It is possible that you can encounter a hostage situation in your suite or building. All such events must be taken very seriously.
You must be sensitive to the following realities:
- The hostage takers are dangerous.
- People being held hostage may be hurt or killed.
- There may be more people involved than just the identified hostage takers.
- Some of the hostages may already be or may become sympathetic to the hostage takers’ cause.
- Even when it looks as if the matter may be peacefully resolved, the problem can still erupt out of control at any time.
- The hostage takers may have the capability to hurt many people as well as seriously damage the building.
- The hostage takers may or may not be willing to leave without incident.
- The hostage takers may or may not be willing to commit suicide for their cause.
- The hostage takers may not be rational or reasonable in conversation.
- The hostage takers and/or their associates may not remain at one fixed location in the building.
You should try to get out of the area held and call 911 and the management office to report the hostage situation.
The building should be evacuated by all individuals not being held hostage, just as if this were a fire or bomb threat. Don’t forget to pull the fire alarm. Such action reduces the number of other people that the hostage takers’ actions can affect.
Try to report as much as possible of the following type of information to assist the police when they arrive:
- Describe the hostage takers.
- Advise how many hostages there are, and who the hostages are.
- Report the location where you believe the hostages and hostage takers are located and how they can be communicated with in that area (e.g., by telephone, loudspeaker, etc.).
- Report the type of threats you heard and what type of weapons the hostage takers may have with them.
- Try to describe the motivation of the hostage takers or identify their cause, complaint, demand, or mental state.
You must be sensitive to the following realities:
This kind of information is important to the police, as they frequently encounter hostage situations based on the following motivations:
ATTENTION - Hostage takers just crying for help on a specific problem.
POWER - Hostage takers want to take active or passive control over a specific situation.
REVENGE - Hostage takers want to get even for real or perceived past wrongs.
DESPAIR - Hostage takers have given up hope on the world or for help on their problem.
Identifying the motivation of the hostage takers helps the police decide which of their response options is likely to be required for the specific situation.
Their options are:
- Attempt to talk hostage takers out of the situation using trained negotiators, clergy, friends or relatives of the hostage takers.
- Force out hostage takers using SWAT team tactics, non-lethal, gas, or the like.
- Take out hostage takers by the use of deadly force such as snipers or direct attack.
REMEMBER, HOSTAGE SITUATIONS ARE DANGEROUS! PULL THE FIRE ALARM AND EVACUATE THE BUILDING! CALL THE POLICE, BUILDING ENGINEER, AND PROPERTY MANAGER FOR ASSISTANCE!
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