Crisis negotiation

Civilian volunteers roleplay a volatile domestic dispute, as Staff Sgt. Steven Saenz, 377th Security Forces Squadron, tries to diffuse the situation using skills learned in a crisis negotiation course. Members of the 377th SFS spent a week learning verbal skills and techniques to use to resolve high risk incidents peacefully. (Photo by Todd Berenger)

Security forces members learn crisis negotiation techniques

Published Nov. 8, 2013
By Kendahl Johnson
377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Members of the 377th Security Forces Squadron have expanded their skill set with the help of a certified crisis negotiator.

Lt. David Gallegos, an officer from the Bosque Farms Police Department who graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's crisis negotiation course, spent a week at Kirtland training the police force verbal skills and techniques to use in dealing peacefully with high risk incidents.

"The goal is to train security forces in resolving incidents without using force," he said. "The class helps teach an alternative to resolving situations with physical confrontation."

The training consists of classroom instruction, as well as practical scenarios in which security forces members successfully negotiated with emotionally distraught or deranged individuals. After learning the skills, class participants practice reacting to highly volatile situations, making an effort to use what they've learned to resolve the situations peacefully.

"Our law enforcement officers are trained in command and control, but we want them to be able to rely on methods other than physical force such as restraining with handcuffs," Gallegos said. "We want them to be able to use their mind and voice to verbally deescalate intense, high-emotion situations."

Gallegos said the class was a success.

"Everyone from the commander down has expressed an interest in seeing that the military police receive this training, and the participants took that seriously," he said. "They were very receptive, studied hard and performed well."