The Crisis Negotiator Blog

Crisis Hostage Negotiator Newsletter - January 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:53:00 +0000

Make sure to see the events at the bottom!

Police negotiator quells crisis with grad student's counseling wisdom

Ortiz began to train other officers across Arizona and the U.S. and wrote a self-published book, “Bringing Hope: One Police Officer’s Journey with Empathy in the Face of Service,” a fictionalized account of snippets from his own experiences.

Yale study finds veterans’ suicide risk tracks with social factors

“These findings underscore the importance of expanding suicide prevention efforts beyond crisis response and psychiatric treatment alone. Specifically, they point to the need for routine screening of social determinants of health, early identification of compounding social stressors, and integrated interventions that address housing stability, healthcare access, financial strain, and social connectedness alongside mental health care,” Pietrzak wrote.

How holographic negotiation can transform crisis response in policing

Golden Gate Bridge deaths by suicide down 87% after installation of prevention nets, report says

KCPD Crisis Negotiation Team Finishes First In The Missouri Association of Crisis Negotiators Annual Challenge

Hong Kong Police Negotiation Cadre Celebrates 50 Years with Symposium on Crisis Management and Future Innovations

Mr Chow added that with over 100 members, the PNC has consistently upheld the motto “Who Cares Wins” and has successfully resolved crises and saved lives through calm analysis, active listening, and strong teamwork.

The thin line between saving a company and funding a crime

Ransomware negotiators dish on being in a ‘moral gray zone,’ unrestricted by accountability or industry wide rules of engagement.

“There’s no structured community of practice, no peer review, and no recognized body to certify or hold negotiators accountable,” Jon DiMaggio, principal at XFIL Cyber, told CyberScoop. “It’s one of the few areas of cybersecurity with no real standards, an unregulated tradecraft that still operates like the Wild West.”

I was a hostage negotiator for 10 years - this is what it taught me about parenting

Nicky Perfect spent over 30 years as a Metropolitan Police officer, including 10 years as an international hostage and crisis negotiator, in the elite New Scotland Yard Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit.

Here are the three techniques from her high-pressure career which will help you stay calm and in control as a parent, she told the BBC's Parenting Download podcast...

NJ Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Designating U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day

Video shows gunman firing on Stamford, Conn., police during deadly standoff

Gunman was wearing shirt with Nazi insignia, state marshal says...

When every word matters: A look inside training with the BC RCMP’s Crisis Negotiation Team

“For people in these high-risk situations, it can be overwhelming to see things like the big armored trucks, the lights and the sirens, and what can feel like chaos...."

Supreme Court backs Montana police who entered a home without warrant for emergency

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with county police in Montana who entered the home of a man without a warrant because they feared he might be suicidal, rejecting an argument that the officers needed probable cause.

TRAININGS, CONFERENCES, & MORE

Australia Hostage Negotiation Debrief

Online Webinar

March, 2026

More information to follow next month

45th Annual Hostage Negotiation Seminar

Hosted by Baltimore County Police & Baltimore Field Office of the FBI

(More HERE; links to a PDF file)

Narrative Psychology & Leadership (online)

Professional Certificate Program in partnership with Lipscomb University, College of Leadership and Public Service

Enhance your negotiator skills with other first responders, military, corrections, and medical/mental health professionals from across five different countries. limited spots available.

Starts March 26.

5-Day Basic HNT Course

April 13-17
Atlantic City
Limited, discounted registration available, preference given first to NJ residents.
Email me for more information.

Certification through NYAHN, in partnership with AFSP-NJ.

New York Association of Hostage Negotiators Annual Conference

May 20-22, Buffalo, NY.

NTOA Crisis Negotiations Conference

October 26-29

Chandler, AZ

New Jersey Crisis/Hostage Negotiator Conference

November 9-10, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, NJ

Have an event? Let me know by emailing me. I'd like to be able to promote each of the association's conferences, I just need the info!

Crisis Hostage Negotiator Newsletter [July 2025]

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:23:00 +0000

Hello all,

It's a been a while since I sent out a newsletter so I hope everyone has been well. Below are some articles and events coming up. Hope to see you in person.

Illuminating Humanity: Narrative Medicine Practices for Crisis Negotiators

Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology

This exploratory paper examines how the practical application of narrative medicine (NM) has the capability to support police hostage/crisis negotiators. Narrative medicine ensures that the humanity and dignity of...

TRAINING: Kidnapping for Ransom (KfR)

A team of instructors from the NY Association of Hostage Negotiators will provide a weeklong training to seasoned crisis negotiators in Canada. This training will focus on a kidnapping negotiation process called the "Red Centre Training Program".

Location: Toronto, Canada

Limited to only certified police officers/constables

Workshop: Narrative Psychology (one day)

This one-day workshop for professionals advances the notion that “stories are science” and that understanding their impact is critical to being successful in life—especially in conflict and dispute situations that range from daily interactions to crises and everything in between. Critical to all of this is maintaining the humanity and dignity of everyone involved.

Location: Nashville, TN

Open to anyone

See the first article above to see how this relates to HNT

Hostage negotiator Roger Carstens reflects on his efforts to bring detained Americans home

I think you always have to be optimistic in these cases. You have to want to get to that end, and, hopefully, that informs the negotiation...

First off, let me gently push back on your assertion. I'd say the data does not back up that some of the deals that we have had to make to bring Americans home is actually increasing the amount of people that nation-states are taking hostage.

A day in the life of a San Francisco Police Department hostage negotiator

From tense standoffs to lifesaving resolutions, Elizabeth Prillinger brings nearly two decades of law enforcement experience to her role as a hostage negotiator in one of America’s busiest cities...

Additionally, individuals in crisis don’t always respond predictably. Despite training and best efforts, they may refuse to engage or de-escalate. Sometimes, when a violent crime has not been committed, a disengagement strategy can help de-escalate the situation so officers can re-engage the subject more effectively, and possibly more safely, at a later time.

