2026 Hostage/Crisis Negotiations Conference and Trade Show

0800 1700		Attendee Registration SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 8 hours - Instructor:
1900 2100		Case Study: Christmas Day Standoff SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Morris, Benjamin On Christmas Day in 2017, celebrity weight-loss guru Milan Ross spent the morning with his two children singing and making videos portraying a happy, loving family. Milan had high hopes that when his ex-wife arrived to pick up the boys, his recent success and the spirit of the season would spark new hope for a future together. But disappointment coupled with alcohol would lead to a much different outcome, and less than 2 hours after the singing stopped, Milan would commit unspeakable acts of violence against his own family. In addition to calls from witnesses reporting the violence, Milan dialed 911 to state that he killed his wife and threatened that if police tried to enter his apartment, he would kill his kids. A six-hour hostage standoff would ensue, with negotiators racing to understand the man and his motives, and tactical units struggling to find advantage in an almost hopeless scenario. Learning Points: • Triage of early intelligence • Taking breaks • Active listening • When things turn suicidal • TPI’s • Making important decisions as a team • Non-responder techniques • Dealing with the aftermath of critical incidents

0830 0930		Opening Ceremony SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 1 hour - Instructor: This event will include a presentation of colors, opening remarks, and a keynote presentation.
1000 1200		Case Study: Fort Wayne International Airport Standoff SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Holmes, Terry | McCarran, David The case study of this incident occurred at Fort Wayne International Airport. The challenging incident involved a suicidal teenager who was armed with a handgun. The case study will focus on the importance of early and effective use of active listening skills, remembering the basics of negotiations, and will explore missed opportunities as a negotiator.
1000 1200		HNT Skills Workshop SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Thompson, Jeff Regardless of your experience as a police crisis negotiator, it is essential to continually refine the skills that make you effective in high-stakes, often life-or-death incidents. These include active listening, demonstrating empathy, building rapport, and guiding behavioral change - core competencies that require consistent, deliberate practice. Engaging in these exercises also strengthens broader negotiator capabilities, such as open-mindedness, resilience under stress, comfort with ambiguity, humility, creativity, and critical thinking, all of which are required for effective negotiation during crisis incidents. This session is highly interactive, offering a range of practical exercises. Some exercises will feel familiar, while others will push you into new territory and challenge your approach in meaningful ways. Each activity is grounded in established hostage negotiation research, informed by narrative psychology, and drawn from techniques used by police negotiators worldwide. If you are looking for a professional, challenging environment with a healthy mix of focus and fun, this workshop is for you.
1200 1700		Case Study: The Two Battles - Domestic Violence Homicide Hostage Rescue SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: Gribble, Travis A hostage rescue debrief is where this presentation begins - the kind of call that tests everything an operator has been trained to do and some things they haven't. From there, the presentation expands on what the best operators know about performing under extreme stress and what a career spent in high-risk operations ultimately does to the people who live it. Drawn from 24 years of law enforcement experience - 16 of them in SWAT, across more than 1,500 high-risk operations - this presentation is not about struggle. It is about what struggle produces. The science of post-traumatic growth offers operators and leaders a framework for understanding why the hardest calls can build the sharpest people, and how to lead a team through pressure without leaving anyone behind. This is a performance presentation. The lessons are drawn from the kind of operational experience that cannot be simulated, and the framework it delivers has the potential to change how you understand yourself, your team, and the career you have chosen.
1300 1445		Applying Neuroscience to Negotiating with a Person in Crisis SPECIAL EVENT THIS COURSE IS OFFERED ON MULTIPLE DAYS 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		From Tragedy to Triumph: Managing Stress, Communicating Effectively, and Building Resilience SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Rogers, Shane This presentation explores practical strategies for recognizing and managing stress, emphasizing techniques such as emotional regulation, boundary-setting, and building supportive routines. It also covers the fundamentals of effective crisis communications: how to stay calm under pressure, convey information clearly, and create an environment of trust during difficult moments. The heart of the presentation is a personal 20-year journey through the realities of substance abuse and profound loss within a family. Through this story, the presentation highlights the long-term emotional impact of addiction, the challenges of supporting loved ones, and the resilience that develops through adversity. The experiences shared offer insight, empathy, and hope for others facing similar challenges. Ultimately, the presentation blends practical guidance with lived experience to help audiences better understand stress, communicate effectively in crises, and find strength through healing.
