A pursuit intervention using the Grappler Police Bumper went awry when officers deployed the device on the wrong vehicle, an error that illustrates the challenges and potential for mistakes even with the more controlled pursuit-ending technologies that have been developed to reduce the risks of vehicle chases. The Grappler, which is designed to entangle a fleeing vehicle’s wheel and bring it to a controlled stop, was deployed against a vehicle that was not the intended target, creating an unintended situation that the officers involved had to address. The incident provides a reminder that even improved pursuit technologies are subject to human error.
The deployment of pursuit intervention technology against the wrong vehicle represents the kind of error that can occur in the high-pressure, fast-moving environment of a vehicle pursuit, where officers must make rapid decisions and execute precise maneuvers under stress. While the Grappler has a strong track record of effective and relatively safe pursuit termination, its effectiveness depends on correct deployment against the intended target. The incident, while embarrassing and potentially creating liability for the innocent vehicle owner affected, illustrates that no pursuit technology eliminates the potential for human error in the dynamic environment of a police chase.