Crisis Negotiators (NEGOTR)

Formerly called Negotiators - Hostage / Barricaded Persons

Purpose

To provide the student with the skills and techniques found useful in negotiating the release of hostages and the surrender of hostage takers and/or barricaded persons. This course stresses the psychology of negotiation and gives students an understanding of how the negotiator's role fits into a crisis management program.

Course content

1. theory of hostage negotiations
2. the police negotiator as one element of scene management
3. survival identification
4. negotiation techniques and tactics
5. guidelines for hostage and/or barricaded person situations
6. psychology of Conflict Management (Hostage/Barricaded Persons)
7. communication skills
8. scenarios - hostage/barricaded person situations

Student selection criteria

Students must have been selected as a negotiator for barricaded/hostage situations, be strong team players and have at least 5 years of operational police experience. It is recommended that the selected student possess above-average interviewing, communicating and listening skills under prolonged periods of stress.

NOTE: Students from smaller departments with relatively few sworn personnel (and fewer or no experienced crisis negotiators) are encouraged to apply. Those who fail to meet all of the above criteria will be considered on an individual basis with supporting argument, enabling Departments of uncommon size or unusual circumstance to access the training notwithstanding.

Student assessment

Students will be required to participate in a hostage negotiation scenario.

Duration of course: eight working days

Class size: twenty-four students

Language of instruction: English, French