1500 1700		Brooklyn Check-Cashing Store Hostage Standoff SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Sullivan, Colin | Tomao, Michael On June 8, 2024, a male subject attempted to rob a check-cashing store in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn's 83 Precinct. The subject, armed with a firearm, forced his way behind the counter, and initially took three females hostage. Things went wrong for the subject when one of the female hostages escaped, combined with a rapid response by patrol units.
1500 1700		Why We Negotiate - Downs vs. United States SPECIAL EVENT THIS COURSE IS OFFERED ON MULTIPLE DAYS Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Weinrick, Marvin The presentation examines Downs v. United States and how it helped shape the way law enforcement approaches negotiations today. Using Downs as a case study, the presentation walks through the 1971 plane hijacking and highlights the key decisions that led to a tragic outcome and have since shaped police negotiations. The focus is on what we can learn from the incident and how those lessons have carried forward. We will look at the court's review of Downs and how it helped define what a reasonable law enforcement response should look like during high-risk situations, especially when there are hostages. From there, the presentation shifts to how those lessons apply to modern crisis negotiation. It explains that negotiators do much more than talk to a subject. They gather intelligence, assess risk, and help give command staff better options during critical incidents (focusing on the role of the intel officer, the coach, and the team leader). The presentation then ties these ideas into current NTOA guidelines. It shows how training, scenario-based exercises, and team coordination are built around lessons learned from cases like Downs. The goals and objectives of this presentation include understanding the key facts and outcome of Downs v. United States and how critical decision points from that incident continue to influence negotiations today. We will recognize how past incidents and case law have shaped modern practices and why those lessons still matter in current operations. We will also explain the importance of intelligence gathering and how it supports risk assessment and decision-making during critical incidents. The presentation will highlight how negotiators can create time, develop options, and provide valuable information to command staff. Finally, we will identify how poor or limited information can negatively impact outcomes. The presentation will connect lessons learned from Downs to current training practices, including scenario-based training and team coordination, and show how NTOA guidelines can be applied to improve response, communication, and overall outcomes.
1800 2100		Welcome Reception SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 3 hours - Instructor:

0800 0945		Applying Neuroscience to Negotiating with a Person in Crisis SPECIAL EVENT THIS COURSE IS OFFERED ON MULTIPLE DAYS 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.
0800 0945		Why We Negotiate - Downs vs. United States SPECIAL EVENT THIS COURSE IS OFFERED ON MULTIPLE DAYS Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Weinrick, Marvin The presentation examines Downs v. United States and how it helped shape the way law enforcement approaches negotiations today. Using Downs as a case study, the presentation walks through the 1971 plane hijacking and highlights the key decisions that led to a tragic outcome and have since shaped police negotiations. The focus is on what we can learn from the incident and how those lessons have carried forward. We will look at the court's review of Downs and how it helped define what a reasonable law enforcement response should look like during high-risk situations, especially when there are hostages. From there, the presentation shifts to how those lessons apply to modern crisis negotiation. It explains that negotiators do much more than talk to a subject. They gather intelligence, assess risk, and help give command staff better options during critical incidents (focusing on the role of the intel officer, the coach, and the team leader). The presentation then ties these ideas into current NTOA guidelines. It shows how training, scenario-based exercises, and team coordination are built around lessons learned from cases like Downs. The goals and objectives of this presentation include understanding the key facts and outcome of Downs v. United States and how critical decision points from that incident continue to influence negotiations today. We will recognize how past incidents and case law have shaped modern practices and why those lessons still matter in current operations. We will also explain the importance of intelligence gathering and how it supports risk assessment and decision-making during critical incidents. The presentation will highlight how negotiators can create time, develop options, and provide valuable information to command staff. Finally, we will identify how poor or limited information can negatively impact outcomes. The presentation will connect lessons learned from Downs to current training practices, including scenario-based training and team coordination, and show how NTOA guidelines can be applied to improve response, communication, and overall outcomes.
