On Friday, February 11^th, 2011, Sergeant Brian Hoelscher and Officer Darin Rulapaugh graduated from the prestigious Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Hazardous Device School.  The Hazardous Devices School is the only academy of its kind in the United States, as it trains and certifies all of the nations bomb technicians. 

Hazardous Devices School is located on the United States Army Base, Redstone Arsenal, in Huntsville, Alabama.  The Hazardous Devices School is a joint effort between the United States Army and the FBI.  Because of this cooperation, police officers are able to obtain the best training in the world from the United States Military and the FBI.  The training encompasses the fundamentals of explosives, render safe procedures, post-blast investigations, basic electronics, robotics, decontamination, and disposal procedures.

Sgt. Hoelscher and Officer Rulapaugh successfully completed the six-week training course and became FBI Certified Bomb Technicians.  They are both members of the Waterloo Police Department’s FBI Certified Bomb Squad.

Sgt. Hoelscher has been on the Waterloo Police Department for eight years and is currently a supervisor on Watch II Patrol.  Officer Rulapaugh has been on the Waterloo Police Department for eleven years and is currently assigned to Watch II Patrol.

The Waterloo Police Department Bomb Squad is part of the Iowa Bomb Squad Task Force. Task Force members are trained in weapons of mass destruction, advanced explosive disposal operations, and threat mitigation from various federal agencies.