The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has begun using a new tool designed to safely stop fleeing vehicles during police pursuits. The device, known as “The Grappler,” aims to reduce the risks that high-speed chases pose to officers and the public.
According to authorities, the Grappler is mounted on the front of a patrol vehicle. When activated, mechanical arms extend forward and drop a net that catches one of the suspect vehicle’s wheels. The net then tightens with a tether, gradually bringing the vehicle to a stop.
Deputy Brian Conroy, a corporal assigned to the department’s K-9 unit, said the tool has proven highly effective. His patrol vehicle carries both a police dog and the Grappler system, and he noted that he has already used the device about 10 times in the two months since it was installed…