The sheriff's department has set aside $70,000 in Homeland Security grant money to buy the robot. The County Commission approved the purchase.
Six deputies will be trained to use the robot, which can fit in the trunk of a police cruiser.
"It's kind of short and squatty," Lemaster said.
Having the robot is important, given the number of federal facilities in the county. If a suspicious package turned up at one of them, the robot could be used to move it to a safe area, Lemaster said.
Officers have responded to several such calls in recent months, including a call for a suspicious item in a field. Before approaching the item - which turned out to be a refrigerator component - deputies used binoculars to examine it, Lemaster said.
Although its primary purpose will be to handle potential explosives, the robot could also be used in other situations, Lemaster said.
If someone barricaded himself in a building, the camera-equipped robot could be sent in to assess the situation, Lemaster said.
The robot also could be taken to the scene of a hazardous materials incident, possibly preventing a police officer or firefighter from breathing toxic fumes, he added.
Around $300,000 in grants has been sent to the sheriff's department for homeland security purposes, with around one-third used to buy an emergency generator. Other items purchased included tactical equipment and a bullet-proof blanket that can be carried and wrapped around a victim of a terrorist attack, Lemaster said.
Although not required, information regarding the robot purchase was sent to Homeland Security officials to ensure buying the robot is an appropriate expenditure. The grant money must be spent soon, Lemaster said.
