Vehicle Pursuit Tech: Pleasant Prairie Police Deploy Grappler Nets
The Wisconsin department reports three successful stops and three failures in its first month with the $400 nylon net system.
By Aiko Brooks ·
Pleasant Prairie police are testing a mechanical net system designed to halt car chases without physical contact. The department began using the device in October. It is the second agency in Wisconsin to adopt the technology, following Monona police.
The Grappler system consists of a heavy nylon net attached to a bar mounted on the front bumper of a squad car. During a pursuit, officers lower the net into the rear wheel of the fleeing vehicle. The mechanism wraps around the tire to slow the car down. The nylon net is a single-use component. Each replacement costs approximately $400. The entire installation costs between $8,000 and $10,000 and allows for 100 uses before the hardware needs replacement. The equipment was developed by Grappler Police Bumper in 2018.
Chief David Selvidge said the device helps protect innocent drivers who may be in the path of a fleeing suspect. "We're de-escalating on the behalf of the motoring public, the innocent people that are out there, that are in the path of this dangerous person," Selvidge said. He noted that he would like to install the system on every vehicle in the department's fleet.
In the first month of operation, Pleasant Prairie police made three successful deployments and three unsuccessful attempts. Selvidge acknowledged that the system is not perfect. "It's not a magic bullet," he said. "There's going to be times when it doesn't work, or there's going to be times when there are situations where it's inappropriate to use it." He added that when the conditions are right, stopping a dangerous vehicle is a major success for the team.
Selvidge said he does not yet know how the nets will perform in cold weather or on non-ideal road surfaces. Because of these uncertainties, other Wisconsin departments are waiting to observe the results before purchasing the equipment. The Grappler Police Bumper company stated that the technology is currently used by more than 165 agencies across 34 states. The company declined to name specific departments that are considering the purchase.
Selvidge believes the investment is justified if it saves a life. "If it prevents the loss of one life, it's priceless," he said. The department will continue to monitor the device's performance as winter conditions set in.