0800 1200		DV Offender Typology for Negotiators, Case Study: Prince Court SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: Marshall, Justin Domestic violence offender typology is a system for classifying abusers based on their behavior, psychology, and violence patterns. Originating in the 1980s and 1990s, this presentation discusses these researched and peer-reviewed typologies and their application to crisis negotiations. The discussion uses real-life examples to demonstrate the offender types. The integrated debrief allows the consideration and application of these, using a real-world negotiation. The presentation includes audio files, BWC video, interrogation videos, text negotiations, and lessons learned from a case featured on Dateline, 20/20, and 48 Hours. Hot topics include victims' rights, de-escalation, domestic violence, strangulation, team dynamics, CNT/tactical collaboration, and negotiating with command.
0800 1200		See Through the Darkness SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: Greenberg, Cathy | Thomas, Matthew An Award-Winning Documentary Experience for Law Enforcement, Public Safety & Working Warriors in professions where strength is expected, suffering often stays silent. See Through The Darkness is an award-winning documentary and facilitated leadership experience designed to support law enforcement officers, first responders, military personnel, and working warriors as they navigate the cumulative stress, critical incidents, and unseen psychological demands of service. This is not therapy. This is not a clinical intervention. And it is not another check-the-box wellness presentation. It is a powerful, operationally relevant experience designed to create meaningful conversation, increase awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen human performance, trust, and peer connection across organizations. What Makes This Program Different? The program combines: A professionally facilitated screening of See Through The Darkness Guided debrief discussions with experienced facilitators and subject matter experts Peer-driven reflection and operational learning A collaborative working group session focused on organizational improvement and prevention strategy Participants engage with real stories from those who have lived through trauma, operational stress, identity disruption, leadership pressure, and the emotional realities often hidden behind the badge, uniform, or mission. The experience helps attendees better understand cumulative stress exposure; recognize unseen impacts of critical incidents; improve peer communication and trust; reduce stigma around asking for support; strengthen leadership awareness; build healthier performance cultures; and identify operational gaps in current wellness and suicide prevention initiatives Beyond Awareness: A Strategic Working Session What sets this experience apart from traditional film screenings is the facilitated working-group component. Following the documentary and guided discussion, attendees participate in a structured collaborative session designed to help agencies and organizations evaluate existing suicide prevention approaches; leadership communication gaps; peer support effectiveness; critical incident response processes; cultural barriers to trust and help-seeking; operational stress education; long-term resilience and performance support systems. The goal is practical insight, not abstract theory. Organizations leave with a clearer awareness of where vulnerabilities may exist inside their current systems and where meaningful improvements can be made.
1000 1200		Active Shooter Response During Wartime: Lessons from Integrating Negotiators and Tactical Teams in Ukraine SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Podorozhko, Valeriia This presentation examines an active shooter response conducted under wartime conditions in Ukraine and explores the integration of negotiators into tactical operations. Using a real-world active shooter incident that occurred in 2026 as a case study, the presentation analyzes operational decision-making, coordination between negotiators, tactical teams, and incident commanders, challenges encountered during the response, and lessons learned. The presentation also highlights how the evolution of crisis negotiation capabilities in Ukraine contributed to operational effectiveness and strengthened the integration of tactics and negotiators during high-risk incidents. Participants will gain practical insights that can be applied to crisis response, tactical operations, and incident management within their own agencies.