The Kidnapping and Killing of Two Chinese Executives in the Philippines Spurs Heightened Travel Risk Concerns

... Lack of professional negotiation and ransom insurance. It appears that the initial response to the kidnapping lacked the involvement of a professional negotiation team and the support of kidnap and ransom insurance. This resulted in a chaotic and disorganized approach to negotiations, allowing the kidnappers to dictate the terms and escalate their demands.

Words, not weapons: How Boise Police's crisis negotiators defuse dangerous situations

"We try to gather as much intelligence as we can on the individual. It's talking to family members, talking to friends and significant others," Sgt. Turner said. "And one of the best questions we can ask them is, 'Hey, what can we say to this personal to get them to resolve this peacefully?'"

New Jersey Hostage Negotiators Conference

More information will be provided in the next newsletter, for now, we are looking at a date in November.

Crisis negotiation not (exactly) like it is in the movies

2 Wisconsin police crisis negotiators explain what their jobs are like and why everyone could benefit from crisis negotiation tactics

“Most of us listen to respond. We have a response that we’ve already come up with in our mind that we want to get out, and we’re just waiting for that break in that conversation so you can get your piece out, instead of just waiting, listening to what they have to say, and then giving yourself some time to formulate a response after they’re done,” Tatro said.

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [November 2023]

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 21:58:00 +0000

1. Hostage freed after hours-long standoff at Las Vegas Strip resort room

A man was arrested and a woman described as his hostage was released unharmed Tuesday after an hours-long standoff in a room at the Caesars Palace resort on the Las Vegas Strip, police said.
No injuries were reported and police did not immediately say if the hostage-taker had been armed in a high-rise tower of the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard property. Furniture, cushions and other objects fell from a 21st floor window, frightening guests in a swimming pool area below.

Video: https://www.fox5vegas.com/video/2023/07/11/police-swat-involved-standoff-with-man-holding-woman-hostage-las-vegas-hotel-room/

2. Push to Free Israeli Hostages in Gaza Hindered by Mistrust, Anger, Confusion

Hopes of a breakthrough have repeatedly faded, leaving the fate of more than 200 prisoners uncertain
[paywall] read more: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/mistrust-anger-and-confusion-hinder-talks-to-free-israeli-hostages-held-in-gaza-22ee5fcf

3. Israel and Hamas Nearly Struck a Deal to Free Up to 50 Hostages

...So far, the negotiations have only focused on releasing civilian hostages, according to these officials. The Israeli soldiers held in Gaza may eventually be part of a separate track of negotiations, possibly to be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian women and minors who are held without charge in Israeli prisons.

4. Israel sees 'sign of life' in Gaza hostage videoNote: this is interesting and explains why hostage videos are not shown:

The BBC will not be broadcasting the clip itself, which is more than three minutes long. Prisoners of war and hostages are protected under international humanitarian law, and the BBC does not broadcast material which may have been filmed under duress.

5. 'We will kill you': I was held hostage in a war zone. Years later, the trauma remains.

After the Hamas attack last month, I knew that I could not bear to see the videos or images of civilian victims of the fighting in Israel and Gaza.I know firsthand what it is like to be taken hostage.

... I am a nurse, and in July 2018, six of my colleagues and I were taken captive for four days by a rebel group in Cameroon. Our team was trying to offer primary care to civilians in the central African country, where a separatist war was erupting.

Do you know about Hostage US?

Hostage US is a 501c3 organization that ensures American hostages, wrongful detainees and their families get the support and guidance they need to survive the challenge of a kidnapping.

We provide support free of charge and on a fully confidential basis. We are independent of any private interests so we can serve the needs of hostages and their families. We are family first – family last.

Read more: https://hostageus.org/about/

Did you know the NYAHN offers KfR (Kidnap for Ransom) Training?

Learn more: https://www.nyahn.net/training/detail/23

6. Cops open fire on hostage-taking kidnappers after 4-hour standoff in victim’s semi-truck: video

A multi-county police chase turned into a 4-hour hostage standoff in the middle of an Ohio highway before cops opened fire on the two suspects, who later died Wednesday morning.

Harrowing footage showed several Ohio Highway Patrol Troopers in tactical gear approach the hijacked semi-truck in an attempt to free the driver, who was believed to have been held hostage inside by a 54-year-old man and his 51-year-old wife.

7. Man arrested at Hamburg Airport (Germany) after nearly 18-hour hostage standoff

BERLIN (AP) — The hostage situation at Hamburg Airport ended Sunday afternoon, around 18 hours after a man drove his vehicle through the gates of the airport with his 4-year-old daughter inside, authorities said. The man was arrested and the girl appears to be unharmed.

8. Nebraska police standoff ends with arrest and safe hostage release

Nebraska police on Wednesday arrested a 37-year-old man after a nearly 30-hour standoff and the release of three hostages, including two children...
The man backed out of plans to release the woman multiple times during negotiations with an FBI hostage rescue team and other law enforcement officials, Overman said. The man shot about seven rounds at law enforcement during the standoff.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hostage-standoff-nebraska-police-2121f657c6bd985f492af068020b9fe1

9. Manhunt for Ohio murder suspect ends with hostage situation and deadly standoff at gas station in West Virginia

A man suspected of a killing in Ohio and multiple carjackings in Kentucky was killed by West Virginia police in a standoff outside a gas station where he was holding three hostages...
Kenova Police Chief Bob Sullivan told CBS affiliate WOWK-TV that a hostage negotiator with the West Virginia State Police Special Response Team talked with Maynard for an hour and a half.

