SPD

The primary purpose of the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) is to save lives. This includes the lives of both law enforcement personnel and community members, whose security may be threatened by hazardous situations. This is accomplished by deploying highly trained personnel in hostage and crisis negotiation, equipped with the appropriate resources. The Crisis Negotiation Team provides the department with personnel trained and equipped to defuse critical incidents through negotiation. While negotiators attempt to accomplish their task through verbal persuasion, they recognize the unpredictability of people in crisis. They therefore continually provide tactical elements with intelligence when a tactical solution is required.

The use of negotiations during times when suspects are suicidal, barricaded, or have taken hostages is recognized as the most desirable and successful method of resolving the incident. In most cases, prolonged dialogue between the suspect and a trained negotiator increases the likelihood of a peaceful resolution. To address these situations more effectively and reduce the risk of violent confrontations, a group of carefully selected, highly trained officers has been formed to provide the West Covina Police Department with a negotiation capability.