Indiana Association of Hostage-Crisis Negotiators, Inc. P.O. Box 441278 Indianapolis, Indiana 46244

The IAHCN is a not for profit, education-based, state-wide affiliation of law enforcement professionals who have an expertise in hostage/crisis negotiation. This is a specialty within law enforcement that began developing over thirty years ago when law enforcement officers were confronted by very high profile, violent, and intense standoffs between law enforcement and hostage-taking criminal perpetrators.

Many of you will remember the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany when the Israeli athletes were taken hostage. Have you ever read the story behind how the “Stockholm Syndrome” Concept was developed? Have you ever seen the movie Dog Day Afternoon starring Al Pacino? This movie depicts the events surrounding a very high-profile bank robbery and hostage-taking in Brooklyn, New York City, NY.

Even Indiana is no stranger to such tragic events and several have spearheaded the push by our local law enforcement to be better prepared should such events unfold. Few of those hostage situations were as memorable as Tony Kiritsis. Back in 1977, Kiritsis took his mortgage banker hostage, wiring a sawed-off shotgun to him and rigging it so that if the police shot him the shotgun would go off. Kiritsis then held the police at bay for nearly three days in what became a media spectacle. In the end, the hostage was freed and Kiritsis went to jail, at least for a short time.

The IAHCN is here to help those within this profession improve their skills through excellent training. Training is an investment in each of you, each of your departments, and each of your communities. We want to provide quality opportunities to exchange ideas, information, and experiences through this website, the state conference, other training, and through networking with experienced negotiators.

The law enforcement profession has a long-standing and proud history of professionalism. Hostage/crisis negotiators are no different. The IAHCN strives to help provide each of our members the best possible chance of success when confronted with life or death incidents that all too often come with this territory. The IAHCN salutes the dedication that all law enforcement officers make to the protection of our families and the citizens of our communities. We are especially proud of those willing to step up in some of the most stressful, violent, and sad situations and be “on point”.