This innovative technology provides the brave and dedicated men and women of the Springfield Police Department with another tool for them to use to reduce the risk of injury to officers, suspects and bystanders. In April, 2023, Mayor Sarno attended a demonstration of this device at the Police Training Facility at 299 Page Blvd.
If funding is approved, the grant will allow the Springfield Police Department to purchase an additional 15 BolaWrap devices, purchases an additional 270 Cassettes (the cartridges that launches the nonlethal restraint), and provide training for additional officers to be certified in using the BolaWrap device.
Mayor Sarno states, “I want to commend Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood for her support of this proactive and potential lifesaving piece of equipment. This nonlethal restraint device will help to reduce the risk of injury to our brave and dedicated police officers when they are trying to restrain an individual. When I saw first-hand the effectiveness of this device during a demonstration earlier this year, I was convinced that this BolaWrap would serve as an invaluable tool, especially if needed during a potential life threating call for service where an individual could be trying to harm themselves or others.”
Police Superintendent Clapprood stated, “This is another tool our officers can use as a compliance technique to potentially de-escalate situations before they become violent. Officers can use the BolaWrap device on individuals that are not responding to an officers’ commands; who may be assaultive, in situations where individuals may be attempting to harm themselves or others with known or suspected mental health issues. It will by no means replace our other service equipment, but will provide our officers with a nonlethal device to help control a potentially dangerous situation and reduce the risk of injury for our officers.”
CAFO Plante said, “Pursuing this grant to equip our Springfield Police Department with an additional nonlethal tool to utilize to help control and de-escalate unsafe situations where there could be danger to our police officers, the public or self-harm upon the individuals themselves is a no-brainer. I want to commend Mayor Sarno and Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood for their support in embracing this nonlethal restraint device and seeking this grant funding to purchase additional equipment for the Springfield Police Department.”
