Patrol Response to Hostage |Barricade

Service Description

Course Goal This 8-Hour course will equip patrol-level officers with the skills, tactics, and decision-making processes necessary to effectively respond to criminal and non-criminal hostage barricade incidents until specialized units arrive, while prioritizing preservation of life and officer safety. Learning Objectives By the end of this course, participants will be able to: • Define and differentiate between hostage and criminal barricade situations. • Identify the stages and behavioral dynamics of hostage barricade incidents. • Apply first officer priorities — Contain, Isolate, Communicate — upon arrival. • Establish a safe and effective perimeter using available resources. • Demonstrate basic crisis communication techniques until negotiators arrive. • Recognize indicators for immediate action/rescue and emergency entry. • Apply Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and case law to tactical decisions. • Coordinate effectively with supervisors, dispatch, and specialized units. • Perform scenario-based decision-making under stress while maintaining safety. Prerequisite: Law Enforcement Only Equipment: Pen and Paper This course will be taught by Valor lead trainer; Ret. Chief | SWAT Commander J. Gonzalez