2025 Crisis Negotiations Conference

0830 0930		Opening Ceremony SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 1 hour - Instructor: Kingsfield, Jeff This event will include a presentation of colors, opening remarks, and a keynote presentation.
1000 1200		Case Study: Being a Secondary Negotiator/Coach: An 8-Hour Negotiation with a Baby Killer SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Young, Andy Dr. Andy Young will analyze the negotiations with a subject wanted for the murder of his 2-month-old child. Special attention will be given to the secondary negotiator/coach and how to support the primary negotiator in such situations. A focus will be placed on using active listening skills during an extended and challenging negotiation. Bodycam footage will be shown during this presentation to highlight the key learning points and challenges.
1300 1445		Applying Neuroscience to Negotiating with a Person in Crisis SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Mahncke, Henry Neuroscientist Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of BrainHQ, will discuss what's happening in the brain of a negotiator (and in the brain of a person in crisis) during a crisis negotiation. Learn about how brain health issues in the person in crisis can create obstacles to a successful negotiation, and how negotiators who understand these issues (and optimize their own brain performance) can guide negotiations to a successful conclusion.
1300 1445		Case Study: Step Into My Office SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Ortiz , Lorenzo | Gunnels, Eric Presented by Phoenix P.D. Negotiators Eric Gunnels and Enzo Ortiz, this case study examines a 2022 barricaded incident in Phoenix, AZ. The situation involved a suspect with mental health struggles, which led to a serious act of violence at his workplace. The debrief emphasizes the effectiveness of the parallel approach, the use of active listening skills, and how suspects can surprise negotiators during their mental distress.
1500 1700		Case Study: 33-Hour Barricade with Hostages SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Hays, Rusty l. In June 2021, a domestic disturbance escalated into a critical incident when a subject shot his girlfriend and then barricaded himself inside a residence with their young son and the victim's grandmother. The standoff lasted 33 hours, during which two agencies alternated negotiation responsibilities.
1500 1700		The Evolution of Hostage Negotiation: Past, Present and Future: The Legacy Of Dr. Harvey Schlossberg SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Schlossberg, Dr. Antoinette Hear Dr. Antoinette Schlossberg explore the early career and background of the renowned Dr. Harvey Schlossberg, an early pioneer in crisis negotiations. It will cover changes in culture over the decades, the beginnings of psychological services for CN Teams, and various courses of action applied to crisis intervention. Topics such as hostage negotiation, crisis intervention, and de-escalation will be analyzed. Dr. Schlossberg will also discuss trauma-informed policing, the Polyvagal Theory, brain changes, and related behaviors. Stories behind the book "Psychologist with a Gun" and the movie "Hold Your Fire 2021" will be incorporated into the presentation, along with much more.

0800 0945		Case Study: Negotiation in Unusual Environments SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Perretta, Quentin | Hanks, Josiah This presentation will debrief two cases involving negotiations in unusual environments. The first case occurred in 2022 in Olympia, WA, where an individual barricaded himself in an evergreen tree because he did not want the trees to be cut down. He had built a tree stand nearly 300 feet off the ground and booby-trapped it. The stand was supported by a long pole attached to a vandalized vehicle on the ground. If the vehicle were moved, he would fall. Due to his height in the tree, fire or rescue operations were not an option. The second case took place in 2021 in Wishram, WA. The individual had been involved in a pursuit with local agencies and was actively shooting at them while fleeing. He eventually drove his vehicle down to the riverbank, where it became stuck, and he barricaded himself inside. During this incident, he had taped a firearm to his hand. WSP negotiators began communicating with him even as he was firing rounds. In both cases, WSP troopers' training to always keep their heads on a swivel proved critical to ensuring safety and maintaining situational awareness throughout the negotiations.
