Course Description:

This 40-hour TCOLE certification course for prospective hostage (crisis) negotiators is designed to prepare law enforcement officers and others associated with law enforcement to intervene with and manage critical incidents such as suicidal individuals, barricaded subjects, hostage situations, and other crises that law enforcement may face.

Course Learning Objectives:

Introduction/Orientation: This opening block of instruction includes instructor and class self-introductions and an overview of the class curriculum, historical context of negotiations, provided materials and suggested readings. The instructor’s training, background and experience will also be covered.

Fundamentals of Hostage Negotiation: Students will receive general theoretical concepts related to hostage/crisis negotiations that include the three different types of incidents, the reason law enforcement agencies negotiate, emotion verses rationality, managing an incident, profiles of hostage-takers and hostages, negotiator selection, time management and other related topics. Examples will be given throughout the class and students will be test on their understanding via the exam and in-class discussion and exercises.

Active Listening: Students will receive information on listening techniques used in hostage/crisis negotiations. They will understand the basic concepts of actively listening and restating or paraphrasing what they heard in their own words, confirming that they heard and understood the message being stated. Practice exercises will also be given and students will demonstrate their understanding and skills.

Psychiatric Conditions: This component of the training addresses the psychological aspects of crisis negotiation. It will give an overview of the different personality disorders and mental illnesses that negotiators are most likely to encounter. This portion of the training will be presented in lecture, power point and video format with callout examples provided, and students will be tested on their knowledge via the final exam.

Suicide Assessment and Intervention; Risk Assessment: Students will be introduced to the common driving emotions driving suicidal individuals.  Suicide risk assessment will also be covered, examples and interventions will be provided along with case examples and students will practice estimating risk and intervention skills as well as a commonly used model for suicide assessment and intervention.

Situation boards: This block will teach students how to manage information and intelligence during an incident.  Students will learn the importance of correctly transposing incoming information.  This portion of the training will be presented in lecture, power point and a practice exercise in which the student will demonstrate the use of Situation Boards

NOC Protocol:  This block will assist in students arranging their Negotiations Operations Command.  Students will learn the functions of all team members, and the importance of information sharing.  Examples will be given throughout the course and students will be able to define these roles.

Third Party Intermediaries (TPI):  Students will be instructed on the considerations for using a TPI, and how a TPI can be used correctly. They will be able to define what a TPI is and how they are commonly used in negotiations.

Tactical Role of the Negotiator: This block of instruction will address the role of tactical (SWAT) teams in a hostage/crisis situation response. It will examine the cooperation that is required between tactical teams, negotiators and incident commanders. This portion of the training will be presented in lecture, power point, and via case examples and students will be be able to define the different roles of a team response

Managing Demands: This block of instruction will examine strategies for managing demands and deadlines. The student will be presented with various tactics to soften demands or reframe them and be able to define these tactics This portion of the training will be presented in lecture, power point and video format.

How Will Student Learning Be Assessed?:

Students will be given a written exam at the end of the course and will have their performance during practice scenarios evaluated via in-person feedback. There will be verbal discussion and question and answer throughout the course. See below for a blank copy of the exam.

Credit card payment is strongly recommended. 

Inquiries regarding the course, payment or other questions can be directed to jorge.coello@ttpoa.org

Mail checks to:

TTPOA

PO Box 304

Burnet, TX 78611

Please make checks payable to "TTPOA" and reference "HNT Cert Course"

**No refunds will be made after April 14th on cancelled registrations**