1000 1200		MN Dept. of Corrections Hostage Incident SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Heald, Margit On the morning of Sept. 3, 2026, 80-plus offenders refused to switch into their cells and instead stopped two staff members from leaving a high-risk living unit at the Minnesota Correctional Facility - Stillwater. What followed was about 6 hours of face-to-face negotiations that resulted in a peaceful resolution. The entire Emergency Response Team strategized, planned, and implemented corrective action that led to the peaceful resolution. This presentation will feature a dynamic timeline of the incident, brought to life through visuals and audio elements. Key lessons learned from both the tactical operations and negotiation strategies will be presented, offering actionable insights into how the team responds under pressure in a correctional facility. This incident highlights the distinct considerations involved in negotiating inside correctional facilities compared to negotiations in the community. These include resource allocation, the need to contain the incident quickly, navigating a multilayered command structure, and engaging with individuals you will continue to supervise afterward. Negotiation in a correctional setting is unique because, as in this situation, it often begins with a large and volatile population. The challenge lies in sorting through the chaos and identifying the key individuals who can influence change. This environment also underscores the importance of everyday interactions and how they build rapport. Key Points of Presentation MN DOC ERT: Special Operations Response Team, Special Operations Group Marksman Observers, Crisis Negotiations Teams CNT Specifics and numbers MN DOC Activation Chart and flow of information Audio of initial radio call and Critical Moment Media Release audio Command/ Team Response Physical Obstacles with setting or Negotiations Operations Center (NOC) and Tactical Operations Center (TOC) Video of events and movement leading up to the crisis incident. And during release of hostages. Face to face negotiations with a unit of 100+ offenders Working with our tactical teams CNT Takeaways and Timeline of events Positive Factors Actionable steps to improve communication and response across all levels of the organization, from the Commissioner's office to facility supervisors and the line staff working directly with the incarcerated population
1011 1200		Thriving Under Pressure: From Operator Metrics to Insights on Negotiation Teams SPECIAL EVENT THIS COURSE IS OFFERED ON MULTIPLE DAYS Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Rott, Corinna How does a crisis team respond as pressure increases in real-world situations? For five years, the FieldLAB team has equipped police operators and frontline leaders with wearable sensors during actual operations, including tactical units, emergency personnel, and multi-day protocols that combine critical incidents with routine shifts and rest days. The resulting data has reshaped our understanding of stress. Stress is not constant; it occurs in recurring pressure points, intensifies in the latter part of a critical day as breaks diminish, and is most effectively mitigated by sleep, detachment, and physical activity. We are now expanding our focus from individuals to teams. Our research program, developed with the University of Houston and supported by the NTOA, examines how stress develops, spreads, and is managed within teams under pressure. We plan to study this during next year's National Negotiators' Challenge by collecting data from participating teams. This session will review key field data insights, outline upcoming research plans, and detail the benefits for participating negotiators.
1300 1445		Resilience: It's All About the Bounce: Coming Back from the Eye of the Storm SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Potter, Andrea This seminar examines the impact of cumulative trauma in corrections, using lived experience to illustrate how repeated exposure to critical incidents, such as assaults, confinement and witnessing death, can affect personal and professional well-being. Participants will learn to recognize the signs and effects of PTSD in themselves and others, understand the importance of early intervention and organizational support, and reframe help-seeking and time away from work as essential components of professional resilience. The session also highlights the recovery process, emphasizing that stepping away can be a necessary and adaptive response to trauma. Attendees will learn practical strategies for returning to work safely and sustainably, while leveraging personal insight to strengthen decision-making, crisis response, and peer support.
1300 1700		Case Study: The Frenchy Call Out; Strippers, Guns, Alcohol, and a Hot Tub SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: Dahl, Aaron On March 14, 2019, a woman called 911 to report that a man had shot her and her friend. The females required an emergency tactical rescue while the crisis principal barricaded himself with a firearm. This session explores negotiating with a person facing significant prison time, who is now suicidal. Whether you're a seasoned negotiator or new to crisis negotiations, this case study from Hillsborough County will equip you with insights into the complexities of negotiation under extreme pressure. Hear recorded negotiations and navigate the unique challenges this event presented.
