Crisis Negotiation Team

Resolution Through Communication

The Evansville Police Department Crisis Negotiation Team seeks to successfully resolve all critical incidents with communication. The Crisis Negotiation Team (C.N.T.) trains and prepares to deescalate incidents involving suicidal subjects, barricaded gunmen, hostage takers, and any situation where communication is the best option for a peaceful resolution.  The C.N.T. works closely with S.W.A.T. and wherever possible, negotiated surrender of the individual(s) is the desired outcome.

The team consists of 10 members and is on-call 24 hours a day to respond immediately to calls for service.

C.N.T. officers are selected from volunteers within the Evansville Police Department. Officers must serve a minimum of three years before they can join the team. The team selection process involves an extensive testing and interview process, which tests the officer’s communication abilities and their teamwork skills. Once selected officers must then complete 80 hours of basic negotiation training before being considered a certified negotiator. The team then conducts and attends ongoing training throughout each year.