Deputy Reynolds
nominated for
‘Negotiator of
the year’ honor

By Misti Drew
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mdrew@tribunecourier.com

MARSHALL COUNTY – Dedication, patience and compassion – three necessary qualities of a crisis negotiator.

Responsible for de-escalating potentially deadly situations, crisis negotiators are often on the front lines of hostage, suicide or barricaded suspect situations – a dangerous place to be.

Once on-scene, crisis negotiators must assess the totality of the circumstances involved, make contact with the suspect and then attempt to achieve a peaceful resolution to the hostile situation – ideally without loss of life.

And its no easy task.

So when crisis incidents occur locally, law enforcement often turn to Marshall County Deputy Tim Reynolds for resolution.

Known for his strong sense of compassion, yet stern demeanor, Reynolds has successfully mitigated numerous hi-threat incidences in his 11 year law enforcement career, including one that occurred just a few weeks ago.

Reynolds responded to a report of a mentally disturbed man who had doused himself and his entire home with gasoline.

Calloway County officers were on-scene, but were unable to get a response from the man who had closed himself off inside his home.

Calloway officers requested Marshall County’s Special Response Team be dispatched to the scene, and unbeknownst to the suspect, they quickly surrounded his dwelling, hiding in the cover of darkness.

Reynolds knew he had backup, but that was not much consolation considering he needed to be close to the suspect. He knew the entire dwelling could burst into flames at the man’s whim.

Reynolds was reportedly unable to make phone contact with the suspect due to a power outage. So, he approached the dwelling and began a lengthy dialogue through a speakerphone. After several hours and only a few intermittent glimpses of the man, Reynolds’ efforts paid off.

The man emerged from his home and asked to speak to the officer who had been talking to him.

According to officers on scene, “After sometime, Reynolds was able to change the man’s violent attitude from one of “it’s over” to complete cooperation.”

SRT members immediately took custody of the suspect where he was decontaminated and taken for a medical evaluation.

SRT and crisis negotiators often work hand-in-hand, with team members standing in the ready position to address the situation by whatever means necessary should the threat level escalate.

This time however, that would not be necessary.

Of why Reynold’s is willing to take on this risky responsibility, he said, “This is a way to be able to help people who are in crisis. By the time I get there, some of these people are already prepared to die.

“If they are still alive by the time I arrive on scene, that tells me there is a glimmer of hope, and that hope is what I try to work with.”

While they rarely make headlines due to the private nature of the incident, suicides occur frequently in Marshall County.

Reynold’s said he estimates there to have already been seven since the first of the year.

“These people are usually just desperate and reaching our for help,” Reynolds said. “Crisis negotiation is really a lot like what we do every day in law enforcement. The way I see it, every call you go on is an opportunity to help someone.”

Of the pressure to successfully negotiate a situation, specifically a suicide, Reynolds is humble.

“I don’t go to a scene and think about the pressures of everyone looking to me for a resolution.

“I think more about the person’s family and of the grief they would experience if this person did whatever it was they were threatening to do.

“If I fail, a person loses their life.”

While Reynolds admits not every suicidal person is reaching out for help, he said he still holds out hope, even for those who might choose to “seek out an audience” to commit their offenses.

Of what makes Reynolds a good candidate for crisis negotiation, he simply said, “We are not really supposed to talk about faith when we are negotiating, but that is a part of me, it is who I am.

“I can’t talk about hope without talking about faith. It’s what I’m built on,” he added.

And it just might be that strong sense of faith that is behind Reynold’s success.

Whatever the determining factor, Reynolds’ department certainly recognizes his abilities. He was recently awarded a letter of commendation for his efforts in this latest negotiation incident.

Reynolds’ actions also led to his being nominated for the state’s Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year award. The CIT conference will be held May 15 in Frankfort.

In a humble manner, Reynold’s accepted the award and nomination but makes note that he is not personally responsible for these successes.

Instead, he credits the Lord and his faith for giving him the ability to shine a glimmer of light in the lives of those who can’t seem to find their way out of the darkness.