Arizona law enforcement in Glendale successfully deployed the Grappler Police Bumper to stop a fleeing suspect’s vehicle, bringing a potentially dangerous pursuit to a rapid and controlled conclusion. The Grappler device, which attaches to a police vehicle’s front bumper and deploys a net-like mechanism that entangles the fleeing vehicle’s rear wheel, has been gaining adoption among law enforcement agencies looking for pursuit-ending technology that reduces the risks associated with traditional PIT maneuvers at high speeds. The Glendale deployment added another successful outcome to the device’s growing track record.
Law enforcement pursuit tactics have been an area of significant innovation in recent years, driven by both the desire to end dangerous chases quickly and the legal and public relations concerns that can arise from conventional high-speed pursuit tactics. The Grappler represents one of the more promising technological approaches to the problem, and departments that have invested in the equipment report high satisfaction with its performance in real-world deployments. The suspect in the Glendale incident was taken into custody without further incident following the successful deployment.