EVENTS

(Green = I'm speaking at it)
NTOA - Nov. 13-16

https://www.ntoa.org/conferences/cnt-conference/

NECNA Regional Training (members only)
ADVANCED CRISIS NEGOTIATOR COURSE: Suicide, Depression & Anxiety - Understanding the Research to Save Lives
December 5 - CT
December 6 - MA
https://www.necna.com/

7th Annual NYPD & NYAHN Training Seminar

Nov. 28 - Dec. 1
https://www.nyahn.net/training/detail/27

Crisis Negotiators - Oklahoma

April 10, 2024

https://www.crisisnegotiatorsok.com/training

38th Annual Training Seminar & HNT Competition
April 28, 2024 to May 1, 2024
Boise Convention Centre & The Grove Hotel
Boise, Idaho

https://www.wshna.com/

16th Annual NYAHN Conference - Rochester NY

May 24 to 26, 2023
https://www.nyahn.net/training/detail/26

2024 ICNA CONFERENCE
Sept. 23-27, 2024
EMBASSY SUITES, EAST PEORIA

https://icnaonline.com/

Hostages, SWAT officer, suspect dead in Austin, TX, after maniac traps victims

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 21:18:00 +0000

A deranged man barricaded in a house in Austin, Texas with two hostages opened fire on police officers and killed a member of a SWAT team.

The violence unfolded in South Austin around 4 a.m. when Austin Police SWAT officers forced entry into the home where the maniac was allegedly armed with a knife and gun and had trapped hostages, Interim Chief of Police Robin Henderson announced at a press conference on Saturday morning.

Read more: https://nypost.com/2023/11/11/news/four-dead-in-austin-texas-hostage-situation/

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [March, 2023]

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:59:00 +0000

10 years of the (free) Crisis Negotiator Skills Sheet

It's been 10 years since I created the above skills sheet. Just a reminder, it's 100% free for you to use with your police negotiation teams. If you want the PDF, just email me.

Amazon delivery driver goes viral for dropping off package during a police standoff in North Carolina

The video, posted on March 18, the Amazon worker is seen toting a small box up to the driveway where the apparent standoff is taking place, taking officers by surprise. As soon as they see him, they tell him to stop...

The True Story Behind ‘Waco: American Apocalypse’

Nearly 30 years later, we remain fascinated by the events at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas

Read more HERE

S'pore police negotiator once spent 21 hours convincing man not to jump off 7-story high crane

“People cope with difficulties in life in different ways, so we don’t try to downplay what people are going through," Bala explained.

“The feeling of being able to save a life at the end of it is actually very rewarding. That’s why our negotiators keep doing this year after year.”

Read more HERE

Papua New Guinea hostage taking a ‘spur of the moment decision’

The decision to take the Australian-based New Zealand archaeologist Prof Bryce Barker and his research team hostage near remote Mount Bosavi in Papua New Guinea was a “spur of the moment” decision by their captors, two of whom had been shot in an earlier encounter with security guards at a logging site.

Read more HERE.

4 Keys to Responding to a Child Expressing Thoughts of Suicide

Tips that can help both in your work and personal lives
Here are some thoughts to ground you in those first critical moments when your child makes a declaration or when you become aware that they are struggling with suicidal ideation. These thoughts should help you respond in the most supportive way...

Read more HERE

Niger Credited With Negotiating Release of US Aid Worker, French Journalist

Kidnappings in the Sahel are growing at an alarming rate. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger saw a combined 532 abductions in 2022, up from to 33 in 2017, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Some 115 abduction incidents have already been recorded in the region this year.

Read more HERE

Sharpen Those Skills

I'm not sure if you've heard of the "13 Behaviors of High-Trust Leaders" but if you'd like, have a look and reflect on how each, when practiced, can make you both a better negotiator and member of your team.

Click here

Are you on LinkedIn? It would be great to connect there too. Have a look at some of my recent NASA research shared there.

Research

An entire issue dedicated to police wellness: Journal of Community Safety and Well-being (free access too!)

Hostage negotiator resilience: A phenomenological study of awe

Increasing Crisis Hostage Negotiator Effectiveness: Embracing Awe and Other Resilience Practices (2022)
Awe: Helping Leaders Address Modern Problems (2022)
“The More You Do, the More Comfortable You Feel”: the Police Hostage and Crisis Negotiator Journey (2022)
Crisis (hostage) negotiators weigh in: the skills, behaviors, and qualities that characterize an expert crisis negotiator (2017)

Trainings, workshops, conferences, and more (April - June)

Trainings I'm involved in:

April 4 and 5th: Resilience Workshops for Police (multiple locations in Maryland, email me for info - it's free for police)
April 14: Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators
April 24 -27: Colorado Emergency Services Public Information Officers Association
May 1-3: New England Crisis Negotiators Association
May 16: Law Enforcement Stress Awareness & Suicide Prevention Summit (free for police, Putnam, NY)
May 21-24: Law Enforcement and Public Health Conference (Umea, Sweden)
June 5-9: Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators Conference (June 5-9)
June 17: NYU 1-Day Course, Modern Leadership: A Goal-Focused & Human-Centered Approach

Other trainings

See what Scott Tilema is up to in the coming months
See what Andy Young is up to in the coming months
See what Crisis Systems Management is up to in the coming months
SAFELEO Executive Police Trainings

April 12: Oklahoma Crisis Negotiators Conference
April 17-21: LLRMI/Mark Lowther 5-Day Basic Course (Birmingham, AL)
April 24: PATC Hostage Negotiators Conference (Las Vegas)
April 25-26: Arizona Tactical Officers Association Hostage Negotiator Conference
April 24-26: Illinois Association of Hostage Negotiators Conference
May 22-26: Big Sky Negotiators Round-up (Montana)
May 24-26: NYAHN Conference
Did I miss your event? Send me an email and I'll include it in an upcoming newsletter.

Crisis Hostage Negotiator Newsletter - January 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 18:49:00 +0000

Happy new year everyone. I hope the new year is off to a great start for each of you. Make sure to have a look at each story below, I think they are all worth it. One of the best ways to stay sharp is reading!

