Cedar Park Police Now Using 'The Wrap'

You’ve seen it: Cops arrest someone unruly, cops manage to get unruly person cuffed, unruly person is put in back of police cruiser only to start kicking windows and otherwise thrash in the back seat like an agitated giant fish.

Whether because of anger or intoxication, the danger posed by people being arrested doesn’t always end once they’re cuffed.

Cedar Park police believe they may have at least a partial solution: It’s called The Wrap, and it can render even the most violent and agitated people harmless or, at least, a lot less dangerous, and destructive, than they might be otherwise.

“It provides a way to de-escalate the situation by reducing or resolving a physical threat and decreasing the likelihood of injury to an individual while they are being transported to jail,” police said in a press release.

The Wrap is used only on people who are combative and pose a threat to police or themselves. 

Basically, it’s a fortified blanket with strategically placed straps. The device is wrapped around the lower extremities, buckled and uses a shoulder harness to stabilize the suspect being used to create something like a criminal burrito.

“I am proud that we have adopted the use of a device that allows officers to address the threat of physical harm more quickly and using less force than may have traditionally been required. In doing so, we increase the time and space needed for everyone involved, including the arrestee, to safely work together to facilitate a productive outcome,” said Police Chief Sean Mannix in the press release.

The idea to use The Wrap came from officer Robert Ducroz, who had used the equipment while serving in other departments, said Tara Long, a spokeswoman for the Cedar Park Police Department.

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The Wrap has three main safety features to help restrain an aggressive suspect, according to Safe Restrains Inc., the company that created the device. The first is a locking shoulder harness, which positions the person in an upright seated position and does not apply pressure to the chest area. The second is a leg restraint which eliminates a persons ability to kick. The third is an ankle strap that lessens the restriction on blood flow. Nobody has ever died while in The Wrap, according to police.

Since Drucroz suggested the idea, the Cedar Park police have purchase five of the devices, which cost around $1,000 dollars each. The device has been used at least a half-dozen times in the past two months, and the police are responding positively to their new equipment.

“Officers have responded favorably to The Wrap,” Long said. “In at least one incident, we did not have to resort to using a Taser to subdue a combative person because we were able to apply The Wrap and step back while the individual calmed down.”

[Photo courtesy of Cedar Park Police Department]