ABSTRACT
Prior to and into the early 1970s, there were three common ways to deal with criminals and others holding hostages. Most frequently, the police surrounded the hostage holder, or subject, and ordered the subject’s surrender. is was usually followed by the use of chemical agents. When these two options failed an assault on him or his position by the use of sniper žre or tactical teams usually ended the siege. Occasionally, these options were preceded by talking and trying to convince the subject to surrender. If the subject did not acquiesce quickly enough, the tactical options listed above were immediately initiated (Strentz, 1983).
