Parma Police are using a cruiser-mounted device called the Grappler to stop fleeing vehicles before high-speed pursuits lead to serious crashes.
The system looks similar to a push bumper mounted on the front of a police cruiser. When deployed, a large net extends beneath the rear tire of the fleeing vehicle. The net wraps around the tire and connects the vehicle to the police cruiser with a tether.
The officer can then slow both vehicles and bring the pursuit to a controlled stop. The tether can also be released if conditions become unsafe.
Parma has three police cruisers equipped with the Grappler and has reported seven successful uses of the device.
Officer Brad Sala used the system on August 20 while assisting Brooklyn police with a pursuit on Brookpark Road. The chase had reached speeds of 112 mph before Sala deployed the Grappler at approximately 40 mph and helped stop the vehicle.
The manufacturer recommends deploying the device at speeds below 70 mph when possible.
Police agencies traditionally use several methods to stop fleeing vehicles. Those can include tire-deflation devices and PIT maneuvers, in which a police cruiser contacts a fleeing vehicle to cause it to rotate and stop.
Parma officials describe the Grappler as another option designed to create a more controlled end to a pursuit.
Garfield Heights Police and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department also use the technology. Garfield Heights has reported successful deployments and plans to add more Grappler-equipped vehicles. The Sheriff’s Department obtained a system in 2025 and has also reported multiple successful deployments.
Parma Police did not have a published department policy specifically covering the Grappler at the time of the latest report.
The department has expanded use of the equipment as Northeast Ohio law enforcement agencies continue examining ways to reduce injuries and deaths connected to high-speed pursuits.
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