Narrative Psychology and Leadership Online Program
I will once again be hosting this course. Last Spring we had 22 people from six countries from diverse backgrounds including crisis/hostage negotiators. The course blends the “science of stories” along with practical applications.
For those interested and can commit to it, there are also limited scholarships available too. Let me know by emailing me. Note, the course begins September 20th.
https://www.thenarrativelab.
New Jersey Hostage Negotiators Conference
Join us again this year, Nov. 9-10 at the HardRock Hotel and Casino. You still have time to get the Early Bird rate too. Also note, you can register with purchase orders too (email me).
https://njhnt2026.eventbrite.
All hostages released, suspect dead in bomb threat at Chase Bank in Bakersfield
Police said the suspect is a man, making bomb threats. Police said he apparently had a bomb strapped to his body.
Police confirmed he had barricaded himself inside the building with "several community members." Police did not confirm how many people.
Before 5 p.m., police said that, with the cooperation of the crisis negotiations team and the assistance of the FBI negotiations team, they were able to negotiate the safe surrender of one of the hostages.
Inside the hostage negotiations at the Chase Building
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — While 10 hostages were held inside the Chase Building in downtown Bakersfield, Bakersfield police negotiators were just feet away from the man accused of holding them captive.
For more than 10 hours, those negotiators worked to keep 41-year-old Anthony Scott Searles-Harris calm and ultimately help secure the safe release of every hostage inside.
Hope in Hostage-Taking and Kidnapping Incidents
“It was awful. We are a really close family. We had no direct contact, and it was just terrifying, because you just don't know what's happening in their lives.
And nowadays, you know, we have constant contact with our phones, and constant, constant access to each other, and so we get used to that. And so, when it's lost, it's just terrifying.”
Research/Academic Paper:
Illuminating Humanity: Narrative Medicine Practices for Crisis Negotiators
Blending narrative medicine practices with crisis negotiation can be challenging but immensely rewarding for both the negotiator and the person in crisis much like how it can be for the physician and patient.
This modern approach rejects the dichotomy of the end (the goal) versus the journey (the process), instead embracing both with humanity.
https://link.springer.com/
The first Dutch national infrastructure for police crisis negotiation
In her PhD research, Jedidjah Schaaij (advisors: Miriam Oostinga and Ellen Giebels) worked closely with the Dutch police to develop the Negotiator Database–Netherlands (NDB-NL): the first nationwide research infrastructure for systematically recording and scientifically studying the hundreds of police crisis interventions carried out each year. Beyond incident characteristics and case outcomes, the database captures process variables such as communication strategies, relationship-building, and how influence develops over time.
Read more about how this unique database came to be:
Rescue After Hours-Long Cliffside Crisis As Negotiators Bring Distraught Man To Safety In Putnam County
"I feel like there's a reason God put us here to find you today," negotiators told the man on the brink of disaster.
Meijer reopens after Waukesha police shoot hostage-taker inside store
The incident unfolded just before 6 p.m. Thursday. Police said the suspect called 911 from inside the Meijer and told dispatchers he had a knife, had taken a hostage and wanted to speak with a negotiator.
Is Your Next Business Trip Taking You to These Kidnap-and-Ransom Hotspots?
Kidnap-and-ransom incidents are heavily concentrated in a relatively small number of countries and regions. While incidents occur worldwide, most cases involving foreign nationals occur where organized crime, insurgencies or prolonged instability have weakened public security.
Latin America continues to experience some of the world’s highest kidnapping activity…
Mexico remains one of the most significant concerns for business travelers. Criminal organizations employ a wide range of tactics, from carefully planned executive kidnappings to “express kidnappings,”…
https://www.globalrescue.com/
Final Report Issued On Use Of Deadly Force By Stamford Police In Barricaded Standoff
Prescott found that three Stamford police officers were legally justified in shooting at Jed Parkington, 63, a resident of a home at 263 Oaklawn Ave., who barricaded himself inside his home and fired upon responding officers after an eviction attempt.
Henderson Police Department unveils new $750K Crisis Negotiation Vehicle
Federal funding replaces outdated, 20-year-old shared command unit.