In This Corner: Behavioral Change Stairway Model [November 2013]

“What is destroyed most in high tension situations is trust, and without trust, things will break down very quickly.  When they do, they are replaced by increased anxiety and confusion, destroying the participants’ ability to make good, long-term decisions.  It is the negotiator’s presence that keeps the trust intact.” - Michael Tsur, International High-Risk Negotiator

Police Dept. Purchases Drone For Hostage Negotiations

...And since 2011, documents reveal, the Brunswick Police Department has had a drone on hand for “hostage negotiations,” funded by a grant from the federal Justice Department. 

Listening, empathizing and building rapport to handle crisis

Buying time is one of the most essential tasks of a crisis negotiator.

"In a crisis situation-where there is homicide, hostage taking or suicide-the suspect is generally not thinking rationally," Beatty said. "If you just keep a person from doing whatever it is they are intending long enough, they will calm down, think about it, and realize how bad of an idea it is to harm themselves or others." 

Life Of An Australian Police Crisis Hostage Negotiator

Coaxing lives back from the edge and diffusing hostile situations are what police negotiators sign up for, but it can be almost impossible not to bring the job home. By Mark Whittaker  Belinda Neil arrives at the house, pumped after a high-speed drive with lights and sirens in the rainy night. The tactical guys with their overalls and sub-machine guns are setting up a cordon as Neil and her fellow police negotiator get a quick briefing outside. A guy called Ivan, armed with knives, has his ex-girlfriend barricaded in a room. A uniformed constable is in there, too. He'd put his gun down and gone in unarmed, attempting to defuse the situation. It's not clear now if he is a hostage, too. Neil is handed a ballistic vest, but it is too heavy for her to put on, so two officers lift it on for her…

Cops use Facebook to talk man out of suicide

Photo: Getty (left) PAPD (right) PAPD Sgt. Nadine Rhem and Lt. Thomas Michaels (pictured at right), used Facebook to reach a troubled teen who was considering ending it all by jumping off the George Washington Bridge.

Social Media & Hostage Crisis Negotiation

ACR Crisis Negotiation Section co-chair Jeff Thompson, along with Lt. Mark Lowther, presented "Social Media & Hostage / Crisis Negotiation" at the annual Cyberweek conference.  Cyberweek is  a week-long series of webinars, discussion forums, radio shows, twitter chats, and more all concerning conflict resolution and technology.

HOLLY CULHANE: Hero school employee demonstrates value of training

On an ordinary day at the Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy in Decatur, Ga., police said 20-year-old Michael Brandon Hill arrived carrying an AK-47-style assault rifle and 500 rounds of ammo...

But the school bookkeeper remained calm, confiding her own problems, which included a failed marriage and disabled adult child...

Tuff was one of three people specifically trained at the school to handle violent situations.