Firefighter arrested with explosives at Westchester airport

[WAS967 97]

http://www.wfsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=3136500

Firefighter arrested with explosives at airport

STAMFORD (AP) -- A volunteer firefighter from Stamford has been arrested

after explosives were found in his carry-on bag at Westchester County

Airport.

Lieutenant Frank Docimo of the Turn of River Fire Department was arrested

yesterday.

Westchester County police officials said they found no links to terrorism

and say Docimo likely was carrying the explosives as part of his work as a

security consultant.

The chief of the Turn of River Department says when all the facts are out,

people will see this is all a big mistake.

Airport security screeners detected explosives in Docimo's carry-on bag

yesterday afternoon.

Officials say he had a "highly explosive" inch-long detonation cord in the

bag.

Docimo was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and

possession of explosives without a license. He was released after posted

$2,500 bond.

[WAS967 97]

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local...local-headlines

Area firefighter faces weapon charges

by Zach Lowe

Staff Writer

March 29, 2005

An area volunteer firefighter and anti-terrorism expert was arrested at

Westchester County Airport in New York yesterday after federal inspectors

found illegal explosives in his carry-on bag, police officials said.

Westchester County police officials said they found no links to terrorism

and said the firefighter, Lt. Frank Docimo of the Turn of River Fire

Department in Stamford, likely was carrying the explosives as part of his

work as a security consultant.

"I'm 100 percent sure when all the facts are out, people will see this is

all a big mistake," Turn of River Chief Ray Whitbread said last night.

"Frank is a nationally recognized trainer in hazardous materials and

anti-terrorism."

Docimo teaches security classes at businesses and police departments around

the country, Whitbread said.

Airport security screeners detected explosives in Docimo's carry-on bag

shortly before 3 p.m. yesterday, said Lt. Henry Cetina of the Westchester

County Police Department.

Docimo had a "highly explosive" inch-long detonation cord in the bag, Cetina

said. Docimo was to board a flight bound for Florida when employees of the

federal Transportation Security Agency detained him and handed him over to

local police, Cetina said.

Docimo is not licensed to carry the explosives contained in a detonation

cord, Cetina said.

Westchester police have contacted the FBI to help in the investigation,

Cetina said.

The airport was not evacuated, Transportation Security Administration

spokesman Christopher White said.

Docimo was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and

possession of explosives without a license, Cetina said.

Authorities declined to comment on the contents of the cord or the types of

materials Docimo is licensed to carry.

Docimo was released yesterday on $2,500 bail, Cetina said.

A spokesman for the Turn of River Fire Department said Docimo declined to

comment and was consulting a lawyer.

[WAS967 97]

Just my two cents: This was probably just a silly/stupid mistake. If I had to guess he'll be fined at most. Similar incident happened in Texas I belive, although there is was mockups used for a WMD seminar that the guy had, not the real thing. #-o

[Truck4 48]

From his website: www.docimo.com

Frank Docimo - President/Chief Executive Officer

Frank Docimo has been affiliated with the fire service for over 24 years. Today he holds the position of Hazardous Materials Officer for the Turn of River Fire Department, in Stamford, Connecticut. He is one of the foremost hazardous materials response trainers in the country. Mr. Docimo is co-chairperson of Stamford's Local Emergency Planning Committee and team leader for one of the city's Response Teams. He has been an adviser to several state legislative committees on the hazardous materials problems in Connecticut. He is a charter member of the Connecticut Hazardous Materials Awareness Committee on which he now serves as co-chairperson. As the Chief Instructor in charge of the Hazardous Materials Program for the Connecticut State Fire School (1988-89), Mr. Docimo was instrumental in the development of the Hazardous Materials Technician Program. Presently Mr. Docimo is attending the University of Cincinnati Fire Science program.

Mr. Docimo has lectured at many national programs including the Fire Department Instructors Conference, International Association of Hazardous Materials Instructors, Hazardous Materials Team Conference, and the New England Propane Safety Conference. He has conducted training for Fire Departments, Police Departments, EMS, Local, State and Federal Agencies, NASA Fire and Rescue at the Kennedy Space Center, and the Cape Canaveral Fire Department. His credentials have not been limited to first responders, as he has conducted programs for many private corporations such as American Cyanamid, Anheuser Busch, AET Environmental Cleanup Contractors and Pitney Bowes Corporation, as well as other first responders in public and private response teams throughout the United States.

During the past year Mr. Docimo has been actively involved in many new training programs. Two recent video releases include “Surviving the Haz-Mat Incident” (Part Two) where Mr. Docimo lectures on chemical protective clothing, and “Team Decon,” for which he served on the technical committee. Other projects include serving on the development team for the International Society of Fire Service Instructors Awareness, Operational and Technician “train-the-trainer” projects, appointment to the National Incident Command Consortium Development Team/Haz-Mat Module and a CMA new meter video.

During the year 1992 Mr. Docimo was honored with two prestigious training awards. He received the Connecticut Instructor of The Year award and was also recognized for his expertise and skills as a teacher when he was awarded the National Instructor of the Year for 1992.

A textbook Mr. Docimo has written for hazardous materials technicians is scheduled for publication in late 2002.

[Guest WCDES636]

Plain and simple. He gets what he deserves. Anyone with his backround knows better.

[ajsbear 11]

Heard he was carrying about a foot of det cord that he needed for demonstrations of some equiptment he was selling.

[Guest WolfEMT]

In the time we live in, anyone who even thinks of possessing explosives at an airport, regardless of what it's for, deserves to get put away.