Dodging danger difficult as hostage negotiator
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However, according to John Chisam, hostage negotiator with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, even under stressful situations it is important not to submit to the normal emotions associated with such tense situations. Instead, a hostage negotiator should remain cool, calm and collective in the midst of any situation.
“You can’t let emotions get involved,” Chisam said. “You have to keep a cool voice no matter what happens.”
Chisam, who recently retired from the sheriff’s department to work as energy consultant for Caney Fork Electric Cooperative, is still on-call as hostage negotiator for the department due to his training and experience. He remains deputized and ready to respond in a moment’s notice if called.
Chisam received his training from the FBI’s hostage negotiating school where one of his instructors was the actual hostage negotiator portrayed in the classic movie “Dog Day Afternoon.”
Since beginning his role as hostage negotiator a few years ago, Chisam said only once has the SWAT team had to barge in to capture the suspect. In all other cases, the suspect was talked into laying down his or her weapon and surrendering.
Chisam said despite his training, there is no standard way to handle a barricade or hostage situation since no two incidents – and no two suspects – are the same.
“The first thing you do is evaluate the situation,” Chisam said. “Once you know what you have, then you can kind of decide how you want to approach the situation.”
Chisam noted the toughest and most stressful part of the job is establishing first contact. Sometimes making contact takes many minutes or even hours of communication over a loud speaker, convincing the person to either come out and talk or pick up a phone.
“Just getting them to talk is the most stressful part of the whole thing to me,” Chisam said. “Once you get them to talking, then you can make progress usually.”
Establishing a dialog with the suspect is Chisam’s first order of business once lines of communication are established.
“You have to earn their trust,” Chisam said. “You have to do what you say you’ll do and be truthful in what you say.”
Once trust is established, Chisam said communication skills become key as the negotiator must be able to carry on a conversation which keeps the suspect’s mind on the conversation and also convinces the suspect to peacefully surrender.
“The whole key to everything is to get the person to come out peacefully so neither the suspect, any hostages or law enforcement personnel get hurt,” Chisam said. “Everything we’re working toward in negotiation comes down to a peaceful resolution.”
Most of Chisam’s work as a negotiator is carried out from cover, normally somewhere near the scene of a standoff. Chisam said it is standard practice not to take risks by stepping into the open in cases where a suspect is, or may be, armed. However, if a situation has improved where the suspect is visible and is obviously unarmed, Chisam said he has no problems showing himself to create enough trust so the person will end the situation.
“Once they come out and are unarmed and there’s no threat, there’s not a problem with the negotiator coming out so the person can see who they are talking to,” Chisam said. “Otherwise, if there is still danger, it’s not a good idea to come out into the open because really there wouldn’t be anything gained.”
The nine-year law enforcement veteran said he plans to continue his service as negotiator when needed despite his change of jobs. In addition to being a negotiator, he is also a longtime DARE instructor, a role he says he misses greatly. At the time of his job change, Chisam was a circuit court officer, keeping order in Judge Bart Stanley’s court.