Hostage situation. - Writers Forum

WiCkEd · 07-04-2004, 09:41 AM

I was wondering if someone could give me some info on the proper protocol cops take when dealing with a hostage situation. My personal scene deals with a man holding someone hostage at a house. He is highly upset and is willing to kill the hostage at any movement the cops dare to take. Any info would be appreciated. Also, when are negotiators deployed? And how do they work out demands, etc. Thanks.

Kermie04 · 07-09-2004, 08:14 AM

Hey~

I guess great minds think alike =D> because I was just going to post about this topic, as it pertains to my story as well. Thank you for posting this topic!! I hope that we both get some help with this one!

Airborneguy · 07-09-2004, 09:02 AM

It varies of course from department to department, but when an emotionally disturbed person is likely to kill someone at any minute, the specialized team will usually break in: Emergency Service (NYPD), SWAT (most everywhere else). The time for negotiations and providing requests are over once they feel the hostage is in imminent danger.

PigletLover · 07-10-2004, 02:24 AM

To qualify my reply, I have worked in law enforcement and my response details the actions that we were trained to take - take them or leave them. The previous reply is correct in stating that a department's reaction to a hostage situation will vary.

First, a lot depends on how the situation is reported. Let's go with the normal format (let me know if this is substantially different than the method used in your story).

Usually, the hostage taker or a hostage reports the situation, lists a basic set of demands, and then waits for a reaction. When this situation is initially dispatched, two things happen: 1. the scene of the crime is secured via a perimeter, and 2. intelligence is gathered. What this means is that you will have several officers surrounding the house or office or whatever to eliminate escape and to keep other people out of harms way. Then, a bunch of officers will canvass the neighborhood talking to neighbors to ascertain how many people are usually in the house, names, ages, background info on the people, etc. Other officers will use imaging equipment to determine how many people are in the house, their locations, the number of bad guys, etc.

At some point, contact will be made with the hostage taker. Most departments have at least 2 people that have received special training in hostage negotiation techniques. They will use a trunk line to call into the house (this is a line that is tapped into the phone lines near the house that cut off the hostage taker's ability to call out - they pick up the phone and it rings in the cops' van or whatever.). They then ask what the hostage taker wants.

That's about it as far as a wrote set of procedures goes. Depending on the situation you can have a few different outcomes.
1. Hostage taker gives up, lets people out and is peacefully arrested.
2. Hostage taker gives up, lets people out and then holds self hostage and is either killed by suicide, killed by the police, or arrested.
3. Hostage taker refuses any cooperation and is killed or arrested by police.

Regardless of the situation, keep in mind that police departments don't employ many people who get a kick out of killing someone. Therefore, when you write your situation, always keep in mind that the police will use the least force possible, or do what needs to be done to avoid having to hurt someone or get an innocent person hurt in dealing with any criminal.

I hope this helps you out. If you have more pointed questions, I would be happy to answer them. I would also suggest going to your local police department and speaking with someone who is trained in hostage negotiation. They won't give away the details of how they do it, by they will give you enough of an education to make your work sound believable.

Good luck!

PL

WiCkEd · 07-10-2004, 05:20 AM

Wow! Thank you very much for that detailed post. That will definately help me out.

Airborneguy · 07-10-2004, 08:48 AM

One more thing...

It also depends on the type of hostage TAKER (Also being in law enforcement, in the largest and most written about department in the world, I am sensitive to people getting it correct). An impromtu, spur of the moment hostage taker, IE on the street, while fleeing a crime, or coming home to find wifey in bed with Uncle Al, is usually incoherant, irrational, and completely devoid of demands or rational negotiations. In other words, the cops will keep him talking until they work out their plan and then strike (at least in NY). A situation where the hostage taker has just executed a plan that they have rehearsed and prepared for is a much different situation requiring more detailed questions from you to help you out.