Last month we held our 3rd annual Resilience Symposium where for the latest version, we had space experts from NASA and other organizations share about their great work and resilience. A bunch of video snippets and full sessions have already been uploaded. Take just over one minute to watch this one - I think it will resonate with many of you.

Police Resilience Training (Free!)

Due to some partnerships and grants, I have some opportunities to provide free (yes free!) resilience training for police personnel. These workshops have already been given to police personnel across the country (and world) with some really great feedback and published research on it.

At the moment, there are opportunities for agencies in the following locations only:

Long Island (NY)
New Hampshire
Connecticut
Maine
Maryland

Last thing I will say is if you know me, this type of training is not "check box training" - it's designed by police for police. These training and workshops have also be given specifically to negotiator teams including those recently in the FBI - NJ and Toronto.

If your agency is interested (this is not for individuals to sign up), send me an email, or a message on LinkedIn.

42nd Annual Hostage Negotiation Seminar

Once again one of the top negotiator events of the year is coming up. Make sure to mark your calendar. Have a look at the image, so really interesting presentations.

Crisis Negotiator Skills: The Experts Weigh In

(From the article) 90% either always or usually debrief after an incident. This highlights the importance of reflecting afterwards on what worked and did not work in order to improve effectiveness for the next incident. Experts in crisis incidents do not “wing it.” Rather, they know what works, how it works, and analyze incidents afterwards in order to continue doing what is effective and know what is not effective so they can try to avoid it next time.

Read the article at Psychology Today here.

‘You’re pathetic.’ Texas police negotiator insults man on ledge, stirring anger online

Full story here

Mississippi police kill woman holding hostage inside Walmart store and demanding to speak to a news anchor

A video posted to social media showed a woman holding a gun in one hand and using the other hand to hold onto a person wearing a Walmart employee vest. The woman with the gun yelled that she needed help and wanted to talk to a news anchor.

Full article at CBSnews here.

Ransomware Attacks: Tips And Tricks For Getting A Favorable Deal
3. Be Honest
Trust me when I say people can see through falsehoods, sooner or later. If you’re trying to buy time or mislead the attacker, it can cause them to cut off communications, and that’s the last thing you want. So, be honest and tell them that you need time to arrange the money. Or, you can even tell them that their demands are beyond your capacity. This sort of blunt honesty might bring you closer to finalizing a deal.

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [Oct. 18, 2022]

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:18:00 +0000

Hello everyone,

If you read one article, make it this first one below. Just a quick disclaimer as it can be triggering for some as it talks about the horrors of policing, and specific examples this Aussie negotiator went through. Ultimately, know that his story is one of hope.

And, let it serve as a reminder, we are humans doing incredible work but we are human nonetheless. It's ok to reach out for help because after all, that is what real strength is and each of you have it in you.

Before moving on, one quick announcement. I am happy to officially announce for the 3rd straight year, the resilience symposium will be back. This year's theme is:

2022 Resilience Symposium: In Awe of Space

In this year's 2-day virtual event you will learn about the awe-inspiring work of current and former NASA employees as well as other space experts. Last year we had over 1,000 attendees from +30 countries. This year it will once again be free to attend.

Learn more and register here.

The hostage negotiator on life, death and redemption

Many of us think of the hard edge of policing as an urban problem and that the work of country cops is a little more gentle. The truth is, in the city there are specialists. In the bush, you just have to find the answers yourself.

...“I had a career that was surrounded by death and more death.”

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [07.07.22]

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 16:08:00 +0000

Increasing Crisis Hostage Negotiator Effectiveness: Embracing Awe and Other Resilience Practices

This exploratory Article examines the skills that make law enforcement negotiators effective and proposes how experiencing awe and a variety of other resilience practices can potentially enhance their abilities.

Read more HERE, share your thoughts on the LinkedIn post HERE.

Police officers pose as TV news crew to end hostage situation

The suspect agreed to release his hostage on one condition: a news crew would broadcast his complaints.

Read more HERE.

‘The birthplace of hostage negotiation’: inside a groundbreaking 1973 standoff

In compelling new film Hold Your Fire, a siege that pitted black robbers against white US police led to an unlikely outcome.

... “[Those movies] tend to tell a false story about heroism and manhood that is enormously destructive to American males,” says Forbes on a separate Zoom call from a friend’s apartment in New York. “We always valorize the macho soldier or the Navy Seal. Making this film, I wanted to valorize the 99lb Jewish intellectual with a big shelf of books.”

Forbes, speaking with a calming, mellow and thoughtful drawl, is describing the late Dr Harvey Schlossberg, the godfather of hostage negotiators who died just last year after filming interviews for Hold Your Fire.

Read more HERE.

Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis Review: 54 Hours Of Horror, Straight Out Of A Movie
Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis is a true-crime documentary released on Netflix on 8 June 2022. The hostage crisis actually happened in 1988, in West Germany and the documentary is entirely made from real footage from media and CCTV cameras. It is directed by Volker Heise and shows how two criminals rob a bank, take two hostages and embark on an odyssey across Germany.

Read more HERE.

Crisis negotiation – what I learned from my first deployment
Sergeant Ben Hanson, South Yorkshire Police (United Kingdom)

An acute crisis incident occurred in which the subject, a young woman, was sitting on the edge of the top floor of a 19-storey car park.

I joined a colleague (Negotiator 1), who had been with me on my national course. This was our first full-on crisis deployment and, as I arrived, I had a good idea of how he might be feeling.

Looking up at the car park, I could see how high it was. I’m not great with heights. I could feel the fear rising as the adrenaline coursed through me, but I just had to suck it up and get on with it.

Once I got to the top, my training kicked in. I knew the risk was extremely high, as the subject was regularly moving, as if to jump. Her welfare was of paramount importance, and so we intervened regularly to distract her from jumping.

