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...]
Read What Soldiers Are Saying About SAVING SANDOVAL
"Great book, unbelievable story. I spent 5 years in the Army and ROE and SOP's are drummed into everyone's head from the 1st day. It was upsetting to see what they put this kid (and his family and friends) through. Drummond deserves a handshake and a beer for his defense of what was clearly a bad situation. The book clearly walks you through the events leading to charges being brought, then clearly walks your through the defense teams actions and … [Read more...]
SAVING SANDOVAL Reveals the True Story of the U.S. Army Sniper Tried For Murder After A Shooting on the Battlefields of Iraq
Saving Sandoval is the true account of the defense of U.S. Army Specialist Jorge G. Sandoval, Jr. Sandoval, a 22-year old infantry paratrooper deployed to the forward operating base of Iskan during the enemy uprisings of 2007 in Iraq. Iskan was located in the “Triangle of Death,” which at the time was the most dangerous area in Iraq; arguably the world. Sandoval’s unit began to take heavy casualties during the increased violence in the region. As … [Read more...]
A SPECIAL KIND OF EVIL Sheds Light On the Horrific Colonial Parkway Serial Killings
Stay tuned for 2024 updates on this case! For four years, a killer, or killers, stalked Virginia's Tidewater region, carefully selecting victims, sending waves of terror into the local community. The Colonial Parkway Murders-the name given to eight murders that took place in the Tidewater region in the late 1980s, two of which were on the historic Colonial Parkway, the nation's narrowest National Park. Young people in the prime of their lives … [Read more...]
A SPECIAL KIND OF EVIL Photo Gallery
Author Craig W. Drummond on His Time As A JAG Attorney
The role of a Judge Advocate, or JAG, is varied depending on the specific assignment. The initial criteria to be a Judge Advocate is to have gone to law school, be licensed to practice law in at least one State, and complete the required military training to be a military officer and military attorney. There are Judge Advocates serving in the military in nearly every type of position. There are prosecutors, defense attorneys, administrative law … [Read more...]