Straight Talk – Police Negotiators

This Straight Talk is a little different.

Mark Bouris sits down with the Officer in Charge of the NSW Police Negotiation unit, and one of the 2nd in Command, to give some insight into why we never hear from police negotiators. Kirsty and Ross need to remain faceless due to the requirements of their job, working in the Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command of the NSW Police force.

Dealing largely with suicide interventions, Kirsty and Ross give some insight into their environment, what the myths are around negotiating, how we can better communicate in our everyday environments and much more.

Our unseen heroes

It’s very rare to see police negotiators in the media spotlight.

Kirsty explains that this is not because there’s some smoke and mirrors to their trade, it’s simply because “on a daily basis we go to jobs that are about someone’s crisis. And that someone may be someone’s mum, or brother or a relative that finds themselves, on that day, in a really dark place and that’s personal.”

“We don’t want that out there so that people, if we’re there, can feel comfortable to talk to us, and we’re not profiting from their situations.”

What does ‘stand up for the front line’ mean?

Mark Bouris says that he wanted to sit down with Kirsty and Ross, to help shed some light on the work of the unseen heroes who are out there working tirelessly without recognition to help everyday Australian’s through their darkest days.

“The police force is badly interpreted and to some extent, represented in the mediums and by those people who want to be critical of them.”

“What I’m getting here is that [Kirsty and Ross] are genuine people, who really do care about helping outcomes.”

“I’ve got to get this off my chest: You’ve got to stand up for the front line because they stand up for you.”