IN GENERAL, HOSTAGE TAKERS ARE SMALL-TIME CRIMINALS. POLICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND ALARM NETWORKS HAVE MADE IT INCREASINGLY LIKELY THAT POLICE WILL BE ON THE SCENE OF AN ARMED ROBBERY BEFORE PERPETRATORS CAN ESCAPE. THE RESULT IS TWOFOLD: AN INCREASE IN ON-THE-SCENE APPREHENSIONS, AND AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HOSTAGE SITUATIONS. TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF HOSTAGE SITUATIONS, MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS WORK ON A 'RED ALERT' CONCEPT IN WHICH POLICE UNITS ARE ORDERED TO CONVERGE ON THE SCENE OF A TRIGGERED ALARM WITH LIGHTS FLASHING AND SIRENS BLARING. A BETTER APPROACH IS TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF NOISE AND ACTIVITY AT THE SCENE AND RADIO THE SITUATION TO HEADQUARTERS, WITH THE ADVICE THAT ADDITIONAL UNITS COME IN WITHOUT LIGHTS AND SIRENS AND PREFERABLY OUT OF THE VISION OF HOSTAGE TAKERS. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT A COMMAND OFFICER BE SENT IMMEDIATELY TO THE SCENE. THREE BASIC THINGS TO REMEMBER IN HOSTAGE SITUATIONS ARE: (1) CONTAINMENT RING, MEANING THAT OFFICERS CONVERGE ON THE SCENE AND BLOCK THE ESCAPE OF A TRAPPED FELON; (2) COMMUNICATIONS CONTROL; AND (3) PERIMETER, MEANING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CIRCLE AROUND A HOSTAGE SITE FROM WHICH CITIZENS ARE EVACUATED. COMMUNICATIONS CONTROL CAN INCLUDE A CODE PREARRANGED WITH LIKELY CRIME TARGETS SUCH AS BANKS, SO THAT A CALL TO THE SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR CAN CONFIRM THAT A CRIME IS IN PROGRESS WITHOUT ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE INSIDE THE AREA. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT OFFICERS AVOID TACTICS THAT MIGHT MAKE THE HOSTAGE TAKER MORE FRIGHTENED, SUCH AS USE OF THE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM IN THE PATROL CAR. PHONE CONTACT WITH THE HOSTAGE TAKER IS A USEFUL METHOD OF KEEPING HER OR HIM OCCUPIED AND AWAY FROM POSSIBLE EXPLOITATION OF THE NEWS MEDIA. NEGOTIATION SHOULD BE LEFT TO TRAINED EXPERTS. THE NEGOTIATOR SHOULD BE SOMEONE OF MIDRANK IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, A SERGEANT OR LIEUTENANT. NEGOTIATION STRATEGY IS DISCUSSED, INCLUDING KEEPING ONE'S VOICE CONTROLLED, USING PHRASES THAT IMPLY THAT THE HOSTAGES ARE 'WITH' THE CRIMINAL, RATHER THAN BEING HELD BY THE CRIMINAL, AND TRADING FOOD OR BEER (NEVER HARD LIQUOR) FOR HOSTAGES. FAMILIES OF THE HOSTAGE TAKER SHOULD BE KEPT AWAY FROM THE SITE, AND OFFICERS SHOULD NOT BE TRADED FOR HOSTAGES. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)