1300 1700		Crisis Negotiation Team Training Management Workshop (Limited to First 50 Attendees) FULL SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: McMahon, Deb As a Crisis Negotiation Team Leader, you are charged not only with the safety and operational effectiveness of your team but also with fostering an environment where continual growth, adaptability, and readiness are prioritized. Yet, the reality is clear: time, money, staffing, and operational demands frequently get in the way of consistent, meaningful training. The information in this training is designed to meet you at that intersection of responsibility and reality. It acknowledges the constraints we all face while offering practical solutions, grounded in both military doctrine and real-world negotiation experience. This guide provides a structured approach for identifying training needs, aligning activities with organizational priorities, and leveraging creative resources to build a sustainable training model. Whether you're working with a seasoned team or building one from the ground up, this content is meant to spark ideas, reduce barriers, and help you build a deliberate, year-round plan that balances must-haves with strategic nice-to-haves. You will receive guidance on developing internal expertise, community partnerships, practical exercises, and resource pooling to ensure that no matter your budget or bandwidth, your team continues to move forward. Training is not an event; it's a culture. Participants will complete the POLARIS Training Management Assessment, a leadership-focused self-evaluation designed to identify strengths, vulnerabilities, and sustainability challenges within their team's training program. The assessment examines strategic planning, readiness, performance evaluation, scenario development, and succession planning, helping team leaders identify opportunities to strengthen operational capability and long-term team effectiveness.
1300 1700		Integrating Mental Health Professionals Into Crisis Negotiations Teams SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: Doering, Patrick | Krumeich, Morgan This course is intended for law enforcement personnel assigned to Crisis Negotiation Teams (CNT), supervisors, tactical commanders, and Behavioral Health Professionals involved in, or preparing for, operational integration into negotiation teams. This course reviews foundational negotiation principles and applies them to integrating Behavioral Health Advisors (BHAs) into Crisis Negotiation Team operations. Emphasis is placed on role clarity, legal safeguards, information-sharing boundaries, operational discipline, and unified command. Through lecture, facilitated discussion, and a structured two-hour case study, students will examine successful and problematic integration models and develop agency-specific implementation strategies. The case study focuses on a domestic situation that results in a hostage-taking.
1500 1700		Case Study: Ravenswood Way 16-Hour Standoff SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: O Brien, Andrea In June 2020, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office responded to the report of a subject brandishing a weapon. The subject and address were well known to the agency, with a history of violence against law enforcement. The Hostage Negotiations Team used every tactic they knew, and as the hours passed, team members were replaced and negotiations continued. This case study takes place in rural Northern Nevada and contains an emotional rollercoaster. As the incident evolves, members from various specialized teams respond to support HNT during the extended standoff. This incident reminds us that no amount of training can guarantee outcomes in dynamic, high-risk situations. A TEAM is the key to any callout. Without assistance, HNT could not have performed the 16-hour standoff at the level they did. The presentation concludes with key lessons on mental wellness for negotiators and leaders alike.
1900 2100		Panel Discussion: NTOA Board for Advocacy, Standards, and Excellence (BASE) Project SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Doering, Patrick | McMahon, Deb | Krumeich, Morgan | Clyde, Michael NTOA BASE Project: Shaping the Future of Crisis Negotiation Standards Join members of the NTOA BASE Project team for an engaging and interactive evening discussion focused on the future of crisis negotiation training, standards, and professional development. This two-hour session will provide an inside look at the NTOA BASE Project - its origins, mission, current initiatives, and vision for the future. More than just a presentation, this is an opportunity to have your voice heard. Through open discussion and a dynamic Q&A format, attendees will be invited to share experiences, offer feedback, challenge assumptions, and contribute ideas that may directly influence the development of future Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) standards and best practices. As the NTOA continues its partnership-driven effort to advance the profession, input from experienced negotiators, team leaders, trainers, and practitioners is essential. Whether you are interested in where the profession is headed, want to learn more about the BASE Project, or simply wish to help shape the next generation of standards, this session offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the individuals leading these efforts. Come prepared to ask questions, exchange ideas with colleagues from across the country, and play an active role in helping define the future of crisis negotiations. Your experience matters. Your perspective matters. Help shape what comes next.

