EL PASO, Texas – In a move to protect families and neighborhoods, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has equipped two West Texas patrol units with the Grappler net system. The technology, first rolled out in December 2025, uses a heavy‑duty net that snags a fleeing vehicle’s rear tire, allowing the wheels to lock and the car to stop under controlled tension.
Sergeant Eliot Torres, representing the West Texas DPS region, explained that the system has already been deployed seven times in the area. “We’ve seen the benefit and the benefit of safety. That’s our main goal as police officers, the Department of Public Safety; it’s in our name,” Torres said. He added that the Grappler helps prevent secondary crashes – the often‑fatal collisions that occur after a high‑speed pursuit ends.
Why the Grappler matters for Texas families
High‑speed pursuits have long posed a danger to innocent bystanders, especially when they end in residential streets, school zones, or busy highways. Residents in West Texas have voiced concerns after several pursuits resulted in serious crashes and injuries. By immobilizing a vehicle before it can cause a secondary impact, the Grappler system aligns with the community’s desire for safer roads and stronger protection of children and families.
Troopers undergo specialized training before they are certified to deploy the net. Once the training is complete, instructors in Austin verify the trooper’s readiness and then return the unit to its home region for use in the community.
Cost and future rollout
Outfitting a single patrol unit with the Grappler costs about $8,000, and replacing the net is estimated at $400. While the initial investment is modest, the DPS hopes the technology will expand to more units across the state in the coming years.
Sergeant Torres emphasized the importance of public cooperation: “It doesn’t matter if it’s our agency; it doesn’t matter if it’s El Paso PD or the sheriff’s office or the constable’s. Whatever agency is going to pull you over, please pull over and do so safely.”
State leadership and broader context
Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, launched in 2021 to curb illegal border crossings, increased the presence of state troopers in border regions. The Grappler system is part of a broader effort to equip officers with tools that protect both the public and law‑enforcement personnel while upholding constitutional rights and community safety.
The technology has already been adopted by other law‑enforcement agencies nationwide, successfully stopping vehicles traveling between 30 and 80 miles per hour. Texas DPS officials see the Grappler as a practical, non‑lethal option that aligns with the state’s commitment to law and order without endangering innocent citizens.
For a closer look at the Grappler system, tune in to the special report “The Grappler” on Thursday at 6 p.m. on ABC‑7.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
