The Fairfax County Police Department announced the full deployment of BolaWrap, a hand-held remote restraint device that allows officers to restrain uncooperative suspects or individuals experiencing a mental health crisis from a distance, the police said in a news release.
BolaWrap devices work by launching a Kevlar cord that wraps around the target to immobilize the target. It’s a solution that was designed to help officers safely restrain individuals from a distance, without using excessive force, so they can be taken into custody.
According to BolaWrap, the devices are designed to be less painful than devices like tasers or pepper spray, instead restraining subjects by wrapping a cord around their legs or torso.
FCPD first used BolaWrap as a pilot program, assigning 30 devices throughout district stations and to the Crisis Intervention Team in November 2022. Officers completed training, then began to use the tools on patrol.
After “a number of positive outcomes,” the department decided to deploy BolaWrap to all patrol officers.
“The Fairfax County Police Department is dedicated to enhancing responsiveness, prioritizing safety and emphasizing de-escalation,” said Chief Kevin Davis. “Launching BolaWrap department-wide is expected to transform our incident resolution capacity, especially in crisis situations.”
Officers who use the technology will receive training on how to safely do so, including periodic refresher courses.
Feature image courtesy Fairfax County Police Department
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