West Carrollton Police testing new non-lethal equipment aimed at avoiding injury to suspects

West Carrollton Police are trying out a new piece of equipment they hope will cut down on the use of more lethal force.

The department recently bought two “BolaWrap” devices. The equipment deploys a Kevlar string with hooks that wrap around a suspect’s arms or legs, restricting their movement.

“It’s a device that’s less lethal tool that we have at our disposal to potentially take the suspects, detain them safely with minimal injury or no injury at all,” said West Carrollton Officer Chris Fairchild.

The device sounds like a gun when it is deployed, but allows the officer to subdue a suspect from a safe distance without significant injury.

It’s the latest change considered by a  Miami Valley law enforcement agency, at a time when so many departments across the country are considering reforms in the wake of protests demanding change this summer.

“Just to show that we’re trying to stay advanced, and stay ahead of the curve in using less lethal tools on our belt that we have,” Fairchild said. “Just another (tool) to keep everybody safe.”

So far West Carrollton has only purchased two of the devices, which cost $1000 each. The department, which has not deployed the BolaWrap yet, plans to continue testing the device before perhaps considering the purchase of more devices.

Cox Media Group