0800 1200		Elastic Identity in Crisis: Expanding the Negotiator SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: Javidi, Dr. Mitch Crisis negotiators operate in high-stakes, high-uncertainty environments where identity and adaptability determine outcomes. This session introduces the concept of Elastic Identity, distinguishing it from rigid and merely resilient identities. Drawing from Dr. Javidi's 2025 Elastic Identity book, national data, and Dr. Shauna Springer's assessment tool, participants will explore how their own identity elasticity impacts their ability to de-escalate, influence, and build rapport in volatile situations. The session blends theory with practice, guiding negotiators to strengthen their psychological flexibility and negotiation effectiveness. Key interactive components include: A self-assessment of their personal elasticity using Shauna Springer's tool. Group reflection on national data trends around rigidity, resilience, and elasticity. Practical strategies to shift from "good" (resilient) to MAGNUS (elastic) identity when negotiating with individuals in crisis. Learning Objectives By the end of this 4-hour workshop, participants will be able to: 1. Differentiate Identity Modes: Explain the distinctions between rigid, resilient, and elastic identities and analyze how each identity mode influences negotiation strategies, adaptability, and outcomes in crisis situations. 2. Assess and Reflect on Personal Elasticity: Complete Shauna Springer's Elasticity Assessment, interpret their results against national data, and reflect on how their personal identity style may affect their negotiation approach and effectiveness. 3. Apply Elastic Strategies in Negotiations: Develop at least three practical strategies to enhance their own elasticity, expanding capacity to connect with subjects, remain adaptive under stress, and shift perspectives in real time, ultimately improving negotiation success. Exclusive Participant Access All participants attending this session will receive complimentary 1-year access to NTOA's MAGNUS ONE App: Audio editions of MAGNUS OVEA, Elastic Identity, and Love to Inspire Self-Assessments, including the 11 RINGS, with personalized dashboards and reports. Links to select NTOA resources Elastic Identity knowledge-building tools & gamifications designed for applied practice MAGNUS Coach AI, a digital performance coach offering real-time strategies, feedback, and growth prompts. Additionally, Dr. Javidi plans to bring 150 print copies of his book to sign for participants who wish to have a signed copy at no cost! This resource package ensures negotiators can continue learning, practicing, and integrating the skills introduced during the workshop long after the conference concludes.
1000 1200		Case Study: Multi-Jurisdictional Response SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Clyde, Michael This presentation details a 17-hour standoff with a mentally unstable individual, involving nearly twenty different agencies to resolve the crisis. Many teams across the US rely on some form of assistance when responding to major crisis incidents. These multi-jurisdictional responses can become chaotic if not planned for ahead of time. With proper training and coordination, we can minimize some common pitfalls of the multi-agency response. Focus on pre-incident planning, common challenges, benefits of a multi-jurisdictional approach, agency and individual roles within a multi-agency team, and the implementation of a multi-jurisdictional operation.
1300 1445		Case Study: The True Story Behind the Movie SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Doering, Patrick This presentation offers a historical case study of the 1980s Saint Louis City Police Department pension fund scandal, which led to a Police Officer holding a Police Commissioner hostage. This incident inspired the movie "The Negotiator." The study has been a three-year project that included interviews with the hostage taker, the on-scene commander, four negotiators, a sniper, the hostage's sons, and the newspaper reporter who covered the story. Research involved police reports, newspaper articles, and TV broadcasts. Focus topics include issues and challenges related to negotiating with one of your own, the importance of debriefings and training with other teams, trusting the negotiation process, and learning from experienced personnel.
1300 1445		Stop Trying to Control the Outcome SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Ortiz , Lorenzo 'Stop Trying to Control the Outcome' is a presentation designed for all members of the negotiation team, emphasizing the systematic and organic nature of negotiations within fluid, dynamic, and unpredictable environments. This segment breaks down the negotiation process from start to finish. It reminds negotiators that flexibility doesn't come from a "come what may" attitude, but from having a system that allows deviation and easy recovery if the situation requires it.
1300 1700		Boulder Crest Foundation: An overview of the Struggle Well & Warrior PATHH training programs SPECIAL EVENT THIS COURSE IS OFFERED ON MULTIPLE DAYS Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: Bentley, Jason | Brandt, Robert This training takes a comprehensive approach that focuses on the transformation of the active serving military and first responder culture, rather than the implementation of another wellness program. Struggle Well training is guided by two objectives: normalizing the struggles that are a part of every service member and first responder's life, and democratizing their ability to struggle well. Struggle Well trains active serving military units and first responder agencies so participants can transform struggle into strength and growth, and be of better service to themselves, their family, community, and country.