0800 0945		Answering the Call: Lessons Learned as a Crisis Negotiator SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Pollock, Sean Drawn from his book of the same name, Inspector Sean Pollock (Ret.) delivers a practitioner-to-practitioner examination of what makes a crisis negotiation team effective - from the first selection decision to the final debrief. This session moves through the full operational arc of the discipline: building a team beyond the comfort zone of peer recruitment; understanding the distinct demands of suicidal, barricaded, high-risk warrant, and hostage deployments; and the often-overlooked value of cross-training with communications staff, tactical teams, and community partners. Sean works through the science of incident assessment - the 5 Ps, established subject-classification and motivational models - before turning to the Incident Command Triangle and the negotiator's responsibility to communicate assessment with the same precision as Tactical. The session closes where the work itself does: on leadership, realistic training, the discipline of the debrief, and an honest reflection on the calls that change us - and why we answer them anyway.
0800 0945		Case Study: Hostage Barricade SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Frye, Sam | Jackson, Daniel This debrief examines a 9.5-hour standoff that began at 10:00 p.m. on November 10, 2020, and continued into the early morning hours. The incident involved a mentally impaired subject who believed the country was without leadership following the 2020 presidential election. The subject held his girlfriend hostage and was armed with a pistol, assault rifle, knives, and a Kevlar vest and helmet. Prior to negotiations, the subject discharged his weapon and threatened to kill responding officers outside the residence. The presentation includes body-worn camera footage, recorded communications, a TPI, and negotiations conducted via text messaging.
0800 1200		Legal Considerations for Crisis Negotiation Workshop (Limited to First 50 Attendees) FULL SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: McMahon, Deb Legal Considerations for Crisis Negotiation is a practical, case-driven block designed for crisis negotiation supervisors and working negotiators who make high-consequence decisions in real time. The workshop translates constitutional principles and civil liability under 42 U.S.C. 1983 into operational choices at the command post: how you select personnel, set strategy, communicate with subjects, deploy technology, document actions, and decide when to engage - or disengage. Using cornerstone cases, including Downs v. United States and City of Winter Haven v. Allen (specialized tactics and structured planning), Moon v. Winfield (negligent appointment/supervision), Graham v. Connor and Tennessee v. Garner (objective reasonableness and deadly force), City of Canton v. Harris, Walker, and Bryan v. MacPherson (training obligations), Baldwin v. Seattle (industry standards), Katz and Kyllo (privacy and surveillance), Quezada (escalation liability), and Hastings v. Barnes (qualified immunity limits) - you will build a legally sound playbook that aligns policy, training, and field operations. We also address operational disengagement, the enforceability of promises (Kiritsis; Sands), and documentation that survives post-incident review. Participants will complete the POLARIS Legal Liability & Risk Exposure Self-Assessment, an executive-level evaluation tool designed to help negotiators and team leaders identify organizational vulnerabilities, training gaps, documentation weaknesses, and potential liability exposures before they become critical incidents or courtroom issues.
0800 1700		Adult Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety (Limited to First 30 Students) 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: Suicidal Subject SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Frye, Sam | Jackson, Daniel This debrief examines an incident in which an officer responding to a single-vehicle crash was immediately confronted by an armed suicidal subject upon arrival. The presentation includes body-worn camera footage and a detailed PowerPoint review of the event. Particular emphasis is placed on the incident's impact on the responding officer, including his reaction to stress and trauma.
