NCJ Number
130376
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 57 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1990) Pages: 44-47
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Similarities and differences between an undercover narcotics negotiator and a hostage negotiator are drawn to provide an analytical review of the negotiating process and to illustrate different methods employed by successful police negotiators.
Abstract
Information, time, and power are identified as three variables essential to the successful outcome of any negotiation. These variables are applied to negotiating an illegal drug transaction which is compared to other high stakes buyer/seller negotiations. A skilled undercover narcotics negotiator should create competition for his side and use the suspect's failure to contest the location and conditions of the actual deal as an agreement to meet his own requirements. It is not unusual for an improperly trained officer to concede to last minute demands from the suspect and thus jeopardize his tactical safety. To be successful, an undercover narcotics officer requires effective negotiation skills and assertiveness to prevent intermural and intramural aspects of drug-related criminal violence.