New High-Tech Phones Help Hostage Negotiators

Hostage negotiators from around Ohio are spending three days sharing trade secrets in Columbus.

"We're not afraid to copy someone else's techniques if it's going to help end a situation," said Det. Dana Farbacher.

Farbacher leads Columbus police's hostage negotiation team.

He said Columbus SWAT helped Westerville police in a standoff with a man in a house for four hours just three nights ago. He added that standoff situations are occurring more often.

Hostage negotiators rely on technology to help.

Negotiators have used throw phones that they can toss into a home to reach a suspect.

Now, a new technology is available called a QUAD rescue phone. It allows one cell phone to hook to multiple lines which keeps communication with the suspect, so they never need to hang up.

The goal of the new technology is to provide another tool to allow negotiators to get suspects out safely.

Experts said the most important part of any negotiation, still comes down to communication.

"If you can imagine texting with someone you lose that emotional aspect of it, you can't hear their voice, their tone, inflection, which you can pick up so much from," said Farbacher.

Columbus has hosted the Midwest Crisis Negotiators conference for 19 years. It continues through Friday.

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