Crisis Negotiation Team

The Daytona Beach Police Department, Crisis Negotiation Team was formed in 1990, when members attended the basic and advanced courses of hostage negotiation techniques. Since then the Team has grown to ten (10) members, who are available to respond to crisis calls 24 hours a day.

The Crisis Negotiation Team members respond to all calls involving barricaded suspects, hostage calls, and suicidal persons. Originally called the Hostage Negotiation Team, the unit changed its name in 2002, due to the diverse types of situations to which they respond. Their primary mission is to secure the release of hostages, surrender of hostage takers and barricaded suspects as well as to convince potentially suicidal persons to surrender to treatment as opposed to inflicting injury upon themselves or possibly others.

In 2003 the Department purchased an Air Force ambulance, which was remodeled to become the Crisis Negotiation Team Mobile Command Vehicle.

Officers are selected from a pool of volunteers for assignment to this unit and undergo constant training to update their knowledge and skills in this ever changing field.