1000 1200		Hailing 101 - From Non-Responder to Riot Control SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: O Brien, Andrea Effective and timely negotiations are integral to the successful resolution of critical incidents involving law enforcement and corrections. Overall mission success requires communication, teamwork, seamless coordination, and optimal performance from all special team response elements. Negotiators are tasked with communicating with barricaded subjects, whether through one-way communication with a non-responder or two-way communication with the subject who is the focus of the incident. In other scenarios, negotiators may be called upon to provide "voice cover" to mask tactical movement or to make announcements for a search warrant service or crowd-control efforts. This course provides insights and practical guidance for both new and seasoned negotiators across a variety of responsibilities and scenarios you may encounter in your duties, whether on patrol, in a jail or corrections setting, or as a member of a special team that extends beyond the scope of what we envision as normal two-way negotiations. While "The Basics" form the foundation of our communication as negotiators, there is no one-size-fits-all. At the conclusion of this course, students will gain confidence and competence in selecting and applying the tactics and techniques discussed, based on the situation. Disclaimer: Students are strongly encouraged to review their agency's current policies and operating procedures regarding Crisis or Hostage Negotiation Teams prior to attending this course.
1300 1445		Case Study: Crisis in the Barn SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Marshall, Justin This case debrief details a burglary-in-progress turned barricaded gunman. The situation escalates unexpectedly when the subject fires toward officers. The primary officer, having just been selected for CNT, navigated a difficult subject who was paranoid, suicidal, and violent until the team could arrive. This presentation includes BWC footage and lessons learned, and looks back on a brand-new negotiator's efforts through the lens of experience. The conclusion includes a development that surprised both the team and the subject's family.
1300 1445		Staying Sharp: Suicide Intervention Sustainment SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Clyde, Michael Suicidal incidents remain one of the most common deployments for crisis negotiation teams, yet many negotiators spend far more time training for high-risk tactical events than for the calls they encounter most often. Staying Sharp is an advanced sustainment course designed for experienced crisis negotiators who want to maintain and strengthen their suicide intervention skills. Rather than teaching the basics, this course focuses on preventing skill drift, improving assessments, refining communication techniques, and reinforcing best practices through real-world case debriefs and practical discussion. Participants will examine how negotiation skills degrade over time, identify common pitfalls experienced negotiators face, and leave with practical strategies to remain prepared for one of the most challenging and consequential calls for service. Recognize factors that contribute to skill drift in suicide intervention; Improve suicide risk assessment throughout an incident; Refine communication strategies specific to suicidal subjects; Apply negotiation team tactics that support effective intervention; and Identify practical methods to sustain readiness between deployments.
1300 1445		Thriving Under Pressure: From Operator Metrics to Insights on Negotiation Teams SPECIAL EVENT THIS COURSE IS OFFERED ON MULTIPLE DAYS Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Rott, Corinna How does a crisis team respond as pressure increases in real-world situations? For five years, the FieldLAB team has equipped police operators and frontline leaders with wearable sensors during actual operations, including tactical units, emergency personnel, and multi-day protocols that combine critical incidents with routine shifts and rest days. The resulting data has reshaped our understanding of stress. Stress is not constant; it occurs in recurring pressure points, intensifies in the latter part of a critical day as breaks diminish, and is most effectively mitigated by sleep, detachment, and physical activity. We are now expanding our focus from individuals to teams. Our research program, developed with the University of Houston and supported by the NTOA, examines how stress develops, spreads, and is managed within teams under pressure. We plan to study this during next year's National Negotiators' Challenge by collecting data from participating teams. This session will review key field data insights, outline upcoming research plans, and detail the benefits for participating negotiators.
1500 1700		Case Study: 2022 iHostage Incident in Amsterdam, Netherlands SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Langeveld, Lilian | Honing, Simon In February 2022, a hostage situation inside an Apple Store in the Netherlands captured global attention. Now, hear the story firsthand. Two of the hostage negotiators involved in the incident will lead an in-depth debrief, sharing real-time decision-making, operational challenges, and critical lessons learned from the response.
