Conflict Resolution: Armed Robbery

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Dear Student,
I decided to create two sections of the solution for you. Part 1 is small discussion on hostage taking & options for the law enforcement officer dealing with it & part 2 is the 'suggested answer' for the problem you provided. This is based on the steps discussed by Grubb & Hemby. Understand also that mediators rarely take on 'armed robbery of convenience store' cases, so most times, negotiating such situations become a police matter. Good Luck!

OTA 105878
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Resolving Conflict: Armed Robbery

Law enforcement officers have specialists among their colleagues who are trained at handling hostage taking & domestic dispute situations. While they are always on call, situations arise in moments where they need to deal with the situation right away to prevent further escalation of the situation, diffuse the tension & eliminate the threat. For instance, armed robberies can be dealt with by procedure when an officer responds; at times it is usually better when the responders arrive at the scene & the robbery is still in progress. Following protocol officers usually apprehend the suspect caught in the act as perpetrators are mostly 'small-time criminals'. Since the 70's robbers would net between $300-$500 from a 'quick-beer-run' convenience store robbery which usually happens at late in the night or at early morning. The type of criminals on profile committing such acts are lodged between the 'inexperienced & criminals wanting a quick buck & an easy target', usually aged from late teens to late adulthood with people committing the act for reasons that range from notoriety, poverty & blatant criminality. Most of the perpetrators who are 'new' to such form of armed robberies are prone to panic. While it may not be an armed bank robbery, the blatant rashness of those new to criminality ...