1500 1700		Case Study: Negotiate Like You Will See Them Again SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Young, Andy Using bodycam footage, Dr. Andy Young will analyze communication strategies and tactics used during negotiations with a suicidal jumper with a complex psychiatric history. Specific attention will be given to adapting negotiation strategies based on previously obtained knowledge of the subject, and on negotiating with someone with a high likelihood of engaging with the team in future incidents.

0800 0945		Holding the Line: Trauma, Stigma, and Resilience in Law Enforcement SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Krumeich, Morgan Crisis negotiators are trained to manage high-stakes, emotionally charged situations with calm, control, and precision. Yet behind the scenes, many endure chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and unspoken trauma-compounded by a culture that often discourages vulnerability. This presentation explores the mental health toll of crisis response work through the lens of lived experiences, featuring powerful real-world accounts of trauma, stigma, and resilience from law enforcement professionals. Drawing on insights from psychology, critical incident response, and firsthand experience supporting police and tactical teams, the session examines how untreated trauma can manifest, why officers often delay or avoid seeking help, and what can be done to foster mental wellness without compromising operational strength. Attendees will leave with practical tools for self-regulation, early intervention, and long-term resilience-grounded in science and shaped by the realities of law enforcement culture.
0800 1200		Boulder Crest Foundation: An overview of the Struggle Well & Warrior PATHH training programs SPECIAL EVENT THIS COURSE IS OFFERED ON MULTIPLE DAYS Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: Bentley, Jason | Brandt, Robert Our training takes a comprehensive approach that focuses on transformation of the active serving military and first responder culture, rather than the implementation of another wellness program. Struggle Well training is guided by two objectives: normalizing the struggles that are a part of every service member and first responder's life, and democratizing their ability to struggle well. Struggle Well trains active serving military units and first responder agencies so participants are able to transform struggle into strength and growth, and be of better service to themselves, their family, community, and country.
0800 1200		Six-Step Negotiator Assessment Process (SNAP) SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: Mackoff, Cinda | Mackoff, Dr Randy This four-hour presentation introduces a six-step process to help crisis negotiators systematically assess and manage the risk of violence posed by a subject during a critical incident. The course provides a framework for evaluating violence risk factors, applying strategic active listening techniques, and connecting those risk factors to specific verbal intervention strategies. Participants will learn to identify and articulate which risk factors are being targeted, understand the tools available to Emergency Response Teams (ERT) to support negotiator interventions, and recognize when verbal strategies alone are unlikely to be effective and tactical measures are required. Serving as a condensed overview of a three-day workshop, this session emphasizes the importance of collaboration between negotiators and tactical teams, as well as the need for negotiators to document and defend their approach in a clear, systematic manner for use in court or at a coroner's inquest.
0800 1700		Adult Mental Health for Public Safety SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 8 hours - Instructor: Dubois, Wayne | Brooks, Alan THIS CLASS IS LIMITED TO 30 STUDENTS AND WILL BE FILLED ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS. This course is a skills-based course designed to educate attendees about how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among first responders. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it builds mental health literacy, providing an action plan that teaches attendees to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental health or substance use challenge. Topics covered in this course include but are not limited to: Common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges, how to interact with a person in crisis, how to connect a person with the appropriate care, as well as expanded content on trauma, substance use, and self-care.
1000 1200		Case Study: Tri-Cities Debrief Barricade by Text SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Taylor, Jeremy | Griffin, Matthew On August 8, 2024, the Tri-City Regional SWAT team responded to a hostage situation where the suspect was holding his wife hostage when law enforcement attempted to arrest him for Child Molestation. During the five-hour incident, CNT was never able to speak directly to the hostage-taker and could only communicate with the hostage via text. This form of communication was challenging because the hostage was hiding the fact that she was talking to law enforcement. In any SWAT operation, information is essential for tactical decision-making. Text communication proved difficult for CNT to obtain and verify the information passed to SWAT on the ground, which was necessary for making decisions to resolve the incident. Tri-City Regional SWAT uses an integrated CNT system, meaning all SWAT officers are trained as negotiators. Presenters will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this structure and how it played a key role in this incident. Topics such as the flow of information and vetting challenging information will be covered. The procedures and strategies used throughout this incident will be detailed.
