NCJ Number
58290
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
TWO PARTICIPANTS IN AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE WORKSHOP DISCUSS HOSTAGE SITUATIONS AND THE POLICE RESPONSE TO TERRORISM.
Abstract
THE FIRST PANELIST NOTES SEVERAL TYPES OF HOSTAGE TAKERS, WITH REFERENCE TO THE TRAINING, MOTIVATION, WILLINGNESS TO DIE, AND SUPPORT OF OTHERS THAT SET THE POLITICAL TERRORIST APART FROM OTHER HOSTAGE TAKERS. FOUR STEPS IN DEALING WITH HOSTAGE TAKERS ARE IDENTIFIED: CONTAINING THE SITUATION WITH FIREPOWER, MAKING CONTACT WITH THE HOSTAGE TAKERS, DEESCALATING EMOTIONS AND DEVELOPING A TRUST RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOSTAGE TAKERS' NEGOTIATOR, AND OFFERING ALTERNATIVES TO THE HOSTAGE TAKERS FOR GETTING WHAT THEY WANT. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT POLICE NEED NOT FEEL HUMILITATED IF THEIR ACTIONS SAVE LIVES BUT ALLOW HOSTAGE TAKERS TO GET AWAY. POLICE ARE URGED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY CANNOT MAKE POLITICAL DECISIONS ABOUT TERRORISM BUT MUST CONCENTRATE ON MINIMIZING LOSS OF LIFE IN EACH HOSTAGE SITUATION. IN DISCUSSING PROBLEMS IN DEFINING TERRORISM, THE SECOND PANELIST NOTES THAT ONE PERSON'S TERRORIST IS ANOTHER'S FREEDOM FIGHTER. LIKELY DEVELOPMENTS IN TERRORIST PLOYS ARE CONSIDERED, AND THE DYNAMICS OF HOSTAGE-TAKING SITUATIONS ARE DISCUSSED. THIS PANELIST NOTES THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF ALLOWING TERRORISTS TO WIN THE 'POWER GAME' AND SUGGESTS THAT THE POLICE RESPONSIBILITY IN DEALING WITH TERRORISM GOES BEYOND CARRYING OUT POLITICIANS' ORDERS. (LKM)