NCJ Number
67111
Journal
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Gazette Volume: 41 Issue: 9 Dated: (1979) Pages: 8-13
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN A TRAINING COURSE DEVELOPED FOR EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS OF THE CALGARY POLICE SERVICE (CANADA) WHO MUST DEAL WITH HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS.
Abstract
HOSTAGE-TAKERS FALL INTO THREE CATEGORIES: (1) THE DESPERATE CRIMINAL, WHO SEIZES A HOSTAGE BUT WHO IS ORDINARILY OPEN TO PROBLEMSOLVING; (2) THE DISTURBED OR PSYCHOTIC INDIVIDUAL WHO, IN DESPERATION, SEIZES HOSTAGES TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER DEAL IN LIFE; AND (3) URBAN GUERILLAS AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS. THE CALGARY POLICE SERVICE HAS ESTABLISHED BASIC VALUES AND GUIDELINES WHICH MUST BE FOLLOWED IN EFFORTS TO SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDE ANY HOSTAGE SITUATION. BECAUSE LIFE IS THE MOST VALUED COMMODITY IN ANY SITUATION, THE PRIME GOAL OF ALL NEGOTIATORS SHOULD BE NO HOSTAGE, POLICE, OR HOSTAGE-TAKER DEATHS. A DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATES THE INITIAL CONTACT AND SUBSEQUENT CALGARY POLICE MOBILIZATION PROCEDURES. EACH OF VARIOUS ALERT POINTS HAS SPECIFIC DUTIES AND ACTIONS TO FACLITATE THE HOSTAGE ALERT FOR THE FULL SERVICE. THE TIME TO EFFECT SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS WITHOUT FEAR OF UNWITTING FOUL-UPS OR DANGER TO ANY LIFE IS THE KEY. THE NEGOTIATOR MUST, USING VERBAL COMMUNICATION ONLY, CONVEY A MESSAGE OF WARM CONCERN FOR THE HOSTAGE-TAKER AS WELL AS FOR THE HOSTAGES. IN TURN, THE HOSTAGE-TAKER MUST BE SHIFTED FROM A PANIC STATE OF FEAR AND DESPERATION AT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE POLICE SERVICE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ONE OF HOPE THAT THESE RESOURCES WILL BE REASONABLE AND RATIONAL. THIS PHASE FACILITATES THE HOSTAGE-TAKERS' SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND ESTABLISHES A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HOSTAGE-TAKER AND THE POLICE NEGOTIATOR. IT IS FOLLOWED BY A BONDING STATE IN WHICH THE NEGOTIATOR AND HOSTAGE-TAKER ARE IN A 'WE' STATE OF BEING. THE NEXT STAGE, THE PROBLEMSOLVING STAGE, SHIFTS THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS TO THE NEGOTIATOR'S TERMS; THE PROBLEMSOLVING WILL INTENSIFY AS TIME FRAMES ARE ESTABLISHED AND THEN PASSED. THE INITIAL TRAINING WORKSHOP EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR (1) A COMMUNICATOR TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE NEGOTIATOR TO FACILITATE INTRASERVICE INTELLIGENCE TRANSFER, (2) ROLE PLAYING TO PRACTICE CHARACTERISTICS OF HELPING RELATIONSHIPS, AND (3) EXCELLENT PHYSICAL CONDITIONING TO ENABLE THE OFFICER TO PHYSICALLY OUTLAST THE HOSTAGE-TAKER. TWO DIAGRAMS ARE SUPPLIED.