Read more HERE.

Multi-agency crisis negotiation course begins at training center in Oriskany (NY)
Crisis negotiators from police agencies across the state gathered at the New York State Preparedness Center in Oriskany on Wednesday for the start of the first-ever advanced crisis negotiation course.

The course trains negotiators on best practices to deescalate tense situations through the use of real-world scenarios, like someone acting manic or threatening suicide while armed.

"We are all very fortunate to have the State Preparedness Center up here, it is top notch, it is right in our backyard and you got instructors from all over the state," said Sgt. Benny Perra of the Utica Police Department. "It is just a wealth of knowledge up here and we are just looking to advance our skills as crisis negotiators."

Read more HERE.

IS terrorists who kidnapped James Foley ignored efforts to negotiate, court hears
The Islamic State terrorists who kidnapped American journalist James Foley never made serious attempts to negotiate a ransom before brutally executing him, family members have told a court.
Read more HERE.

Journalists will be safer if US changes tack on kidnapping
The American no-concessions approach could be justified if it made Americans safer, as President Obama argued. But there is little evidence that this is the case. Numerous studies have concluded that kidnapping is largely a crime of opportunity—terrorist groups generally nab foreign hostages without checking passports.

Brian Jenkins, a former US Green Beret and current Rand Corporation analyst—and one of the nation’s leading experts on hostage policy—put it this way: “The most powerful determinant of whether or not there will be further kidnappings is not the policy of the government, but the fate of kidnappers or their organization. If kidnappers are apprehended and appropriately punished…then kidnapping will decline. If this is not done, then it does not make any difference what the policy is.”

Read more HERE.

Summer Reading

On your next trip to the beach, grab some reading material:

Crisis Cops: The Evolution of Hostage Negotiations in America

Crisis Cops 2 More Stories of Hostage Negotiations in America

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [May 4, 2022]

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Wed, 04 May 2022 16:25:00 +0000

Manhunts: A Role for Crisis Negotiators

Over the last 20 years, the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU) has been involved in several significant, internationally known manhunt investigations, including those targeting the Washington, D.C., snipers and the Boston Marathon bombers. With today’s cell phones and social media, crisis negotiators have enhanced the goals of law enforcement in manhunts.

This article addresses several methods negotiators can use to increase the likelihood of apprehending subjects and reduce the risk to law enforcement. Additionally, the authors offer case examples to illustrate lessons learned and best practices...

I highly recommend you read this full article from the FBI Bulletin here

What Trevor Reed Reveals about Joe Biden’s Cautious Approach to Releasing American Hostages

President Joe Biden waited until former Marine Trevor Reed was out of Moscow, had been successfully exchanged for a Russian prisoner in Turkey, and was safely on a plane bound for the U.S. before calling Reed’s family.
Reed had spent nearly 3 years in a Russian jail after being arrested in 2019 on charges of assaulting police in Moscow....

Reed’s release comes at a time when experts involved in helping negotiate the release of Americans detained overseas are seeing an uptick in Americans being arrested and held as bargaining chips, including in Venezuela, Iran, China. Venezuela recently released some Americans, after a visit from a high-level U.S. delegation, and holds several others.
Read more from Time.com here

In Nigeria, A Hostage Negotiator's Big Test: Freeing His Wife

... Using only his iPhone, Mr. Tumburkai has become part of an informal world of volunteer negotiators - representing families, communities, and themselves - working to bring hostages back home.

Conferences & Events Page Updated

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 19:45:00 +0000

The events and conferences page has been updated for 2022.

Check it out HERE.

Crisis Hostage Negotiation Newsletter [December 26, 2021]

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 15:46:00 +0000

UN lockdown: NYPD take man with gun into custody following hours-long negotiations

The man who held a loaded shotgun below his chin outside the United Nations headquarters Thursday as NYPD officers negotiated with him for hours until he finally surrendered wanted papers and other documents delivered to the intergovernmental organization, police executives said at a press conference.

[More]

What is a Good Question?

Check out this snippet from the world of "narrative medicine." I've found the best way to keep myself sharp with my crisis communication skills is by exploring how the skills are used outside my direct profession. Note the caption below (and I suggest you read the whole article) on being curious leads to being genuine and not just asking the "right questions" but asking them the "right" way:

Patients often report that it wasn’t the questioning that helped most in a conversation (at least so far as they can remember) but the overall stance of curiosity in their interviewer. Indeed, we have often seen clunky questions do the trick so long as the interviewer was genuinely engaged and curious. ‘Text book’ questioning can achieve nothing at all if delivered in a way that seems rehearsed or inauthentic.

[More]

I'm a SPF crisis negotiator. This is what it's like handling suicide interventions & prolonged stand-offs.

Superintendent McIntyre Rosie Ann, who has been with the Crisis Negotiation Unit since 2012, offers her perspective on these life-threatening situations.

...Sometimes, they may say things in a certain manner but they mean something else. There’s an underlying meaning. So we have to pay attention to all the small details to really understand what’s the underlying problem they are facing.

[More]

Abducted Haiti missionaries describe daring escape

Twelve missionaries who were abducted in Haiti managed to get away on their own, their organisation has said.
The group escaped their captors at night and used the stars for navigation to trek through dense bush for hours, a spokesman said.
...The gang that seized them had demanded a ransom of $1m (£740,000) per hostage. It is not clear if any money was paid.

...At the time of their release, police spokesman Gary Desrosiers told AFP news agency there had been weeks of negotiations between the gang, known as 400 Mazowo, and authorities.

[More]

Moonshine stills and a marijuana grow found after Wednesday’s Harrah standoff, negotiator describes sequence of events

“I don’t know if he’s a good guy, bad guy or any other guy, he’s a person in crisis and he needs some help and we’re all human beings,” said Davenport, a 10-year veteran negotiator with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office.

