Full Notification

Last week, the Novato Police Department provided training for our officers in the use of a newly acquired, non-lethal restraint device that will provide an additional option when use of force may be necessary to resolve an incident. The Remote Restraint Device (RRD), branded as the BolaWrap, is intended to limit a suspect's movements by wrapping their legs and/or arms with a cord deployed from a handheld device. In all incidents, our goal is to gain voluntary compliance from the individual with no use of force, if possible. 

Once immobilized by the Remote Restraint Device, the likelihood of the subject fleeing from officers or moving aggressively toward officers is reduced. Our goal is to take the person into custody using the lowest level of force necessary. 

The Novato Police Department authorizes the use of restraint devices in accordance with our Use of Force policy (available online at www.novatopolice.org/transparency).

Training on the use of the Remote Restraint Device is incorporated into our Integrating Communication, Assessment and Tactics (ICAT) De-escalation training which emphasizes strategies to gain voluntary compliance, when possible, and the use of tactics and tools to resolve incidents with no, or minimal, use of force.

We believe the addition of the Remote Restraint Device will assist officers will help in reducing injuries to subjects and officers, potentially reduce the need to use force to gain compliance and provide one more option that assists officers with resolving tense situations safely and as peacefully as possible.