Policy Text
Policy
307Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/04/07, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentSpecial Order 21-01: Remote Restraint Device
- 1Special Order 21-01: Remote Restraint Device
307.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This special order has been issued by the Office of the Police Chief to temporarily authorize a pilot
program of the BolaWrap restraint device. This policy provides guidelines for the issuance and
use of BolaWrap restraint devices meant to minimize injury to suspects, subjects, and officers.
307.2 POLICY
The BolaWrap device is intended to immobilize and restrain resistive/non-compliant persons,
violent persons, or potentially violent persons. The BolaWrap is a hand-held remote restraint
device that propels an eight-foot bola style Kevlar tether to entangle an individual. The BolaWrap
is equipped with entangling barbs at each end of the Kevlar cord and an aiming laser for accurate
deployment.
307.3 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
BOLAWRAP – a hand-held device that propels a tether to restrain an individual.
PASSIVE NON-COMPLIANCE – Does not respond to verbal commands but also offers no
physical form of resistance.
ACTIVE RESISTANCE – Physically evasive movements to defeat an officer’s attempt at control
including bracing, tensing, running away, verbally or physically signaling an intention to avoid or
prevent being taken into or retained in custody.
ASSAULTIVE – Aggressive or combative; attempting to assault the officer or another person,
verbally or physically displays an intention to assault the officer or another person.
307.4 ISSUANCE AND CARRYING OF BOLAWRAP DEVICE
The following guidelines shall be adhered to:
(a)Only a department-approved BolaWrap device that has been issued by the
Department shall be utilized by personnel.
(b)Only members who have successfully completed department-approved training may
be authorized to carry and deploy the BolaWrap device.
(c)All BolaWrap devices shall be clearly and distinctly marked to differentiate them from
the duty weapon and any other device.
(d)Uniformed and non-uniformed sworn staff who have been authorized to carry the
BolaWrap device shall wear the device in an approved holster/belt clip on their person
or keep the device safely & properly stored in their city vehicle.
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Special Order 21-01: Remote Restraint Device
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/04/07, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentSpecial Order 21-01: Remote Restraint Device
- 2(e)Officers shall be responsible for ensuring that their BolaWrap device is properly
maintained and in good working order.
(f)Officers should not hold both a firearm and the BolaWrap device at the same time.
(g)Absent an immediate need, personnel should employ de-escalation techniques prior
to use.
(h)Members shall not place or store the BolaWrap device on department premises except
where the place of storage is locked. No one shall carry the BolaWrap into the jail
section or any part thereof when securing or processing an arrestee, but shall place
the BolaWrap in a secured location. Members providing access to the jail section
to persons from outside agencies are responsible for ensuring BolaWraps are not
brought into the jail section.
307.5 VERBAL AND VISUAL WARNINGS
A verbal warning of the intended use of the BolaWrap device should precede its application,
unless it would otherwise endanger the safety of officers or when it is not practical due to the
circumstances. The purpose of the warning is to:
(a)Provide the individual with a reasonable opportunity to voluntarily comply.
(b)Provide other officers and individuals with a warning that the BolaWrap device may
be deployed.
(c)The fact that a verbal or other warning was given or the reasons it was not given shall
be documented by the officer deploying the BolaWrap device in the related report.
The aiming laser should never be intentionally directed into the eyes of another as it may
permanently impair his/her vision.
The deploying officer should, if possible, assemble a sufficient number of officers to assist with
taking the suspect into custody.
Under exigent circumstances, nothing in this policy prohibits an officer from deploying the
BolaWrap at a subject without requesting or having the presence of additional officers or a
supervisor.
307.6 USE OF THE BOLAWRAP
The BolaWrap device has limitations and restrictions requiring consideration before its use. The
device should only be used when its operator can safely approach the subject within the ideal
operational range of 10 to 25 feet. The minimum recommended standoff distance is 10 feet.
Officers should be aware that the device may not achieve the intended results. It is recommended
officers have a contingency plan in place prior to use.
307.6.1 APPLICATION OF THE BOLAWRAP DEVICE
The BolaWrap device may be used in any of the following circumstances, when the circumstances
perceived by the officer at the time indicate that such application is reasonably necessary to control
a person, and the officer is authorized to lawfully detain and/or arrest the subject:
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Special Order 21-01: Remote Restraint Device
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/04/07, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentSpecial Order 21-01: Remote Restraint