Introduction
Throughout history, taking of hostages has been witnessed. Various demographics and characteristics of military veteran prisoners have been recorded and presented to provide guidelines on carrying out negotiations hostage takers (McMains & Mullins, 2010). Hostage negotiators need to understand that when hostage takers result in taking hostages, it is usually out of either well planned and thought out or spur-of-the-moment reaction to circumstances (McMains & Mullins, 2010). In most cases, hostages are usually used by the hostage taker as a bargain for escape when their criminal acts are interrupted or exposed. These are usually panic reactions and the criminals find themselves trapped without an elaborate thought out escape plan (McMains & Mullins, 2010).
Main body
McMains and Mullins (2010) assert that a hostage negotiator should be able to understand that the hostage taker is faced with only three choices;
- martyrdom- killing the hostages and then commit suicide;
- lower demands to a more practicable amount to continue negotiating or 3)surrendering to the police. Based on this, the negotiator should work towards the best option and ensure the freeing of hostages. The phases (from the introduction to surrender) a negotiation procedure goes through should also be very clear for a hostage negotiator before embarking on any hostage negotiations (McMains & Mullins, 2010).
In hostage negotiation situations, a hostage negotiator should have with him proper and precise intelligence and information, which is very vital to securing the freedom and safety of hostages and safe taking into custody of the hostage taker. The management of intellect and information is an important part of avoiding any law imposed threats (McMains & Mullins, 2010).
Hostage negotiators need to know how to evaluate a hostage scenario when negotiating the most viable option, what items can be negotiated and which cannot, and what to do in none response cases. In addition to this, it is imperative for negotiators to be equipped with efficient questioning techniques and procedures combined with proper responses to hostage takers in a hostage scenario. They should always keep the hostage taker talking so as to buy time for any tactical preparations and decisions to be made (McMains & Mullins, 2010).
At a hostage taking situation, the negotiator should make sure that all physical and psychological activities at the scene of the hostage taking are inaccessible and cut off from the public and most preferably all bystanders should be kept beyond the police safety line. In addition to this, the hostage taker has to be considered (McMains & Mullins, 2010). By this, the hostage taker has to be contained and restricted to less mobility as possible preferably in the smallest location where the crisis is taking place. Also care should be given to prevent the hostage taker from making out the presence of police and activities therefore, confinement is a vital tactic for any hostage negotiator (McMains & Mullins, 2010).
Assessment of the situation is also very vital (McMains & Mullins, 2010). This will help the negotiator to estimate and evaluate the situation and the procedures to be used. As much cursory information should be collected, since the negotiator cannot wholly rely on the original information given to him as it may not be conclusive and also the negotiator should work on gaining the trust of the hostage taker and this way more information can be obtained of what is happening inside the building s(McMains & Mullins, 2010).
First of all, the negotiator team commander should asses the threat; have an approximation of the location, the command post, positioning of his team; and the number and proposed positions of backup officers needed to establish a temporary inner perimeter. When this has been established, the original information should be perused and care given to gathering more information as the negotiating cannot be wholly pegged on that. Any further information can be very vital in quelling the situation. Since the negotiator team commander has the privilege of having a team with him to handle the crisis, any information that can be obtained will be helpful. Therefore while he focuses on determining and evaluating the situation and finally engaging the hostage taker, he should assign part of his team to look for more information on the hostage taker. What is known is that the hostage taker is of Hispanic origin, is about 35 years of age and it appears that he has no family in the area and his is from out of state. So focus should be put on counties that have a considerable number of Hispanics living among their populace.
Besides, the tattoo “Death From Above”, on his arm is an indication of him being a member of a radical group, cult or gang. Consequently, the commander can assign a person to check into the background of all known such like groupings and find whatever information they can. Police records are also another source of information and if the hostage taker is a past offender then more vital information can be obtained. The commander should not only be keen on finding out information on the hostage taker, but also of the hostages and the building. Blue prints of the county jail can be accessed from the county offices and they can study this to know what they are up against. Any information about the hostages is important, whether they have families, wives, children and so forth, as this sometimes tends to soften up a hostage taker to release them.
Intelligence gathering on a hostage taker should be as comprehensive as possible. The commander should find out his background; intellectual ability; the reasons for the hostages being taken (this can be obtained from the perpetrator himself); and whether he has family or friends, children a wife and any extended relatives. Witnesses can also be questioned to get a clue of the events that could have led to the hostage threat. One would argue with this but, a lot of information can be obtained from the hostage taker himself. The commander should work on gaining the taker’s trust and in return he may be rewarded with information, which to the hostage taker is harmless but on the other hand might be vital. Constant assurance to the hostage taker is necessary on the part of the commander (negotiator).
Conclusion
It is imperative for the commander to keep the hostage taker talking and giving more information on his reasons for taking that action before any tactical decision is made. It is important for the commander to ensure that he is in contact with his team and any possible personnel and backup that is present so as to be able to use all obtainable information for a speedy resolution to the crisis. It is also important when resolving hostage crises to keep in contact with emergency services such as firefighting and emergency medical services to handle any emergencies or accidents that could occur in the rescue process.
Reference
McMains, M. J. & Mullins, W. C. (2010). Crisis Negotiations: managing critical incidents and hostage situations in law enforcement and correction. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson Publishing Co.