Partnerships Key To Crisis Negotiation Training For Police

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – In police work, no two calls are ever the same, this is especially true when dealing with people who have emotional issues or maybe they are using drugs. That’s why specialized training for officers is key to diffusing crisis situations.

On a Sunday evening in October, Tupelo police were called to a potential hostage situation at an apartment complex on Milford Street. Officers found out the suspect was not holding any hostages, but had been in a fight, and locked himself in an apartment, with a weapon.

After about an hour of talking with the man on the phone, he surrendered peacefully.

Tupelo Police Chief Bart Aguirre says the main goal with any crisis situation is simple.

“Officer safety, and also to get the person that is having a crisis, being able to get them home safe, or away from danger they may be causing themselves or could be the danger confronting the officers,” Chief Aguirre said.

Aguirre says the key to that outcome is communication and officers receive special training to handle crisis situations.

“These officers that are training to be crisis negotiators, have to be very good, these are dedicated officers, number one, whenever we interview these officers to be on this, we look for officers who are very self motivated, Aguirre said.

That specialized training is expensive and that’s where partnerships with federal agencies help out. Crisis negotiators attend classes taught by the FBI and Homeland Security. The partnership also provides training and funding for other specialized teams, like the bomb squad.

“Funding is essential, and that specialized training, you can’t get anyplace else, except without that partnership, give you a for instance, our EOD team, has a specialized vehicle, tools we use in our EOD team,” he said.

Once trained, crisis negotiators and other specialized team members can help police in other cities and towns if called upon.

Officers on the crisis negotiation and other specialized teams undergo regular training to better develop their skills.