Even though police officers are trained to deal with a wide range of situations concerning how to deal with emotionally or mentally disturbed citizens, the need sometimes arises for additional skills that the average patrol officer does not possess. 

The Hostage Negotiation Team has the responsibility of responding to any situation that requires specialized negotiation skills. It is the objective of the team to preserve life and defuse volatile situations through negotiation, rather than using force. These situations include but are not limited to the following: hostage situations; barricaded persons; mentally challenged persons; and civil unrest. The Hostage Negotiation Team is normally deployed in conjunction with the Tactical Response Team.