Culver City Police Introduce New Crisis Negotiation Team

CULVER CITY, CA — The Culver City Police Department is introducing its new crisis negotiation team to the community, police announced Friday.

Here's what police said via Instagram:

"Introducing the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) is a new department resource which utilizes trained negotiators in situations where dialogue might avert a violent confrontation. CNT members are sworn peace officers highly trained in de-escalation and problem-solving methods and can be utilized in a wide range of critical incidents, including barricaded criminal suspects, suicidal subjects, and people suffering from mental health crisis. The CNT mission is to bring potentially violent situations to a peaceful resolution."

The U.S. Department of Justice advocates that police officers are trained in first responder negotiation training.

"First response training increases the likelihood that the first police officers on the scene of a hostage/barricade situation can defuse the incident and thus minimize injury and death," according to the agency's website.

SEE MORE:

• Marley Brothers Plan Tribute To Father At BeachLife Festival
• DUI, Driver's License Checkpoint Planned In Mar Vista, Venice
• Human Remains ID'd From Ballona Wetlands