The MPD Crisis Negotiation Team, formed in the early 2000's, is a non-violent means of mitigating a threat involving the taking of hostages, a barricaded subject, or a potential suicide victim.
During these incidents, it's MPD's goal to preserve life -- meaning the lives of hostages, law enforcement personnel and the subject.
In order for law enforcement to be successful, there must be a sincere effort on the part of officers to mitigate the threat using intervention and bargaining techniques.