Q & A With NYPD Hostage Negotiation Founder (Part II)

In 1981, Capt. Frank A. Bolz Jr., negotiated the safe release of a 10-month-old, Arnold Jones, who had been held at knifepoint by his father for nearly two hours.

In 1981, Capt. Frank A. Bolz Jr., negotiated the safe release of a 10-month-old, Arnold Jones, who had been held at knifepoint by his father for nearly two hours.

This is the second set of responses from Frank A. Bolz Jr., one of the founders of the New York Police Department’s hostage-negotiating unit, answering reader questions. Read the first andthird set of responses and the introductory postabout Mr. Bolz. We are no longer accepting questions.

What was the worst hostage negotiation you ever had and why?
Mike, New York

One case I will always remember. A trendy dress shop in Upper Manhattan. A robber, who had held up the store three weeks earlier, enters the store and goes toward the rear. A clerk recognizes him, leaves the store and alerts an officer on post...

Read the rest [HERE].

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Permalink Reply by John C. Turley on September 25, 2012 at 8:13pm

The comment, “You know what would finish this off? A good cigar” did not occur to me as the prelude to the hostage taker's suicide. I followed the narrative closely and did not anticipate such an ending. The surprising outcome will haunt me for some time. Captain Bolz should be easy on himself. I recognize the value of the story in terms of lessons learned and verbal indications or behavior concerning what may transpire and what to anticipate.

JCT