The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has trained its deputies to use a new device designed to safely stop fleeing vehicles, an effort officials say will reduce the dangers associated with high-speed police pursuits.
Sheriff Brian Hess announced that deputies recently completed training on the Grappler, a pursuit intervention tool that attaches a tether to a suspect vehicle, allowing officers to bring it to a controlled stop.
Hess said vehicle pursuits pose significant risks to the public, particularly when suspects drive recklessly to evade police. The Grappler is intended to give deputies another option to end those pursuits more quickly and safely—and, in some cases, deter suspects from fleeing altogether.
Law enforcement agencies routinely weigh the risks of chasing a suspect against the need to apprehend them. While police emphasize that unnecessary pursuits are avoided, they note that certain situations—such as those involving violent offenders—require immediate action.
In one prior incident cited by the Sheriff’s Office, a suspect accused of committing an assault with a weapon and threatening further violence fled from police, endangered motorists and struck patrol vehicles, underscoring the need for additional tools to stop dangerous drivers.
Hess noted that the Grappler system was purchased using asset forfeiture funds, meaning no additional cost was passed on to taxpayers.
“We will continue investing in the most advanced tools, technology and training available to help our deputies protect the residents of Putnam County,” Hess said.
Article provided by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
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