Team Structure, Roles, and Command Chapter 8

Teams A small group of people with complementary skills committed to a common purpose Command team Negotiating team Tactical team Police teams Team integration Team administrators must cross train A synchronized approach

Crisis Management Team Communication Command Coordination Control Who’s the MAN (or WOMAN)

Management Team

Basic Team Functions Containment Tactical options Scene secured Intel gathered Negotiation strategy developed Communication begun Media management Command post established Control established Lines of communication established Command team recognition Field Tactical Negotiation

Command Post Should be set up apart from negotiators Should be set up apart form tactical team Should be set up apart from representatives of other agencies. Should be close to all Mutual availability

Field Commander Job(Incident Commander) Must have access to all agency supervisors Must understand negotiating strategy and tactical deployment Establishes a command post Contacts high high Establishes perimeter (inner and outer) Oversees evacuation of civilians Makes decisions re: negotiations and tactical options Assign a PIO

Field Commander Check List Is this a negotiable incident Risk/benefit analysis Manpower needs Equipment needs Logistics Food Heat Sanitation Has command and control been implemented Is intelligence flowing Is there a free two-way flow of info? Negotiator supervisor Tactical supervisor

Tactical Supervisor Brought up to speed Is the team necessary Negotiator input Dispatch team Brief team Equipment on site Area contained/secure Observers in place Tactical options Tactical intel requirements Coordinate tactical/negotiation responses Team deployed

Negotiation Supervisor Hostage/non-hostage Negotiability Can it be made so Type of siege Deliberate Spontaneous Anticipated Brief Command/tactical People dispatched Equipment on site Intel gathered Ht/hostage Witnesses Tactical Continuous Negotiation strategy Intro planned options HT threat assessment Team deployed

Dealing With the Media Media pool Written releases only Interviews Control access Places People Information Written releases only Interviews PIO 1st Amendment issues Pell v Procunier, 417 US 817, 1974

Principal of Clarity Communication is the key to success Lines of communication convey information Incident Commander Tactical Supervisor Support personnel Hostages Supervisor Speaker phones allow monitoring by all essential personnel The fewer lines the more accurate the comm. The more direct lines the more accurate the comm.

The Negotiation Center Quiet Separate and isolated Secure Authorized personnel access only (inner zone) Safe Inside the inner security zone out of the line of fire Adequate space Team Equipment Accessibility

Negotiation Team Startup Checklist Gather intelligence Incident Hostages Hostage taker Options for defusing the situation Establish communication Supervisors Support personnel Keep a record of the negotiation Maintain equipment

Negotiation Team Team supervisor Primary negotiator Secondary negotiator Maintains record of contacts with ht Develops verbal tactics Moral support for the primary Comm. Link to the team Relieves the primary Intelligence officer Gathers information Ht Weapons Building plans Interviews Maintains status board

Selecting Negotiators Emotional maturity Good listening skills Good interviewing skills Credible Logical argumentation Street wise Cope with uncertainty Responsible Committed Remembers he/she is a cop

Mental Health Consultant Expertise in human behavior Recognizes mental disorders Assesses stage evolution Suggests strategy Threat assessment Personality profile

Team Exercise In assigning roles for the hostage negotiation team what skills would you look for and how would you assess them. Negotiators Primary Secondary Negotiation Supervisor Intelligence Officer

Things Worth Knowing You are the negotiating team commander at a hostage situation, the Chief arrives at the Negotiation Command Center demanding to talk to the HT. What do you do? You are the field commander at a situation where a person has barricaded himself inside his residence. This person has occasionally fired shots at the police. The tactical and negotiation supervisor come to you, each wanting their team to resolve the situation. What would you ask each before making a decision of whether to continue negotiating or going tactical?