1300 1445		How to Be a Healthy Human in a Job That Can Eat You Alive SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Howard, Ken You have a job that, if left unchecked, could easily consume you-causing you to collapse into yourself, a bottle, porn, or any number of unhealthy anxiety-regulation strategies. One of the fundamental underpinnings of addiction is an intimacy disorder: addicts don't view people as a source of comfort, so they turn instead to chemistry (alcohol, drugs, etc.) or processes (porn, gambling, etc.) to find relief. In this session, we will explore how to endure the really hard things you face in your job and, more importantly, how to share the impact-not the details-of your day with those closest to you. By learning to draw comfort from your relationships rather than from chemistry, you can build healthier ways of managing stress and staying whole in the work you do.
1300 1700		Case Study: Two-Hour Break SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: Korach, Michael | Robertson, Scott This incident took place in January 2005 in Brimfield, Ohio. It began as a domestic dispute involving suspect James Trimble. After leaving the residence, Trimble broke into a duplex and took a 22-year-old female hostage. The standoff unfolded over approximately 45 minutes via cell phone, as Metro SWAT negotiator Mike Korach worked to secure the hostage's release. During negotiations, the suspect agreed to allow a two-hour break before releasing the female. The entire incident was captured on audio recording by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
1300 1700		The Dark Side of Influence: Advanced Persuasion for Crisis Negotiators SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: McMahon, Deb Negotiators rely on influence and persuasion to gain compliance and cooperation. But what happens when traditional rapport-building and influence techniques fail? This course dives into advanced, ethically complex persuasion tactics used in intelligence, psychological operations, and high-stakes negotiation. It explores both the ethical and unethical manipulation techniques that can be used in crisis situations - how to recognize them, defend against them, and selectively apply them when necessary. This session will challenge negotiators to think beyond Active Listening Skills (ALS) and consider high-risk, high-reward influence strategies, including psychological leverage, cognitive biases, and unorthodox approaches to shifting a subject's decision-making. Training Objectives: 1. Employ Psychological Manipulation vs. Ethical Influence Understanding the fine line between persuasion and manipulation The ethics of persuasion in crisis negotiation Real-world case studies of influence tactics gone wrong 2. Leverage Cognitive Biases in Negotiation How to use loss aversion, the anchoring effect, and urgency bias to gain compliance Identifying a subject's mental traps and weaknesses in decision-making "Framing" negotiations to shift perception and choice 3. Defend Against Dark Tactics Against Negotiators How subjects attempt to manipulate negotiators Recognizing deception and countering manipulative behavior The psychology of resistance, compliance, and defiance 4. Weaponize Hope & Fear: The Two Most Powerful Emotional Drivers The Hope Strategy - leveraging a subject's unmet needs to create movement The "Fear Factor" - controlled use of fear to drive behavioral change When and how mild coercion is ethical and effective 5. Employ "Power Words" and Conversational Inception Specific words and phrases that can alter perception and compliance Subconscious messaging and linguistic mirroring for deeper influence Embedding persuasive "thought seeds" in conversation
1500 1700		Integrated CNT System SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Taylor, Jeremy | Griffin, Matthew This class will introduce how the Tri-City Regional SWAT team uses an integrated CNT system. This means there is no separate CNT unit; all SWAT officers are trained as negotiators. It will cover the team setup, training, operational deployment, and how CNT is used beyond traditional SWAT call-outs. Drawing from lessons learned in several hostage incidents, the presenters will explore how communication and the overall system can operate within a separate SWAT/CNT framework.

