The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority recently granted $19 million to police forces, enabling them to acquire “less-lethal” tools. The purpose of this grant is to provide officers with alternatives to firearms, allowing them to de-escalate potentially violent situations.
The Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System was awarded the grant by ICJIA for distribution. It seems that the main recipient of the grant has been a single company: Axon, the manufacturer of Taser.
Retired Seguin Police Chief Terry Nichols currently serves as the director of training and grant management at Wrap Technologies, the company responsible for manufacturing the BolaWrap. The BolaWrap device bears a striking resemblance to a contemporary lasso, and it is operated by law enforcement officers who aim it at civilians. Take a look at the device’s appearance below:
According to Nichols, the ILEAS grant amounted to nothing more than a taxpayer-funded contribution to a private company.
Nichols stated that a significant portion of the $19 million, specifically $15 million, was allocated directly to Axon. This funding was intended for the purchase of 7,541 Tasers, which would be distributed among over 250 law enforcement agencies in Illinois.
A month ago, in the Chicago suburb of Dolton, a case of mistaken identity led to the use of a Taser on an autistic boy. According to Nichols, Tasers have caused the death of 500 individuals since 2010.
According to Nichols, agencies that already possess Tasers should consider the potential drawbacks associated with their use. On the other hand, BolaWrap, a non-lethal alternative, has not resulted in any fatalities or lawsuits related to excessive force. Nichols believes it is unfair for local agencies and communities to not explore the option of applying for grant funds to acquire these technologies without engaging in a conversation with Wrap Technologies.
Wrap Technologies has contracts with over a thousand police forces nationwide for its BolaWrap product.
The ILEAS grant includes a variety of less-lethal tools that can be acquired, with one specific product mentioned by name: Taser. Wrap Technologies expressed concern that singling out their private company by name in the grant was biased.
Police officers who likely already possess a Taser could potentially receive an enhanced Taser or an additional one.
Nichols likened the idea to trading in a 2022 car for a 2023 model. He emphasized that while the old car still functions perfectly well, one could choose to invest that money in upgrading the technology rather than opting for the latest and most advanced model.
After receiving the funding from the ICJIA, ILEAS reached out to departments across the state and requested their participation in a survey to gather relevant information.
The question posed was: “If your agency were to apply for this grant, which make and model of conducted energy weapons would you request?”
A range of different models of Tasers were provided as multiple-choice answers before the question.
According to Nichols, he has faced resistance and neglect in his efforts to uncover the reasons behind the allocation of this grant to a sole company, funded by taxpayers.
According to Nichols, ILEAS had the option to allocate $5 million each towards BolaWrap, Taser, or another alternative. However, they chose to prioritize one solution over the rest, and Nichols believes that there must be a significant reason behind this decision.
Nichols attempted to apply for BolaWrap to be considered a “pre-approved device,” which would allow police departments to purchase it using grant funds.
According to Nichols, police agencies across the state have been requesting grant funds to acquire BolaWrap for their officers. However, he often has to disappoint them by saying, “I’ll do my best to explore alternative grant options.”
“He said that there is one in Illinois, but it cannot be applied for as it only applies to Tasers.”
The Law Enforcement Camera Grant Act does not specify a particular vendor, unlike the ILEAS’ Less Lethal Alternatives for Law Enforcement Grant.
During a hearing at the Senate Appropriations-Public Safety and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday, State Senator Christopher Belt, a Democrat from Swansea, expressed his concern regarding the $63 million balance that remains in the funds of the Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board for the camera grant.
According to Belt, Director Keith Calloway has given assurance that the numbers will decrease and that the applications for funds are being received. This indicates that the funds will be allocated to the different police departments for the purchase of body cameras and dashboard cameras.
Now that the SAFE-T Act mandates all officers in the state to wear body-worn cameras, agencies will have the opportunity to apply for LETSB equipment grants. According to Calloway, agencies will have the freedom to choose the vendor from which they will purchase the cameras.
