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Cincinnati Police Piloting Spiderman-Like Device

Ann Thompson
/
WVXU
Commander of the Cincinnati Police Academy Lt. Joe Richardson holds the remains of the kevlar cord after being "wrapped up" by WVXU's Ann Thompson who tried out the BolaWrap.

Eighty-five Cincinnati Police officers are piloting a restraint device that wraps up suspects in a kind of Spiderman-like cord.

So far Commander of the Police Academy Lt. Joe Richardson says the department hasn't had the right scenario to deploy the BolaWrap but, "I think we have to to try it and find out if it works. We don't know if it's good or if it's bad. We don't have the data to make the decision yet."

Richardson says it does have a narrow usage and the non-lethal device is for somebody who's likely resisting arrest.

WVXU first told you about the BolaWrap in July. Other departments around the country are also testing it. Each device costs about $1,000.

More than 170 Cincinnati Police Officers are trained touse the BolaWrap and the department has 85 devices. Reaction has been mixed. Some officers think it's great while others don't see a use for it.

Ann Thompson has decades of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting.