Law enforcement officers from county sheriffs’ departments across South Texas and federal agencies met at Laredo Alexander High School last week for a five-day intensive training course on crisis negotiation. Hosted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, the regional training course included vital pointers on de-escalating hostage situations, cases involving barricaded subjects, and working toward peaceful resolutions in stand-offs between subjects and law enforcement officers in a range of scenarios. Training officers have offered the course across the US and overseas, including the UK and Germany. Last week’s course included real-time simulations between the trainees and role-playing instructors, some of whom were corresponding from overseas. Among those taking part in the course were La Salle County Sheriff’s Lt. Homar Olivarez and Deputy Hector Rodriguez. The lieutenant said the course plays a valuable role in training county officers in handling crisis situations and being prepared for cases that require a negotiator. Olivarez has served the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office since 2007; Rodriguez joined the agency in 2022. (Courtesy photo)
