CENTRAL ILLINOIS POLICE TRAINING CENTER

Brian Fengel, Director

Phone: (309) 690-7355
Fax: (309) 690-7359
Heather Grove: hgrove@icc.edu

Jean Swan: jswan@icc.edu

Robert Pyszka: rp717@icc.edu

Phase I & II Hostage Negotiations & Crisis Intervention

Instructor: PATC

April 21-25, 2025

 8am – 5pm

 Class will meet at: Peru PD, 2650 N. Peoria Street, Peru, IL 

Enrollment Deadline:  April 14, 2025

Course Size:  Minimum –15 Maximum – 30

Course Objective

This session will examine the roots of Hostage / Crisis Negotiations. The students will learn the ‘why’ of negotiating and the numerous ways that a Crisis Negotiation Team should be utilized. Downs V. the United States will also be discussed.

Course Content

Introduction to Crisis Negotiations: This session will examine the roots of Hostage / Crisis Negotiations. The students will learn the ‘why’ of negotiating and the numerous ways that a Crisis Negotiation Team should be utilized. Downs V. the United States will also be discussed.

Tactical Use of Negotiators: The role of the negotiator is misunderstood in many tactical circles. The student will learn the value of negotiators in deploying the tactical option. How can negotiators aid tactical teams?

Team Structure: The structuring of a crisis negotiation team and the importance of command personnel, as well as command personnel’s understanding and support will be discussed. (This structure works for small and large agencies alike)

Basics of Negotiating: The function and duties of each team member, including command personnel, will be explained and discussed. Negotiation strategies will also be discussed. Negotiation Operation Command (NOC) and Tactical Operation Command (TOC) – what are they and how do they function with each other during a SWAT incident.

Social Media: Social media is huge. In today’s world the negotiator has to be aware of how social media works and how it can help and hurt negotiations

Communication Skills: The student will be given an in-depth overview of communication skills. Both conversational speaking and listening will be discussed.

(Psychology of Negotiations: In this segment, students will discuss in layman’s terms the mental and personality disorders that are prevalent during crisis situations. Identifying the mental or personality disorder and dealing with it in a crisis situation. Students will learn the three most common types of suspects that are involved in hostage/barricade incidents.

Terrorism and the Negotiator: In today’s world the chances are higher than ever of the possibility of a terrorist involved hostage incident. Can we negotiate with a terrorist? We will discuss the different methods of negotiating with a terrorist. An understanding of the ideology and culture of terrorists. Can we negotiate with TERRORISTS?

Case Studies: Each and every hostage and crisis situation is different. The cases we will review are a diverse sampling of the instructor’s experiences and other incidents from across the nation.

Suicide Intervention: Can you talk a person into committing suicide? The truth and the myths about suicide will be discussed.

The Resolution: Sometimes our success is bittersweet- we will discuss the good and bad side of a resolution.

Upon completion attendees will have gained knowledge in the following areas:

1. Crisis Team Structure
2. Dynamics of Negotiations
3. Value of using trained police negotiators as opposed to clergy, politicians, mental health professionals or family members
4. Psychology in Hostage Negotiations
5. The Team Concept – Tactical Negotiation
6. Communicating with People in Crisis ( bosses and politicians included)
7. Negotiating with Terrorist
8. Negotiator Stress
9. Practical Hands-on Role Play

Who Should Attend:

Chiefs, Sheriffs, Street Patrol Officers, First Responders, Jail Corrections Officers, Prison Personnel, Drug – Narcotic Officers, Emergency Response Teams and any agency contemplating the structuring of a Cri- sis Negotiation / Response Team or Crisis Intervention Team.

 Mobile In-Service Training Team#7 Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board

MTU 7 request for certification of this course has been approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board

Meets the following mandatory training criteria: Civil Rights – .50 hours, Const. Use of LE Authority – 4.50 hours, Crisis Intervention – .50 hours, Emergency Medical Response – 1 hour, Human Rights – 1 hour, Legal Updates .50 hours, Officer Wellness/Mental Health – 1 Hour, Procedural Justice – 6.50 hours, De-Escalation Techniques – 12 hours with 6 hours Scenario Based. and Officer Safety Techniques – 2.50 hours with 2 hours scenario based