January 12th, 2011
Texas State hosts hostage negotiation training, competition

SUBMITTED REPORT

The Department of Criminal Justice at Texas State will host more than 200 officers representing law enforcement agencies from across Texas, the United States and Thailand during the annual hostage negotiation training and competition Jan. 11-13.

Approximately 24 teams will participate, with municipal and state law enforcement units coming in from across the U.S., as well as a first-ever visit by a team from Thailand said Wayman Mullins, professor of criminal justice and an expert in hostage and crisis negotiations and terrorism. Local law enforcement teams from Hays, Comal, Bexar Travis and Williamson counties will also participate.

Teams will be conducting mock hostage negotiation exercises from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. both Wednesday and Thursday at the Hines Academic Center on the Texas State campus. Tuesday’s schedule will focus on classroom sessions. “They’ll be graded on how they negotiate with the hostage takers,” Mullins said. “This is a role-playing scenario that tries to mimic real life as much as possible.”

For further information, contact Wayman Mullins at the Department of Criminal Justice at 512-557-5025.