At the start of Noesner's career hostage negotiation is a new discipline, and he and his colleagues receive a great deal of on the job training. He quickly realizes that in every hostage crises there are at least two entities to be managed: the hostage taker and his law enforcement colleagues. It's often the having their orders followed and don't like being made to wait. They tend toward the "action imperative"--going in with guns blazing, and view Noesner and his fellow negotiators with thinly veiled contempt. But as Noesner learns early, the slow, patient negotiation is much more likely to save the lives of hostages and other officers. It's only after several high profile failures, including the debacles at Waco and Ruby Ridge, that the negotiators gain the upper hand.
Stalling for Time covers many of the most famous hijackings, sieges, and hostage incidents of the last several decades, including Waco, the Montana Freeman, the Republic of Texas, the Talladega and Lucasville Prison Riots, and the Washington D.C. sniper case. With great novelistic flair and minute-by-minute detail, Noesner delivers a true crime read of the first order, as well as a primer for anyone looking to learn the art of successful negotiation.
Gary Noesner is a long-time friend of WSHNA and many-time presenter at WSHNA conferences.
This book is well worth the read. It should be mandatory for all crisis negotiators.