[More]

Awe & Wonder

Research has shown that experiencing awe can have numerous benefits, including emotional control, improved focus, better decision-making, humbleness, and curiosity (hmm there's that word again!). Aren't all of those what contribute to being a good negotiator? Who would have ever thought awe moments could lead to that.

[This short video explains more]

Here is a short awe exercise video that I have used in police trainings (including homicide investigators). It starts with a one-minute breathing exercise [HERE].

After trying this out, send me an email and let me know what you think.

Negotiators Getting Promoted

Keechant Sewell to Become First Woman to Lead N.Y.P.D

In 23 years with the Nassau Police Department, Chief Sewell, who grew up in Queens, worked in the narcotics and major cases units, and as a hostage negotiator. She was promoted to chief of detectives in September 2020.

Deputy police chief selected in South Portland

Kevin Gerrish joined the department 20 years ago and has commanded the Southern Maine Regional Crisis Negotiator Team.

Meet Charles Roca, Allentown’s first Latino police chief

From there, Roca quickly built a body of experience on the vice unit, as a certified K9 handler and as a member of the crisis negotiation team.

Does the US pay ransom for kidnapped Americans?

Officially, when it comes to Americans kidnapped overseas and held for ransom, the U.S. government has a “no ransom” policy. However, as Aaron Nolan showed in a Friday morning Smart Board segment, there are “asterisks” at play in that policy.
[More]

Concord police tout Crisis Negotiation Team

"No matter what my title is, it doesn't matter. No matter what I'm wearing, it doesn't matter. It's just Shasta talking to them,'" she said. "I want to know what they care about, and I really want to know why they're in that situation. Why have they barricaded themselves? Why are they on top of this bridge?"

[More]

Deputies Take Different Approach To Law Enforcement Through New Program“

Almost everything we have to do is negative,” Warrell said. “There’s only a handful of things people want to see us for, so we’re inclined to see someone in crisis.”

[More]

Up-coming events of interest:

The IACP Officer Safety & Wellness Summit

Atlanta, GA March 15-17

Fraternal Order of Police Wellness Summit

Nashville, TN Jan 31 - Feb 1

New York State Hostage Negotiation Association Conference

Buffalo, NY May 24-27

An Executive Guide to Successful Cyber Extortion Negotiation

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 22:19:00 +0000

Are You Extortion-Ready? An Executive Guide to Successful Cyber Extortion Negotiation

WATCH SESSION VIEW SLIDESHOW

(Via Fireeye): Cyber extortion incidences are increasing at an unprecedented rate, and with them, crypto-extortion demands are skyrocketing. Negotiations often lead to cyber claims of $1 million or more, not to mention a host of legal issues. When the worst happens, you need to know how to respond, and how to determine when the time is right to engage external counsel. This panel discussion will walk through a successful intelligence-led cyber extortion event, highlight best practices for those first critical hours, and give you the information you need to empower your organization against a malicious adversary.

More here from Fire Eye

Panel:
Kimberly Horn, Global Claims Team Leader, Cyber & Tech Claims – Beazley (Moderator)
Navid Jam, Managing Director, Mandiant Consulting – FireEye
Steven B. Roosa, Head of NRF Digital Analytics and Technology Assessment Platform, United States – Norton Rose
Bill Siegel, CEO, Co-Founder – Coveware

Negotiations during a Ransomware Attack; a perspective from 2 professional Hostage Negotiators

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 20:59:00 +0000

Many crisis management situations do not only require high-pressure analyses and decision making but solid communication – and (in worst case scenario) negotiation skills. Sue Williams and Jacob van ‘t Slot, 2 expert hostage negotiators, discuss how negotiation tactics can help organisations mitigate the consequences of a ransomware attack, and what factors to consider when negotiating with adversaries. They position negotiation in the context of Crisis Management and evaluate the differences and similarities of cyber extortion cases and situations where lives are at stake.

Both Jacob and Sue are experienced negotiators operating sometimes in the real-, sometimes in the virtual- but always in the shady world and with a lot at stake. Sue was in charge of the Kidnap and the Hostage Crisis Negotiation Units at Scotland Yard, and advised the UK government on cases of kidnap and abduction. She teaches hostage negotiation tactics at Harvard University, and is still active as a kidnap response and cyber extortion consultant. Jacob has a background in psychology, security and crisis management, and has worked as a kidnap response consultant at the Netherlands Ministry of Security and Justice. Jacob lectures at the Harvard Humanitarian Academy, and develops the SECO-Institute’s crisis management education program.

This write up guides you through the process of a ransomware attack, and how to prepare and conduct cyber negotiations with your opponents...

Key Takeaways

Require ‘Proof of Life’ in the broadest sense of the definition: Are they able to execute the cyber- attack they are threating with? And in case of a ransomware attack: Are they able to actually decrypt your files, even if they decide to do so? There are a lot of poorly designed ransomware products on the market that can actually destroy your data. As a negotiator, ask them to decrypt a test file.
Define clear objectives for your negotiation strategy: Are you buying time while the IT Department is solving the issue? Are you aiming to mitigate the damage, to lower the ransom?

I highly recommend reading the full article from the Seco Institute [HERE].

February 2021 Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 21:29:00 +0000

1. Inside Look Into The NYPD Hostage Negotiation Team (Video)

When Richmond Hill, Queens, became a hostage negotiation scene on Tuesday, chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst was there. He breaks down what happened – and why.
[Read more]

2. From Kidnappings to Hostage Negotiations: Here's What the 'SAS Training' That Meghan Markle Was Reportedly Given Involves

'Staged kidnappings involve the individual being tied up to restrict mobility and their head being covered with a bag,' says a hostile environment training expert.

