St. Joe County Police unveil new BOLA wrap technology

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- ABC57 Photographer Joe Weiser got a first-hand demonstration of the Saint Joseph County Police Department's new BOLA Wrap Technology today.

BOLA Wraps are designed to give officers another less-lethal tool to help control suspects, without pulling out their guns.

Saint Joseph County joining other local departments deploying them, especially when dealing with mentally ill or otherwise uncooperative people.

"Our desired zones are from the elbow down to your waist or at the legs. So, it's nothing that's being fired at your face or anything like that. When the device fires out, it startles most people, so you kind of get that freeze moment during that freeze moment, that's when our officers' step in and actually start their handcuffing process. It'll wrap your arms. It's not totally wrapping them or you're just tight, tight, but it gives us a second to get in, get that person under control,' stated Saint Joseph County Police Department's Lt. Earl Wigfall.