THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — Two more Thurston County deputies will get a new tool meant to end police chases, thanks to a federal grant.
The Department of Justice is awarding Thurston County $19,809 in federal funding for two “grappler police bumper” pursuit technology systems, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
The devices use a spring-launched net to wrap around the wheel of a fleeing vehicle, forcing the car to stop.
The net is tethered to the squad car involved in the pursuit.
Ten Thurston County deputies already have the devices attached to the front of their vehicles.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said another 17 have been ordered, in addition to the two paid for with the federal grant.
Sanders said about a third of the agencies vehicles will be equipped with the tool he called, “terrifically simple.”
A deputy successfully deployed the device during a pursuit in rural Thurston County last month.
Sanders said the grappler won’t work in every pursuit, but he thinks they are an effective device.
”Long, sustained pursuits are dangerous,” Sanders said. “If we're going to engage in a pursuit, we need to be able to end it as soon as possible.”