopefully our product will help save lives, will help the people that are trying to support and save other people,” said Robin Pfaff, the COO of SharpLogixx.
Everything needed to take an X-ray with the system fits into a backpack. The package or bag in question sits between an X-ray unit and a digital detector panel that converts X-ray energy into a digital picture. The digital picture shows up on a tablet-like device called a controller.
“Obviously we can see on the inside,” said Kevin Scholz, the CEO of SharpLogixx. “We can look and see if there is anything that is in there that is suspicious.”
Sheriff's officials say they normally only had to use their old technology an average of once or twice per Lambeau event, typically for something left unattended.
Law enforcement departments across the country are using Sharplogixx’s X-ray systems. The Army also recently bought 140 kits.
