NCJ Number
66271
Journal
POLIZEI Volume: 70 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 9-13
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A NEW OFFENSIVE POLICE STRATEGY AGAINST VIOLENT OFFENDERS IN WEST GERMANY IS ADVOCATED AND ILLUSTRATED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HOSTAGE TAKING.
Abstract
A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR DEALING WITH VIOLENT OFFENDERS WAS DEVELOPED BY GUENTHER BAUER, A LEADING WEST GERMAN POLICE ADMINISTRATOR, AND ADVOCATES (1) THE THOROUGH TRAINING OF ALL POLICE OFFICERS REGARDING THE TACTICS OF MODERN VIOLENT OFFENDERS, (2) THE DETAILED REHEARSAL OF POLICE BEHAVIOR IN SIMULATED SITUATIONS, AND (3) THE USE OF A MORE AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY. WHILE ACCORDINGLY TO CURRENT TACTICS, THE POLICE DO NOT TAKE ACTION BUT SIMPLY WAIT FOR THE OFFENDER TO ACT, A MORE AGGRESSIVE POLICE BEHAVIOR HAS SHOWN SPECTACULAR SUCCESS IN SUCH CASES AS THE LIBERATION OF A HIJACKED AIRPLANE IN MOGADISCIO, SOMALIA. BAUER DOES NOT ADVISE THE UNCONTROLLED USE OF FORCE WHICH MIGHT ENDANGER THE LIVES OF THE HOSTAGESES; INSTEAD HE CALLS FOR POLICE ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL PROVOKE AN OFFENDER REACTION AND OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES TO OVERWHELM THE CRIMINALS. BAUER'S SUGGESTIONS AGREE WITH INDEPENDENTLY DEVELOPED STRATEGIES OF OTHER CRIMINOLOGISTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE POLICE IN AN ACTIVE RATHER THAN PASSIVE ROLE. SIX CASE HISTORIES INVOLVING BANK ROBBERIES AND HOSTAGE TAKING DEMONSTRATE THE SUCCESSFUL USE OF THE NEW STRATEGY; IN EACH CASE, THE POLICE SOUGHT CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE OFFENDER (NEGOTIATING IN PERSON, HANDING OVER SMALL SUMS OF MONEY, EXCHANGING ONE HOSTAGE FOR ANOTHER) UNTIL THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OVERCOME THE OFFENDERS. THE POLICE ALSO SOUGHT TO AVOID THE ADDED COMPLICATIONS OF A CHANGE OF SCENE. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)