1900 2100		Movie Screening: iHostage Movie Made in 2025 SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Langeveld, Lilian | Honing, Simon Continue the experience with a special showing of the Netflix movie iHostage. Based on true events, this gripping film follows a man who enters an Apple Store and becomes caught in a life-threatening hostage situation. Told through the perspectives of the attacker, the hostages, and first responders, iHostage delivers a tense and emotional story of courage, survival, and the lasting impact of crisis.

0800 0945		Negotiating with Autism SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Roth, Trenton | Evans, Kameron The presenter will draw on personal and professional experiences in working with people on the Autism Spectrum. He will provide a history of Autism and offer tips, ideas, and considerations, as well as what to expect in conversation and negotiation with them. Topics covered include: How the Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis evolved and came to be recognized as it is today; signs, symbols, and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder to look out for before and during encounters; different tips and tricks on how to communicate with people with Autism Spectrum Disorder in crisis. Autism Spectrum Disorder is an ever-evolving diagnosis with some similarities between people diagnosed with it. However, "If you have met one person with Autism, you have met one person with Autism."
0800 0945		Pat's Story: Red Flags and Oversight SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 2 hours - Instructor: Bowles, Aaron This debrief-style presentation for law enforcement, first responders, and first responder administrators highlights the dangers of first responder burnout, PTSD, substance abuse, and life stressors, which, when gone unchecked, can result in a loss of life that can shake an agency to its core. Pat's Story offers a deeply personal anecdote about the challenges faced by a staggering number of men and women in our respective fields.
0800 1200		Leading Collateral Teams: Leadership in the Part-Time Negotiation Environment Workshop (Limited to First 50 Students) FULL SPECIAL EVENT Course Length: 4 hours - Instructor: McMahon, Deb | Dahl, Aaron Most crisis negotiation teams are comprised of highly skilled professionals who serve as negotiators in addition to their primary assignments. Patrol officers, detectives, dispatchers, supervisors, corrections personnel, mental health professionals, and command staff often balance negotiation responsibilities alongside competing operational demands. While this model provides diverse expertise, it also creates unique leadership challenges that traditional leadership courses rarely address. Leading Collateral Teams is a leadership development workshop specifically designed for crisis negotiation team leaders responsible for building readiness, accountability, and team cohesion within a part-time environment. Participants will examine practical leadership strategies for developing influence without direct authority, fostering team identity, maintaining training standards, evaluating readiness, developing future leaders, and strengthening relationships with command and tactical partners. The course also addresses performance management, succession planning, operational sustainability, and leading teams through unintended outcomes. Through facilitated discussion, a leadership self-assessment, and a close examination of the Ten Leadership Domains of Collateral Team Leadership, participants will leave with actionable tools to build resilient, engaged, and operationally ready negotiation teams capable of performing when the stakes are highest. Designed for current and emerging team leaders, this workshop provides realistic tools to sustain high-performing negotiation teams in a part-time operational environment. The Ten Leadership Domains of Collateral Team Leadership 1. Influence Without Authority Leading professionals who often do not report directly to you. 2. Building Team Identity Creating ownership, pride, commitment, and shared purpose. 3. Protecting Training and Readiness Ensuring operational preparedness despite competing priorities. 4. Establishing Accountability Standards Creating expectations, measuring participation, and addressing performance gaps. 5. Evaluating Operational Readiness Determining who is truly prepared to perform under stress. 6. Developing Future Leaders Building succession plans and creating leadership depth within the team. 7. Managing Team Dynamics Addressing conflict, difficult personalities, burnout, and commitment disparities. 8. Leading Through Unintended Outcomes Helping teams learn, recover, and improve following difficult incidents. 9. Building Strategic Partnerships Strengthening relationships with command staff, tactical teams, dispatch, and mental health partners. 10. Sustaining a High-Performance Team Culture Creating a culture that outlasts individual leaders and survives organizational change.