Police work is a constant battle, one that involves mind games and sometimes physical force to make subjects comply. Over the years many tools have been developed to help control non-compliant types so that law enforcement need not lay hands on subjects—chemical spray, taser, pepper ball, etc. Recently, a new option has surfaced—The BolaWrap.
What is it?
The BolaWrap is a less-lethal hand-held remote restraint device about the size of a cellphone. It discharges an eight-foot bola style Kevlar tether at 513 feet per second to entangle a subject at a range of 10-25 feet. According to Wrap Technologies, Inc., the wrap encircles the body one to three times at 270 feet per second. The remote device has a green line laser for accuracy and fires a recyclable eight-foot Kevlar tether with a 380-pound strength rating. The tether contains four entangling barbs per anchor and is propelled by a .380 partial charge blank. BolaWrap’s purpose is to restrain without using pain to gain compliance. It’s simple to deploy and easy to reload a fresh cartridge for multiple wraps.
Why BolaWrap?
BolaWrap was developed to subdue subjects without shocking, shooting, spraying, or otherwise significantly injuring them. The wrap happens so quickly, either around the torso or lower extremities, that the non-compliant person is rendered immobile in the blink of an eye. It’s an appropriate technique to use on those who may be mentally ill or non-compliant. Many of today’s calls for service involve subjects suffering from mental illness. While the tool is designed to avoid causing pain, it may cause injuries when suspects try to struggle free. The barbs that anchor the wrap may dig into the skin if a suspect attempts to free himself.
Designed to deescalate situations, the wrap doesn’t require the officer to point and aim which may heighten tension. Because of the laser technology, the officer can simply hold the BolaWrap at his side and activate the firing mechanism without even raising an arm. This allows for an element of surprise. The subject has no idea of what’s about to happen. Once they hear the loud bang of the instrument and feel the rope wrapped around them, officers can quickly subdue and properly restrain him. According to the website, “the rope doesn’t work around the suspect’s neck because that part of the body is too narrow, so there is no danger of a person being strangled in case the rope strikes someone above the chest.”
Cost
The BolaWrap goes for about $1,000 per device; additional cartridges cost extra. Each cartridge has a one-time use which is comparable to the five-year lifespan of a taser. The company provides live demonstrations upon request and offers a Train the Trainer four-hour course that will provide a training course that certifies your officers as instructors. They may then train your department in the proper use of the BolaWrap. The potential savings for a department in terms of litigation is potentially great. Using a less-lethal alternative to batons and firearms decreases exposure to lawsuits.
Who’s on board?
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office in California was testing the BolaWrap this past November, according to Sheriff Jim Hart. He said he made a commitment to examining all new technology, particularly around less-lethal devices, and this is one of those devices. The goal is to resolve cases without causing harm if the person has a non-lethal weapon. “Even if we have one case where we prevented lethal force from having to be used, it’s worth the investment,” Hart said.
The device will help resolve some of the “odd” cases of the past year, numerous mental health crises, about ten a day or 300 per month. “If we can distract somebody with this wrap, they get their legs wrapped up, they start focusing on the cord, rather than what my personnel are doing, and we can get two or three or five seconds for us to close that distance and take that person safely into custody, then I think this is an ideal weapon system for that type of an incident.”
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office invited BolaWrap for a demonstration of their product last year. They had seen the product at a meeting at the International Association of Chiefs of police. BolaWrap’s also been reviewed by the Los Angeles PD as well as smaller departments across the country. In Florida, Daytona Beach is testing BolaWrap, as are sheriff’s offices in Pinellas and Miami-Date counties. Field testing has begun in Coral Gables, Miami Springs, and North Miami.
Technology is ever evolving with devices and tools that make an officer’s job safer and easier. The BolaWrap seems like a great less-lethal option to add to an officer’s tool kit.
Stay Safe, Brothers and Sisters!
John Wills
John M. Wills is a former Chicago police officer and retired FBI agent. He is a freelance writer and award-winning author in a variety of genres, including novels, short stories and poetry. John also writes book reviews for the New York Journal of Books, and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. His new book, The Year Without Christmas, is available now. Visit John at: www.johnmwills.com.
