Sheriff Brian Hess announces that the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has recently trained deputies on the Grappler, an advanced pursuit intervention tool designed to safely stop fleeing vehicles and help bring dangerous vehicle pursuits to a swift and safer conclusion.
When suspects flee from law enforcement, they put innocent lives at risk. The Grappler provides deputies with another tool to help safely stop fleeing vehicles, reduce the risks associated with dangerous pursuits, and, in some cases, may even prevent a pursuit before it begins.
Law enforcement agencies are constantly evaluating the risk versus reward of pursuing fleeing vehicles. While every effort is made to avoid unnecessary pursuits, there are situations where suspects pose an immediate threat to the public and law enforcement has no choice but to act quickly to stop them.
In a prior incident, a violent offender who had just committed an assault with a weapon and was threatening to commit a homicide fled from police, endangered innocent motorists, and struck responding patrol vehicles—highlighting the importance of having additional tools available to bring these dangerous situations to a swift and safer conclusion.
The addition of the Grappler system reflects the Sheriff’s Office’s continued commitment to utilizing modern technology and innovative tools to enhance public safety and protect innocent motorists, deputies, and the community.
The Grappler system was purchased using asset forfeiture funds, allowing the Sheriff’s Office to enhance public safety without additional cost 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,” said Sheriff Brian Hess.
