SANDY, Utah (ABC4) – When you see SWAT standoffs or hostage situations, typically there’s a police officer in the middle of it trying to talk the person into giving up so no one gets hurt. ABC4 News wanted to know what’s it like to be that officer on the phone. So, we spoke to two trained to do just that.

Inside a regular-looking SUV, an intense conversation is happening with life-and-death implications. It’s part of the Sandy Police Department hostage negotiating team, who talk to those typically at the center of a SWAT standoff.  

“People that are having crisis or mental health issues and where anyone may be in danger, or a danger to themselves,” said Det. Ron Hanson, Sandy Police Department, Major Crimes Unit.

Detectives Ron Hanson and Gary Maddox are two of Sandy’s seven officers who arrive to talk a person out of making a dangerous situation worse. So, how difficult is it?

“The best way I can describe it is driving down an iced-up canyon road in the middle of a snowstorm… you’re doing everything you can to slow things down and keep things calm, while everything around you is trying to speed you up,” said Det. Gary Maddox, Sandy Police Department, Major Crimes Unit.

Depending on who it is, one does the talking while the others gather info to help the officer connect with the person on the phone.  

“It’s taught in our training to have empathy, for the person you’re talking with. Try to put yourself in their shoes,” said Maddox.

“By us understanding them, it can help understand themselves a little bit,” said Hanson.

It’s helped Sandy negotiators resolve a SWAT standoff from 2022, when a man with warrants out for his arrest, barricaded himself inside a home and refused to come out. The negotiation took hours, but Hanson said that’s by design.

“Keeping them talking, talking about how they’re feeling, about what [they’re] trying to, what’s really causing them to feel this way,” said Hanson.

They said keeping the person talking usually helps them to eventually see reason, and ends standoffs peacefully, but when it doesn’t, Hanson said the guilt sticks with him.

“Sure, you always think about what you wish you could’ve done,” said Hanson.

Both men know the stress and emotions that come with the job, but it’s one they welcome.  

“Honestly I think that’s a part of my DNA my personality,” said Maddox.

Fortunately in Sandy, police don’t have to make these types of calls every day — last year they only had four or five.