The subject of ‘hostage negotiations’, or more commonly referred to by most agencies due to its accuracy as ‘crisis negotiations’, is a relatively new police concept, beginning in the early 1970’s. Considering the City of Boston began using night watchmen in the 1630’s and centralized policing started in the 1830’s, less than fifty years is relatively new. It is argued that hostage negotiations began in New York City during the early 1970’s. … [Read more...]
Author Dennis Flynn on Being A Crisis Negotiator and Why He Wrote HELD HOSTAGE
The topic of hostage/crisis negotiations has always been intriguing to me. As a young police officer, I was involved in several “stand-offs” (which is the media’s terminology for police usually dealing with a barricaded or suicidal individual). We would do our best to resolve the situation but the person we dealt with held the cards. They were the ones inside the house/business/car refusing to come out and we knew if we used force to get them … [Read more...]
Forest Through the Trees: Author Dennis Flynn Opens Up About PTSD and the Loss of His Son
There was one topic I had considered including in the book but as I sat down to write it, the wounds were too fresh so I intentionally left it out. Since it has been just over a year and a half, and the wounds have slowly begun to heal I wanted to discuss it in hopes that it will allow someone to get the help they need. The topic is that of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD. PTSD is a condition many relate to military personnel but it … [Read more...]
Dennis Flynn
Dennis Flynn retired from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department after 30 years. Following his assignment in patrol, Dennis spent the majority of his career working in undercover and investigative assignments. During his tenure with the Department, he promoted several times; first to Detective, then Sergeant, and eventually to Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant he worked a variety of assignments including as the Swing Shift Commander for the Las … [Read more...]
Dennis Flynn Gives An Inside Look Into the Work of Las Vegas’ Crisis Negotiations Team in HELD HOSTAGE
What do officers say to a hostage taker to have their hostage released unharmed? What can a suicidal subject be told to prevent them from ending their own life? Lieutenant Dennis Flynn spent nearly two decades responding to hostage situations, armed barricaded subjects, and suicidal individuals in Las Vegas. Many of these events occurred beneath the glitter of the Las Vegas strip! His informative book provides a view behind the scenes of … [Read more...]
