The St. Paul Police Department’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) is a team of sworn personnel who, in addition to their regular duties, are trained to talk with suicidal persons, barricaded persons, or hostage takers in high-risk situations with the goal of resolving situations peacefully.
The CNT is comprised of officers, sergeants and a commander. All members of the Team have completed a basic hostage negotiation training program and many have completed additional specialized training programs.
Scope:
The Team responds to calls involving barricaded subjects, suicidal individuals, and hostage incidents. The Team’s mission is to bring about a peaceful resolution to incidents where someone is threatening harm to themselves or others. Although negotiation is the preferred method of resolution, the CNT also works closely with the St. Paul Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team.
Personnel assigned to the Crisis Negotiation Team are under the functional control of the Negotiator Commander while performing CNT functions or related training. The Negotiator Commander may designate a Team Leader to assume command of CNT functions in situations where the Negotiator Commander is absent.
A. Negotiator Commander – Duties and responsibilities of the Negotiator Commander or Team Leader include the following:
• Reports to the Senior Commander of the SWAT Team in matters concerning the Team.
• During tactical operations, reports to the SWAT Commander and provides for a continual exchange of information.
• Ensures that any specialized negotiator equipment is maintained in a state of operational readiness and makes recommendations, justifications, and budget requests for replacement or additional equipment.
• Ensures that a current list of negotiators and contact information is provided to the Department and the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center (RCECC).
• Coordinates all negotiator training with the team designee for training.
• Evaluates negotiator performance and makes recommendations concerning performance as necessary.
• Adopts and maintains standard operating procedures governing the duties and responsibilities of negotiators.
• Coordinates the administrative affairs of the negotiator section.
B. Negotiator -- Duties and responsibilities (including the negotiator commander/team leader)
include the following:
• Maintains the mental and physical health and conditioning standards required for negotiators.
• Maintains all issued critical response equipment in a state of operational readiness.
• Attends scheduled training exercises. (Absences must be excused by the CNT Unit Commander or Team Leader)
• Attends scheduled negotiator training exercises.
• Responds to call-outs, which may occur at any time, with all authorized equipment.
• Immediately upon arrival at an operation, establishes liaison with the Negotiator Commander/Team Leader.
• Reports to the Negotiator Commander/Team Leader or designee in matters concerning negotiation activities.
• Keeps the Negotiator Commander/Team Leader and/or Incident Commander informed of all developments during a critical incident.
• Follows the directions and orders of the Negotiator Commander/Team Leader and/or Incident Commander.
• Maintains communications with the Incident Commander during an operation to ensure constant security, intelligence transferal, and continuity of effort.
• Maintains all issued Critical Response Unit equipment in a state of operational readiness.
Call-Out:
A crisis situation that requires the immediate action of the CNT will be relayed to the district sergeant by any sworn officer at the scene. In the case of a suicidal individual, the district sergeant can ask dispatch to check if there is an on-duty crisis negotiator available to respond. The district sergeant can contact the CNT Commander when situations involve a suicidal individual in need of a crisis negotiator if there is not a watch commander on duty. The district sergeant will notify the Watch Commander of the circumstances at the scene when one is on-duty. The Watch Commander will notify the CNT commander of the need for crisis negotiators at a scene.
In cases involving a barricaded person, armed person, or a hostage situation the district sergeant will notify the Watch Commander when one is on duty of the need for SWAT. Protocols for a SWAT call out will be followed when the situation is a barricaded person or a hostage situation.
Revised August 17, 2017