The success of negotiations is contingent on many factors operating together. This is true regardless of type of bargaining or intervention undertaken. So, what are these factors? Here will be examined several that may have wide use. The focus here is specific, but the possible applications are broad regardless of the reader’s orientation.
Introduction
On April 20, 1998, at 0335, negotiators were deployed to support an officer who was already talking with a subject barricaded in his truck threatening to kill himself. Most of the issues seemed to revolve around family matters and husband / wife relational problems.
At 0428, the primary negotiator began to speak directly with the subject.
What Actually Happened
Below is a sampling of some of the responses that the negotiator / crisis intervener made to the subject:
Will you come out? If I give you my word? Will you come out of the truck?
I want you to be there for them.
Show Betty that you are sincere and want to make things better.
We’ll work through it together and we’ll get Betty involved. It will be better for you and your children.
Give me an opportunity to help you.
I know a lot about you because I spoke with Betty. (Negotiator related what he knew)
I’m here because we (corrected) I don’t want to see you get hurt.
Will you promise me you will come out? (After he asked to hear her voice on the police radio)
I’m not here to tell you what you want to hear. I’m here to help you.
I can’t help you until I know that I am safe and that you are safe.
I want to help you.
Give her another opportunity.
I’m trying to give you some options. We can work together to try to work this out.
Once I know you are safe, we can begin working out everything else.
I told you she cares about you. Give her the opportunity to show you.
As long as you keep trying, there is always the possibility that things can work out.
