The Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) responds with SWAT to incidents to provide focused communications with subjects. They are one of three teams on the Crisis Response Unit that provides specialized support in handling critical field operations. CNT utilizes skilled verbal negotiators to aid in the de-escalation and surrender in critical situations where suspects have taken hostages, barricaded themselves or have suicidal tendencies. CNT’s primary goal is to resolve critical incidents peacefully.
Team members attend a basic POST negotiators course and an FBI crisis negotiations course. Throughout the year, team members also attend regional trainings, incident debriefs and annual conferences throughout California. The team also hosts several trainings, working with SWAT, which focus on active listening skills, proficiency in mission specific equipment and individual roles utilized during a negotiation. These trainings prepare negotiators to communicate with various methods in high stress situations, while constantly evaluating progress and adjusting strategies accordingly.
Most incidents require the use of negotiating technology designed to safely communicate from a designated location. Team members will communicate via throw phone, cellular phone, Public Addressment system and face-to-face.
Throughout the year, the team attend various community events such as National Night Out, safety fairs and Red Ribbon Week. Fostering professional relationships with our citizens, community organizations and allied agencies is important to the team and their mission.
Crisis Negotiations Team
In 2019, the remote pilots of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit flew over 40 missions with assignments ranging from crime scene photography as part of homicide arson, and narcotics investigations, to tactical over watch during SWAT operations, search and rescue missions and public demonstrations.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, as known as drones, are small crafts which carry cameras with the purpose to deliver decision-quality data to incident commanders. The drone provides a unique aerial perspective to enhance the decision making as other teams conduct the duties that are historically part of the Sheriff’s Office. Some of the systems are equipped for night operations with spotlights and thermal cameras to enhance the safety of the deputy on the ground.
The Sheriff's UAS team is taking an active leadership role in this rapidly evolving field, working hard to serve El Dorado County with the most up to date technology. They participate with both regional and national teams.
Unmanned Aerial Systems
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