The Book of Real-World Negotiations

23Onions and Hostage Negotiations: The Many Layers

Based on an interview with Andy Young

Hostage negotiations are a unique classification of negotiations with many challenges not found in other realms. These processes are typically tense, with high drama, emotions, time pressure, and severe consequences if a solution is not found. This type of negotiation is also complicated by having a number of different parties involved with varied interests and objectives.

While all parties want to see the situation resolved, they often have very different avenues to achieve those objectives. This creates an added dimension for the negotiators involved from a coordination perspective. The case that follows shows the many layers of this type of negotiation and how a process can be managed and coordinated effectively with the best possible outcome secured.

Background and the Negotiation Challenge

In March of 2015 a hostage negotiation situation arose to which the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office (Texas) was dispatched. The barricaded individual had a number of weapons and the responding deputy learned that the male living at the address had choked a female to the point of dizziness and pointed a shotgun at numerous people nearby. A lone officer, from a neighboring municipality, responded to assist and had a gun pointed at him. He decided to hold his position until other deputies responded. Once the deputies arrived and assessed the scene, the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office SWAT team was ...