Crisis negotiators are specially trained police officers, called upon to intervene in situations involving hostage takers, barricaded subjects, or potentially self-destructive individuals. Crisis negotiators are drawn from the ranks of the Bergen County Police Department and are chosen for demeanor, communication skills, and ability to remain calm in stressful situations. All negotiators are members of the Bergen County Police SWAT Team and share the common goal of a "safe, peaceful resolution".

All Crisis Negotiators have received their basic training from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This training is supplemented with continuing education in psychology, cultural diversity and crisis intervention. All Crisis Negotiators have had both the basic and advanced training in Critical Incident Stress Management.

Crisis Negotiators have formed a close working relationship with the Psychiatric Emergency Screening Program of Bergen County, a team of Mental Health Professionals possessing diagnostic and outreach skills. This long standing partnership has proven to be a prototype for success.

The aforementioned goal of a "safe, peaceful resolution" is consistently sought through the simultaneous utilization of experience, training, education, and appropriate resources. Bergen County Police Crisis Negotiators have trained with a variety of federal, state and local agencies and have presented the team's model of effective crisis negotiation to conferences nationally.

 

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PO Charles R. Lekowski,  Systems Administrator and Webmaster
Copyright © 1998-2003  Bergen County Police Department. All rights reserved.                                
Revised: February 20, 2003