Safety is Priceless
Oak Brook Police Department to be outfitted with the newest safety device
If you’ve ever witnessed a high-speed police chase, you know how dangerous the pursuit can be – not only to the law enforcement agent and perpetrator, but to nearby motorists as well. The speeding, weaving and split-second decisions required in such chases pose a viable threat to police officers and nearby motorists. In the past, officers have had to use PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuvers to spin the driver out, which often resulted in cars rolling and crashing.
Enter the Grappler. It’s a new tool used by law enforcement officers to stop chases with no harm to the driver or bystanders. It works by slowing – and eventually stopping – fleeing vehicles. The Oak Brook Police Department (OBPD) recently decided to invest in this valuable piece of equipment.
The significant number of heists at Oakbrook Center Mall over the last few years led OBPD Chief Brian Strockis to take a close look at ways to stop high-speed chases. “Due to its proximity to I-88, Oakbrook Center Mall is an ideal opportunity for mall heists, which often end in high-speed chases,” said Strockis.
Last year, OBPD was involved in 48 high-speed chases, down from 60 in 2024.
“The issue with these chases is that sometimes these cars continue on a flat tire for substantial amounts of time at a low speed, but they just keep going,” said Strockis. “Bringing these chases to a quick resolution is where I can see the Grappler being most effective. We’re constantly looking for ways to mitigate those risks and still bring the offenders to justice.”
So how does it work? Put simply, an arm lets down an apparatus that extends from the police vehicle’s front bumper. From there, a high-strength net shoots from the front of the police car – think of a spider’s web – and catches and entangles the rear wheel of the car in pursuit.
When the net makes contact, the rotation of the tire actually pulls the net up and around it, entangling it. There’s also a tether that pulls the vehicle to a stop.
While the actual net is a one-time use piece of equipment, the system from which it is deployed is permanently installed on the patrol vehicle’s front bumper. The Grappler apparatus costs around $6,000 per unit, with replacement nets costing around $400 each.
The Grappler is used by more than 70 law enforcement agencies, including OBPD.
But safety is priceless. It’s comforting to know the OPBD is doing everything in its power to keep our streets safe. “We’re going to utilize tactics and technology to bring offenders to justice,” said Strockis. “I appreciate the continued investment from our elected officials for equipment of this level. The tools we have are second to none.”
The Grappler, now utilized by more than 70 law enforcement agencies across the country, has sparked such interest that it quickly outgrew its initial production shop in North Phoenix, AZ. Since its start five years ago, business has quadrupled. In its first year, the company manufactured 50 to 100 units a year. Currently, that number is closer to 50 units a month. The manufacturer is having trouble keeping up with the rate of growth.
The next step is to train officers on how to use the Grappler. To save costs, OBPD will partner with a Wisconsin law enforcement agency. Strockis hopes to have the department trained up by mid-May to be fully operational by early June. “We have the equipment installed on two vehicles so far, and we just ordered the training nets and real deployment nets,” he said.
“There are so many other police departments that talk about implementing these types of things, but we’re fortunate to have the support of our village board that allows me the flexibility to actually purchase the equipment,” said Strockis.
To see the Grappler in action, visit policebumper.com.
