MOOSE JAW — When crisis negotiators with the Moose Jaw Police Service are called in to handle difficult situations, their biggest focus is on listening to people’s concerns and finding positives in their lives.
One such person on the crisis and negotiation team (CNT) is Const. Kyle Cunningham, who has held that role since 2017. He spoke to the Board of Police Commissioners during its June 18 meeting about the unit’s activities.
Similar to the tactical response team, the CNT’s five-person unit — one spot is vacant — is comprised of people who hold other positions within the agency, with Cunningham also a patrol officer and street supervisor.
“So when that type of call would come in, whether I’m working or whether I’m home, it’s a 24/7 position,” he remarked.
Members took two weeks of training in Ottawa, where they learned with other officers from across Canada, Cunningham said. The biggest tips were to have active listening skills, to pick up on people’s cues and to attempt to build a relationship to understand motives and feelings.
These tips can help people solve their problems and find the right solution, he continued. While many people think crisis negotiation is all about talking, it’s more about listening and letting people vent their frustrations.
Cunningham noted that many things can stress out people — drugs, alcohol, finances, holidays, loved ones’ deaths — while they sometimes don’t have anyone to discuss their problems. So, that’s where crisis negotiators can step in.
Team members usually look for the positive things occurring in people’s lives, such as having a good job or loving family members, and pointing those out, he said.
“We focus on that and stay away from the things that they’re upset about and maybe why they’re calling about the problem … ,” Cunningham remarked.
Crisis negotiators deal with people expressing thoughts about suicide, or those who barricade themselves inside, or hostage situations, or those with a weapon, or helping execute high-risk warrants for drugs or guns, he continued.
, the constable said. The Calgarian shot at police, but later agreed to stand down without further violence after negotiators spoke with him.
Cunningham noted that he has responded to many calls about suicidal people on bridges, while he has also acted as an on-site coach for other negotiators handling similar situations.
Meanwhile, the MJPS’s team trains with the Regina Police Service (RPS), which has 10 to 12 members, while the latter can provide additional members if the former is short on officers, Cunningham said. There was one occasion where MJPS crisis negotiators were preparing to drive to Regina, but they were called off at the last minute.
In previous years, the MJPS has relied on the RCMP for extra support, he added. Last year, the MJPS’s team responded to about eight calls, although patrol officers and Police and Crisis Team (PACT) members did well in handling issues before they exploded.
Negotiators use many tools to communicate with people, such as phone calls, texts, face-to-face interactions, video meetings and loud hailers, anything to “ensure the message is heard clearly,” said Cunningham.
Social media is a popular way of communicating for many people, especially those under age 20 who use applications such as Snapchat and TikTok, the constable noted. Therefore, negotiators must use these platforms when handling situations.
Cunningham added that the unit is always attempting to hone its skills, such as by training with the TRT unit and testing new equipment, while it always attempts to work smarter to address community safety.
The next police board meeting is Wednesday, July 16.
