[kenth]

How long were the authorities running around like the proverbial headless chicken AFTER determining what their first device was?

Just after three p.m., two bomb-sniffing dogs swept through City Hall, spending 16 minutes in Menino’s office. “It is outrageous, in a post 9/11 world, that a company would use this irresponsible marketing scheme,” Menino said.

So, it sounds like at this point they knew it was a marketing scheme, but they continued the frenzied search. Yet, they whine about others costing them money?

[Bernard]

two bomb-sniffing dogs swept through City Hall, spending 16 minutes in Menino’s office

Makes me wonder what attracted the dogs enough that they took 16 minutes in the Mayor's office.