The Frankfort Police Department's Negotiation Unit was formed in 1997 to handle high risk situations where a hostage has been taken or other types of incidents for which negotiations are warranted, such as mentally ill or barricaded, suicidal persons. The primary function and objective whenever the team is deployed is for a peaceful resolution of the situation.
The Crisis Negotiation Unit is a function of the Operations Division and is under the direct command of Lieutenant Scott Wilcoxson. The unit members are Lieutenant Joel Dunmire, Detective Charlie Washburn, and Detective Artie Stratton.
Training
The Negotiation Unit has received extensive training in the process of negotiations from the Institute of Police Training and Management (IPTM) in Jacksonville, Florida. Additional training has been obtained through the Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT), the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), Counter Force Tactical Training, and the annual Negotiators Conference conducted by the National Tactical Officers Association. In addition, monthly training is conducted using varying techniques and equipment as well as periodic training with the Tactical Response Unit (TRU).