...Andrew Toze, chief instructor at Hostile Environment Training Ltd, says the training helps to overcome your natural response: “[Being] paralysed by fear is a common natural phenomena that is a direct result of the senses being overwhelmed and therefore the body struggling to make conscious thoughts or reactions to a situation. The training would involve forcing this reaction in an individual through physical contact, extreme aggression, gunfire, smoke and speed.”

[Read more]

3. How to talk to loved ones when you’re worried about their mental health

This article is about you and looking after each other and our families

The year 2020 has exacted a psychological toll on Americans. Levels of anxiety and depression have skyrocketed alongside increases in drug overdoses and alcohol consumption.

“There’s a difference between being alone and feeling alone,” said John Draper, executive director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. “Feeling alone is feeling like nobody cares about you, nobody values you, so it’s really important now for us to let people who we care about or we’re worried about know how much we care about them and value them.”

It is also important to pay attention to an “absence of things,” said Nadine Kaslow, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. If people are ignoring your phone calls and text messages, not posting on social media as frequently as they used to or are declining invitations to virtual holiday celebrations, those are potentially concerning signs, Kaslow said.

[Read more]

4. Crack garda team saved eight Irish citizens kidnapped abroad
The role played by highly trained members of the Garda national negotiation unit, which is part of the force's Special Tactics and Operations Command (STOC), has not previously been revealed.
...Gardai have been deployed on the ground dealing with incidents in Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan and Cambodia and worked closely there with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and local authorities.

[Read more]

5. Calls for police crisis negotiations in 2020 triple previous record set in 2019
Police saw demand for crisis negotiations shatter that record in 2019, with 40 calls for help in high-risk situations with people harboring suicidal thoughts; holding hostages; or refusing to comply with a warrant.
"Most notably, CNT has seen a spike in suicide intervention calls in 2020...

[Read more]

6. Unique Negotiations: Texas State University Hosts 31st Annual Hostage Negotiation Competition
Texas State’s hostage negotiation competition has grown in its 31 years. Mullins said that it began as a friendly wager between law enforcement in Austin and San Antonio, then it expanded to four teams, then eight and in 2020 the competition saw 40 teams from around the globe.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mullins said he wasn’t sure this year’s event would occur. But Texas State approved a limited competition for 2021 with only nine teams competing, including members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Click the link to see who won! Great work yet again by pulling this event off by Wayman and team!

[Read more]

7. Negotiator talks suicidal man into surrendering at police department

“He walked into the front doors of the police department. He pulled a knife out and put it to the girl’s throat,” he said. “He requested police officers to shoot him and to kill him.”

[Read more]

8. Parsons (Kansas) Police arrest suspect after 23-hour long standoff

Police in Parsons, Kansas shortly before 3 P.M. on January 29 arrested a suspect in a hostage situation that lasted 23 hours. Officials say they received word that a 35-year-old male had locked himself and a child relative in a house, and that the male was possibly armed. Authorities say they tried to negotiate with the suspect for 23 hours

Sounds like a great story for a conference debriefing, especially with personnel deployment, breaks, relief, etc.

[Read more]

9. Insight into the vital tactics of a SWAT negotiator
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — David Thomas, a professor of Forensic Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University says it’s all about negotiators building trust with the suspect, during SWAT situations.
“ I don’t look at SWAT’s job as necessarily helping, I look at their job as protection and containment. The other job to that, is hostage negotiation, and that's an entirely different job,” said Thomas.

[Read more]

10. (RESEARCH) From deployment to debriefing: Introducing the D.I.A.M.O.N.D. model of hostage and crisis negotiation

Even if you are not a researcher, push yourself a bit outside your comfort zone. Read this article to learn about this model and dig a bit into the research behind these skills because after, to have an expertise requires 1) continual practice and 2) understanding the science behind the art form of crisis communication.

So, go ahead and click below!

[Read more and then click "download PDF file' to read the full paper]

11. EVENTS (Date order)

Fraternal Order of Police Officer Wellness Summit

February 8-9

'Moral Injury': Police Resilience Symposium Webinar

February 11

International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Officer Safety & Wellness Symposium

March 17-19

International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) Evidence in Action Conference

March 18-19

Law Enforcement and Public Health (LEPH) Conference

March 22-26

Crisis Negotiators of Oklahoma

April 14

American Association of Suiciology

April 21-24

Western States Hostage Negotiators

May 1-5

New York Association of Hostage Negotiators Annual Conference

May 19 -21

Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators

June 7-11

From Kidnappings to Hostage Negotiations: Here's What the 'SAS Training' That Meghan Markle Was Reportedly Given Involves

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 20:53:00 +0000

From Kidnappings to Hostage Negotiations: Here's What the 'SAS Training' That Meghan Markle Was Reportedly Given Involves

'Staged kidnappings involve the individual being tied up to restrict mobility and their head being covered with a bag,' says a hostile environment training expert.

[Read more]

Police Resilience Symposium

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 12:21:00 +0000

Police Deserve Positive Mental Health & Resilience

The international Police Resilience Symposium will take place from September 22-24, 2020. It is being co-hosted by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and Columbia University Medical Center/New York State Psychiatric Institute.

This virtual event will bring together leading researchers in resilience and related areas under the theme of “Resilience and Well-Being NOW.”

We have specifically chosen this theme because we have to address now both the global and local-based issues that are taking a negative toll on police personnel both mentally and physically. It is when the individual and agency take responsibility for their well-being that science-based practices in resilience can help members become aware of resilience techniques in order to develop practical, positive coping strategies in order to persevere during these hard times.

Join more than 1,400 attendees from over 30 countries to learn from more than 40 speakers from across the world.

More information: www.resiliencesymposium.org

Resilience Goes Hand-in-Hand With This

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 14:08:00 +0000

Let me start off with the spoiler alert in the headline: It’s self-compassion. Yes, self-compassion. Who would have thought that a critical component to resilience is the hard-core, science-backed practice of self-compassion? Not me.

