Answers About Hostage Negotiation, Part 3

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Taking QuestionsAsk a Hostage Negotiator

Frank A. Bolz Jr., a founder of the New York Police Department's hostage-negotiation team, is answering reader questions.

This is the third and final set of responses from Capt. Frank A. Bolz Jr., a founder of the New York Police Department's hostage-negotiating unit, to readers' questions. We are no longer accepting questions.

Here are the first and second sets of responses, and the introductory post about Captain Bolz.

Does Captain Bolz agree with the recently released Israeli assessment of the German counterterrorist efforts during the Munich Olympics, namely that they did not take enough risks to secure the safe release of the hostages? How much risk should a police force subject its officers to in such a situation?
- Privacy Guy

I do not agree, nor did Prime Minister Golde Me ir. Reckless response, wild west-style, would do little more than add to the casualty numbers. The use of cover or concealment are necessary to minimize the risk as much as possible because there will always be risk.

I am familiar with the Israeli 40th anniversary report. The Black September Terrorist group attacked the Israeli apartments in the Olympic Village early on Sept. 5, 1972. They killed two athletes and took nine others hostage.

I knew Munich's police president, Manfred Schreiber. He gave me a tour of the Olympic Village while it was being constructed in 1971. At that time the German police had no counterterror or SWAT team, nor did many cities in the United States. Dr. Schreiber made his best effort with resources, manpower, and intelligence available. As with all civilian law enforcement there is no acceptable casualty rate. However, the terrible outcome was the death of nine additional Israelis, five of the eight terror ists and one police officer.

As a direct result of this tragedy, Germany created Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (GSG 9) as a police counterterrorism force under the leadership of Lt. Ulrich Wegener, whom I met on one of his trips to the U.S.

Are there certain types of negotiations that are more difficult than others? Why?
Mike, New York

Involving a “non-responder.” We know he/she is there but they do not make contact. Frustrating, but use patience.

Captain Bolz, were you involved in the negotiations depicted in the film “Dog Day Afternoon?”
- Donald, Brooklyn

No, I was not involved in the Chase Bank branch robbery and hostage situation depicted in the film. The detective sergeant played by Charles Durning, I believe, was Detective First Grade Paul Reilly, Safe Loft and Truck Squad, N.Y.P.D., whom I had known for many years. He happened to be in the neighborhood, heard the sirens, responded and got involved.

The date of the holdup w as Aug. 22, 1972; our program was not initiated until after the tragedy of the Israeli athletes in Munich on Sept. 5,1972. I was interviewed by the film's producers in 1974 for some points re procedures.

What could the passengers and crew - on the planes on Sept. 11, 2001 - done differently?
- ModemmeX, NYC

One person with a gun can hold back a crowd because no one wants to be the first killed. That's the way it used to be before Sept. 11, 2001.

The passengers on Flight 93 became aware of the planes that had been crashed into the W.T.C. and the Pentagon from their families via their cellphones. They banded together and tried to take back control of their plane and it is believed prevented destruction of the U.S. Capitol. In light of these events, we have more air marshals onboard planes, which can help. In addition, I believe people will not be complacent.

There is more “situational awareness” by the public now. They have already reacted to other threats, the shoe bomber and the underwear bomber, and I believe will continue to react in the future.

Captain Bolz: Were you ever told as a child, “Boy, you'd make a great hostage negotiator”? In other words, what inspired you to start this career?
- David Shapiro, Brooklyn

No, I was never told that exactly. I was inspired to become a policeman by two officers who worked with teenagers in the Police Athletic League. Officer Edward Dreitline and Officer Joseph Mahoney.

As a young officer I was open to trying any new thing offered by the department, because I enjoyed dealing with people. When the Hostage Program came up I was selected, not because I had been to Munich in 1971 and visited the Olympic Village nor because I had received a B.A. from John Jay by squeezing in courses between shifts for 26 consecutive semesters. I was selected because the training officer, who should have been assigned, was unable to do it, so they said, “Send Bo lz, he works in Brooklyn.”

I got together with Dr. Harvey Schlossberg, Ph.D., a police officer and psychologist, and we created the negotiating procedures. We used them in the field and they worked. We shared it with other law enforcement agencies, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What should I do if I find myself in a hostage situation as 1) a hostage, 2) an observer to an unfolding hostage situation or 3) a loved one of someone involved in a hostage situation?
- Anne, Madison, WI

So….what SHOULD you do if you are taken hostage? And does it change if the hostage-taker is someone you are familiar with vs. a stranger?
- Caroline, Brooklyn

I think these two can be answered using the guidelines from my book, “How to Be a Hostage and Live,” which is currently out of print. The following are meant as a basic introduction.

1. Don't be a hero. Accept your situation and be prepared to wait.
2. The first 15 to 45 minutes are the most dangerous. Follow instructions.
3. Don't speak unless spoken to, and then only when necessary.
4. Try to rest.
5. Don't make suggestions.
6. Escape? Should you or shouldn't you? THINK TWICE!
7. Advise on and request medication or aid if needed.
8. Be observant. You may be released and can help the authorities.
9. Be prepared to talk to the police on the telephone.
10. Don't be argumentative.
11. Treat the captor like royalty.
12. Be patient.
13. A black or red passport (diplomatic and official, respectively) may not bring you the best of privileges.
14. Get rid of items that could single you out as a person your captors may be fearful of.
15. If rescue comes, be prepared to HIT THE DECK.

Read more in a fuller excerpt from “How to Be a Hostage and Live,” by Frank A. Bolz Jr.