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FOCUS Crisis Negotiations I Inside The CMT-HNT mander, and ensures the appropriate actions of CMT promote a legally defensible course of action. Te Team Leader supervises and directs the actions of the diferent components of the CMT. Te Primary Negotiator initiates and maintains direct contact with the subject throughout the incident, whether it is a hostage-taker situation or barricaded suspect, typically until resolution. Te Secondary Negotiator remains with the Primary Negotiator for the duration of the incident, monitoring dialogue, providing coaching, and supporting the progress of negotiations. He/she is prepared to take over for the Primary Negotiator as needed if that relationship with the suspect is not efective. Te Negotiation Cell Liaison is also a scribe, who maintains the integrity of the incident by passing along information to the Secondary Negotiator as needed and reporting negotiation progress to the Team Leader upon request. A Technical Support Negotiator provides support services as necessary to promote efective and controlled contact with the subject in crisis. Such support includes maintaining and setting up equipment, including the Rescue Phone console and Trow Phone. He coordinates with the phone carriers to isolate or deactivate phone lines. Tis is often a lengthy process that includes working with the carrier, their security department, and the Pasco County Sherif���s Ofce Communications Section. Tis Technical Support Negotiator also provides other technical assistance as dictated by the incident. Two or more Intelligence/Investigative Negotiators obtain critical background information (military background, family, arrests, warrants, etc.) on all subjects involved in a crisis. Tey debrief released hostages or family members and obtain collateral information from mental health and/or medical providers, as well as obtain physical location intelligence through available resources and copies of subject photographs or related information for dissemination to the command post, SWAT, and CMT members. Tey also provide support and supervision of family and friends at the scene who may otherwise compromise the resolution eforts. While other members of the CMT are located at the Command Post or as close to the scene as possible, the locations of Intelligence/Investigative Negotiators vary depending upon the task assignment and intelligence sources. Controlling Suspect Communications In establishing control over a suspect���s communications, CMT determines the carrier for a suspect���s landline or cell phone, and establishes contact with that carrier���s law enforcement liaison; each such company has its own protocol and they have to have justifcation for their actions, too. With landlines, the suspect���s telephone number can be changed. CMT can be creative in changing this number; under Florida law this is legal as long as there are exigent circumstances. Using their current CRT, negotiators can conduct a conference call with another person who knows the suspect and could be helpful in resolving the incident. In the command vehicle or wherever the CRT is set up, command staf also monitors the conversations in real time using specially designed amplifed speakers. Knowing what the suspect is saying and doing can save lives. In addition, the primary negotiator���s headset can also be muted if he doesn���t want the suspect to hear what he is saying to others in the command vehicle or the command center. Tere is an automatic call button that will ring until the controlled phone system or throw phone 30 Tactical Response Mar-Apr 2013 p The Primary Negotiator initiates and maintains contact with the subject until the situation is resolved. The Secondary Negotiator monitors the dialogue and functions as a coach. The two may switch roles if the subject becomes non-responsive or combative with the Primary Negotiator. is picked up. Te agency has been using a Crisis Response Telephone��� (CRT) from Rescue Phone for over 12 years. Te authors also brought the new QUAD Crisis Response Module for their review. According to Detective Kip Mello of the Pasco County Sherif���s Ofce CMT, the QUAD Crisis Response Module would give them an added advantage. Te CMT negotiators don���t have to hook into a copper phone line at a friendly house, something that is especially difcult in the middle of the night. Rather, they would operate using the built-in QUAD Bluetooth�� Wireless Technology interface. Tis is one of the greatest advantages the QUAD has over the agency���s current CRT. For both the CRT and the QUAD, delivery of a wired throw phone is accomplished by SWAT or tactical team, because there are substantial risks in an operation that involves tactical fexibility. Te throw phone is tossed from behind cover and can involve broken doors or windows. SWAT operators also have ballistic shields available. SWAT knows to expect the unexpected. In a recent situation with a suspect, the safety of the SWAT deputies and police was a big consideration. Bomb squads from both the Hillsborough Sherif���s Ofce and the Tampa Police Department were requested, and a robot was used to safely enhance communication with the bad guy. Jim Weiss is a retired lieutenant from the Brook Park, Ohio, Police Department and a frequent contributor to Tactical Response. Mickey Davis is a Californiabased writer and author. Post your comments on this story by visiting www.trmagonline.com