Critical Incident

Critical Incident First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics

Never Forget Your Safety Comes First Critical Incident First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics

Definitions Critical Incident First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Crisis Situation: • Any incident in which a person present on the scene has threatened to cause immediate harm to himself or others. This usually involves barricading or refusal to leave a location and / or hostage taking. • Hostage Situation: • A crisis situation in which a person is held against their will to force fulfillment of demands.

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Hostage Situation: • A crisis situation in which a person is held against their will to force fulfillment of demands. • Usually Involves: • Threat to harm a person if demands are not met.

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Hostage Situation continued: • Usually Involves: • Primary Goal • Having demands met • Gaining some type of advantage

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Defensive Threat: • Usually employed in non-hostage situations • Threats are primarily to prevent police action • “If you come in here I’ll hurt Joe!

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • First Responders Duties: • Contain the threat. • Isolate the threat. • Engage the person in conversation

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Containment and Isolation accomplish: • Prevents the spread of the threat. • Prevents the escape of the subject • Prevents unauthorized persons to enter the crisis site. • Applies pressure on the subject by isolating him from the outside world.

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Containing the subject to one specific location accomplishes: • Seals off the location or house from outside influence • Disables or removes any means of escape for the person

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Quick Assessment: • What type of situation exists? • Have hostages been taken? • What type of weapons are involved?

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Request Additional resources: • Supervisor • Back up officers. • Ambulance • Fire apparatus. • SWAT • CNT

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Evacuation considerations: • Persons in close proximity of the crisis incident • Close off streets or neighborhoods if necessary • Vehicular & pedestrian traffic should be controlled . • Establish an outer perimeter a safe distance from the site.

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Working through the crisis: • Most dangerous time: • First few minutes of crisis. • Last few minutes during surrender. • Subject is usually very unstable and irrational

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Most dangerous time continued: • Innocent police activity may be viewed as threatening. • Negotiating may NOT be an option due to person’s condition • Use caution in attempting to contact the person.

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Recommended Techniques: • Circumstances may require the first responder to establish contact with the subject • He may call you • Hostage may call you • 3rd party contact (prior)

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Using Non-threatening non-judgmental language will: • Promote Rational Thinking • Allow for arrival of additional resources • Can aid in intelligence gathering

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics Negotiations Protocol • Introduce yourself by name • Exclude rank • Identify the agency you work for • Advise subject you are there to help • Show concern for the subject • Ask if he/she is O.K. • Reassure him no one will come in / rush him

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics Negotiations Protocol • If hostages have been taken: • Don’t call them hostages • Talk of them as people • Ask about their condition • Ask their names • Calling them by name will make the subject think of them as people not objects

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics Negotiations Protocol • Ask the subject what happened? • Let the subject talk • When he / she talks, they vent anger and frustration • You gain intelligence

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Be a good listener and reassure the subject • Speak in a calm voice at all times • Do not get into a shouting match • Do not debate with the subject • Avoid setting deadlines • Talk through any he sets • Contact him prior to deadline or time of action & talk past it

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Statements that are vague or indicate finality: • Could mean he / she is thinking about suicide • It is O.K. to ask him / her if he / she is thinking about suicide

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics Opening Exchange: • “Hello my name is….. And I work for the Racine Police Department. I’m here to help you.” • “What is your name or what name can I call you?” • ”Are you O.K.” • Are the people in there with you, O.K.”

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics Allow the subject to talk: • “Can you tell me what happened?” • A lot of incidents are emotionally driven • Try to identify which emotion he subject is feeling

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Anger • Frustration • Fear • Sadness • Depression

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics After the subject tells his story: • Encourage further conversation by labeling the emotion: • “Jim, it sounds like you are very angry about …. • The subject will either confirm or correct you

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics Tips for Safe First Responder Interaction: • Your safety comes first • Do not negotiate face to face with potentially armed subjects • Never exchange yourself for anyone else • Do not allow non-police personnel to negotiate

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics • Plan Surrenders carefully • This may mean the subject is planning an action that will force a suicide by Cop

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics As a first responder you can: • Gather intelligence for SWAT & CNT • # of subjects • Type of weapons • # of hostages

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics As a first responder you can: • Gather intelligence continued: • Location of hostages • Evaluate subjects state of mind

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics As a first responder you can: • Stall for time: • Time saves lives (Usually) • Allows SWAT / CNT to get into place • Has calming effect on everyone • Don’t agree to anything (need boss' approval) • Create Diversions • Keep subject talking • Keep subject in problem solving mode

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics You can provide Real Time Intelligence to SWAT /CNT • Where is the subject NOW? • Where are the hostages NOW? • His / Her state of mind NOW?

Don’t Forget our goal is to SAVE LIVES Critical Incident First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics This information was provided by

First Responder Responsibilities & Tactics The Critical Incident First Responder Talk Tactics Guide is available from IAHN. Go to The negotiator store at www.hostagenegotiation.com

Critical Incident