In recent weeks, public pressure surrounding police use of force has surged back into the spotlight. During a recent episode of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, comedian John Oliver aired a blistering critique of Taser manufacturer Axon Enterprise, questioning the reliability of its flagship product and the ethics behind its business model. Around the same time, national attention turned to Idaho, where 17-year-old Victor Perez, a nonverbal autistic teen with cerebral palsy, tragically passed away after being shot by police, despite being positioned behind a fence at the time of the incident.
These events are symptoms of a much deeper and all-too-familiar problem: a policing model that often escalates encounters, with enormous human and financial costs. In 2023, for example, New York City paid $266 million in taxpayer dollars to settle claims against the NYPD. Similarly, Chicago taxpayers spent nearly $108 million on police misconduct lawsuits. Factor in medical expenses and administrative burdens, and these figures multiply exponentially.
As cities search for ways to reduce risk, improve safety, lower costs, and, most importantly, save lives, a new generation of tools — from materials to blockchain — is emerging. These tools are designed to help officers respond to incidents in a manner that keeps all parties safe, while preventing costly incidents — that cost local governments billions of dollars per year — before they begin. Here are four companies leading that shift.
1. Wrap Technologies (NASDAQ: WRAP)
Wrap Technologies (NASDAQ: WRAP), one of the only publicly traded companies on this list, is known for its flagship product, BolaWrap — a unique early intervention tool that uses light, sound, and sensory distraction to disrupt a subject’s focus, balance, and posture. This momentary disruption creates a window of opportunity for officers to safely and effectively close distance and occupy a position of tactical advantage. Unlike pain-based tools, BolaWrap enables officers to manage resistant individuals without escalating force or causing injury to subjects or officers. The tool has been adopted by more than 1,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies and is deployed in over 40 countries worldwide.
Beyond the device itself, Wrap offers the Managed Safety and Response (MSR) program, which integrates non-lethal tools, continuous training, and immersive technology to support safer, more effective policing. The program includes the BolaWrap device, operational and training cassettes, and access to a 24/7 online Learning Management System with video lessons, tactical walkthroughs, and certification tracking. It also provides Virtual Reality (VR) training that allows officers to practice real-world scenarios involving resistance, mental health, and de-escalation. For agencies, MSR offers a practical way to ensure officers stay prepared and confident in the field, without pulling them off the street for classroom sessions. It helps departments build muscle memory, reinforce good decision-making, and reduce the likelihood of force escalation or injury during encounters.
“Each incident resolved a situation that could have become a lot worse. That’s worth more than the cost of the device,” said a Pennsylvania police officer whose agency has adopted BolaWrap.
By offering departments a scalable way to prioritize de-escalation while reducing dollars spent on things like lawsuits and medical bills, Wrap is both a policing solution and a budgetary one.
2. VirTra (NASDAQ: VTSI)
VirTra, another publicly-traded company, builds immersive simulators that train officers to make better decisions under pressure. Their high-fidelity environments mimic real-world stressors — from mental health episodes to armed suspects — and are used by police departments, military branches, and federal agencies.
A 2022 report from the National Institute of Justice underscores the importance of simulation-based training, finding that it significantly improves de-escalation skills and reduces the likelihood of excessive force.
VirTra’s tools are gaining traction amid growing demand for scalable training solutions aligned with evolving national standards.
3. Lexipol
Lexipol, a privately held company, offers a suite of policy guidance, continuing education, and officer wellness programs. Used by more than 8,000 agencies across the U.S., Lexipol keeps departments aligned with shifting legal standards and helps reduce the risk of litigation by ensuring officers follow current protocols.
In addition to policy support, Lexipol provides daily training bulletins, scenario-based learning, and wellness content aimed at improving officer performance and resilience. The platform helps agencies manage risk proactively by keeping staff updated on use-of-force guidelines, legal rulings, and departmental expectations.
4. Truleo
Truleo brings natural language processing to body-worn cameras. Its AI listens to officer interactions and flags concerning language, escalation patterns, or missed opportunities for de-escalation. The goal: identify potential problems before they make the news — or cost agencies millions.
Departments using Truleo report improved training outcomes and fewer civilian complaints. The startup, backed by Susa Ventures and Y Combinator, is part of a new wave of compliance-focused policing tools.
Shaping a New Market of Innovative Policing Solutions
As police departments face tighter budgets and greater accountability, the financial and human costs associated with use-of-force incidents are at a breaking point.
Whether it’s reducing lawsuit exposure, improving training outcomes, or boosting officer morale, these four tools represent a new playbook — one focused on prevention, not reaction. For law enforcement agencies and municipal leaders alike, the message is clear: the economics of policing are changing. The tools we choose next will define not just how we serve the public, but how well we protect it.