0800 0945		Case Study: Lessons from Chaos SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Luedtke, Ashley On September 3, 2020, Austin Police SWAT and Hostage Negotiators unknowingly embarked on a 31-hour callout after multiple 911 calls reported a male subject pointing a firearm at neighbors. Through a detailed timeline of events, tactical decision-making, and negotiation strategies, this presentation provides insight into the operational challenges and emotional complexities of extended crisis situations. The discussion highlights key takeaways, including inter-agency coordination, the importance of mental and physical stamina, evolving threat assessments, communication breakdowns and breakthroughs, and the critical role of debriefs in preparing for future incidents. This case study underscores the human factors that influence outcomes during prolonged critical incidents.
0800 0945		Negotiators of the Special Forces of the National Police of Ukraine: A Project Born of War SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Koba, Valeriy The report will focus on the activities of the National Police of Ukraine in the field of conflict de-escalation and the use of special negotiators during crisis operations. It will provide an overview of the National Police and the specifics of its work during the full-scale war with the Russian Federation, highlighting new challenges, expanded functions, combat operations, and the experience gained while operating in crisis conditions. Attention will be given to the first steps in creating a system of police negotiators with the support of American partners, as well as the unique features of selecting and training negotiators during wartime with the assistance of international experts and Ukrainian civilian specialists. The presentation will also cover the history, structure, and legal framework of the KORD special unit, Ukraine's equivalent of SWAT, and explain its role in conducting special operations. Examples will be provided of KORD's crisis response missions and its interaction with trained negotiators, supported by statistics and descriptions of the types of incidents that have required the involvement of both negotiators and assault teams during the war. Several specific incidents will be analyzed in detail. In addition, the report will outline the general crime situation in Ukraine during wartime, paying particular attention to the psychological health of citizens affected by the conflict, as well as the behavioral characteristics of veterans and their families. Finally, it will present the planned measures for the continued development of the police negotiator project and extend an invitation to exchange experiences and adopt best practices from American crisis response teams.
0800 1200		Workshop: Leveraging ChatGPT for Crisis Negotiation Training SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: McMahon, Deb THIS CLASS IS LIMITED TO 50 STUDENTS AND WILL BE FILLED ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS. This interactive course introduces both new and seasoned negotiators to the practical applications of ChatGPT - a powerful AI language model developed by OpenAI - for enhancing crisis negotiation training. Participants will learn how to set up and utilize ChatGPT to create realistic, true-to-life scenarios tailored to various skill levels, saving time and ensuring consistency in content development. Through demonstrations and hands-on exercises, negotiators will gain insight into refining AI-generated scenarios, incorporating ethical and legal considerations, and integrating these resources seamlessly into their existing training programs. By the end of the course, attendees will be equipped to design, deliver, and continuously improve crisis negotiation training scenarios that foster skill growth and preparedness. Training Objectives 1. Understand ChatGPT Fundamentals Learn the basic capabilities and setup of ChatGPT, including free and subscription-based options. 2. Develop Realistic Scenarios Use ChatGPT to generate and refine crisis negotiation scenarios that match varying degrees of complexity and negotiator experience. 3. Customize Content for Training Goals Tailor AI-generated scenarios to specific training objectives, ensuring relevance and real-world applicability.
1000 1200		Case Study: Oklahoma City Sniper Shooting: Are You Mission Ready? SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Pope, Scott | Lawson, Katie This presentation examines the Oklahoma City Police Department Officer-Involved Sniper Shooting and tactical team callout that occurred on December 24, 2019, in a Sonic parking lot. It begins with an introduction and overview of the OKCPD Negotiator Team, followed by a detailed review of the facts of the incident, supported by evidence such as photographs, body camera footage, robot video, 911 calls, and officer radio transmissions. The session highlights lessons learned by both the individual negotiator and the team, while also addressing the mental health impacts of the incident on MSgt. Scott Pope and MSgt. Katie Lawson. Broader topics include common negotiator stressors, signs of compassion fatigue in negotiators and team leaders, and practical tips to ensure that both individuals and teams remain mission-ready. Attendees will also gain an understanding of two key wellness concepts-self-awareness and margin/capacity-as well as an introduction to four of the eleven Rings of Wellness: financial stability, occupational fulfillment, emotional health, and physical health optimization. The session concludes with closing remarks and an opportunity for questions.
1000 1200		Court Prepping for Negotiations SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Wetzel, Ben