Paul R. Laska holds a BS in criminology from Florida State University. He served with the police department of Belle Glade, Florida as an identification officer until moving to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office as a detective with the Crime Scene Unit. In 1979, he attended the Hazardous Devices School and then established the bomb disposal function for the MCSO. In his 25-year career in Martin County he was a crime scene investigator, fingerprint specialist, bomb technician, bomb squad commander, supervisor of the Forensic Science and Records Units, and environmental investigator. Since his retirement he has been active in the United States Department of State Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program as an instructor in postblast investigation and explosives incident countermeasures classes. He has also published a number of articles for a variety of law enforcement and other public safety periodicals.