Are you skeptical like I initially was? Here are results from a research study by Rabon and her colleagues (2019) for you to think about:

Self-compassion in military veterans negatively correlated with depressive and PTSD symptoms, anger, shame, thwarted belongingness, and feeling like a burden to others.
Bolstering self-compassion in military veterans can also help reduce suicide risk.

Read more at PsychologyToday.com [HERE].

Hours long standoff, man armed with a spear, axe and knives arrested

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 13:40:00 +0000

Wyoming man arrested after hours-long stand-off with deputies in Rhododendron

Deputies found the suspect off Road 27. He had armed himself with a spear, axe and knives before being taken into custody.

WATCH THE VIDEO FROM KGW8 [HERE].

HERO: Saddle Brook Police Officer Coaxes Distraught Youth, 15, Off Highway Ledge

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:36:00 +0000

Route 46 was closed down and an air mattress was inflated beneath a Bergen County overpass as police tried to convince a troubled 15-year-old not to jump.

Officers found the Saddle Brook teen perilously perched on the Outwater Lane overpass in Garfield, near the Lodi border, around 10 p.m. Tuesday, Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler said.

“The juvenile felt more comfortable speaking with Officer Diaz and requested that she be the lone negotiator,” the chief explained.

...“There can be no doubt that Officer Diaz's calm, professional manner defused a very tense situation and led to the best possible outcome," he said.

READ MORE FROM DAILYVOICE.COM [HERE].

The business of kidnapping: inside the secret world of hostage negotiation

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 12:41:00 +0000

Official policy in the UK and US – unlike in many other countries – is to never make concessions to kidnappers. Those taken sometimes die as a result. Is it time to rethink? By Joel Simon

Kidnapping and ransom insurance was created in the 1930s, but it wasn’t until the 60s that it began to really catch on, following a spate of kidnappings in Europe by groups such as Eta in Spain, the Red Army Faction in Germany and the Red Brigades in Italy. The appeal was simple: in the event of a kidnapping, the insurance would provide reimbursement for ransom payment.

Read more from the Guardian [HERE].

Questions linger in aftermath of bus shooting incident; man who was shot has schizophrenia

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 13:06:00 +0000

For years now, Grant Paul Dalton has been homeless and roaming the country, sometimes landing in pretty serious trouble with law enforcement.

But his time in Asheville almost turned deadly on Aug. 20, when Asheville police shot Dalton in the thigh after he exited a city bus, the culmination of a 90-minute standoff. The confrontation stemmed from Alcohol Beverage Control officers' attempt to serve warrants on Dalton related to July incidents in which an ABC officer was beaten and his vehicle stolen, and the earlier vandalism of an ABC vehicle.

READ MORE FROM CITIZEN-TIMES.COM [HERE].

UK team helps free Iranian hostages from Somali pirates

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 13:01:00 +0000

LONDON: A British team has helped secure the release of three Iranian sailors from Somali pirates, amid heightened tensions between the UK and Iran over the case of the imprisoned charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.The deal for the sailors’ release involved a ransom payment of $180,000 — brokered by the UK-based Hostage Support Partnership — which was coordinated by Kenya-based former British diplomat John Steed in partnership with Leslie Edwards, a UK-based hostage-negotiation specialist.

It ends the longest-running maritime hostage situation in the region to date, with the three men having spent five-and-a-half years in captivity.

READ MORE FROM ARABNEWS.COM [HERE].

Ukraine hostages freed after President Zelensky plugs Joaquin Phoenix film

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 14:04:00 +0000

A stand-off in Ukraine has ended with security forces freeing 10 hostages from a bus in the city of Lutsk and detaining the gunman, after a bizarre intervention by the president.

Pictures showed the gunman lying on the ground after his arrest.

Just before the man's arrest, President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to comply with his demand to post a short video, with the words: "Everyone should watch the 2005 film Earthlings."

All the hostages are unharmed.

Read more from the BBC [HERE].

Lutsk terrorist case: View of former law enforcers

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 14:04:00 +0000

A tense situation in Lutsk city, where a twice-convicted man seized a bus and held hostage 21 people, including children and pregnant women has become yesterday’s breaking news for all the news channels of the country... Traffic in the center of the city was blocked, an operational plan "Hostage" was announced, and even Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov arrived in Lutsk on a special flight to coordinate all the units.

... Taking hostages on such ideological grounds is a rarity for Ukraine.

“This is a very atypical crime for Ukraine. The kidnappers captured rich children for extortion, armed groups, organized crime groups. Mainly - for selfish motives, and here we are dealing with a person who was undergoing compulsory treatment in a psychiatric hospital (information about treatment was later refuted by MIA head, - ed.). Our police officers have experience of work there is no such category of criminals yet. The situation is complicated by the fact that it is very difficult or almost impossible to predict his behavior and to predict how the situation will unfold further,” says lawyer Serhiy Burlakov, who himself was previously an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Read more from 112.international [HERE].

What does hijacker wants: How security forces negotiate with terrorists?

noreply@blogger.com (Mediator Jeff) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 13:58:00 +0000

That is why the art of such negotiations has its own subtleties and stages, ignorance of which will certainly entail sacrifices. For example, having heard the demands of a terrorist, a common man in the street will draw conclusions about his ambitions and psychological state, while for professional negotiators, his demands become the key to resolving the situation.

The first thing law enforcement officers should do in such a situation is to make a clear distinction between instrumental and expressive motivation. If terrorists take hostages, seize buildings or kidnap people in order to exchange them for specific results (travel abroad, capture to avoid arrest for a crime committed, seizure by mentally ill people seeking to attract attention to themselves, the achievement of any political goals), then they are driven by instrumental motivation. It is in the case of such motivation that it makes sense to enter into negotiations, during which, through skillful psychological manipulations, it is possible to achieve success by lowering the level of readiness, alertness of terrorists, neutralizing it.

Read more from 112.International [HERE].