Last week, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office's Corrections Division Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) took part in an immersive training exercise designed to mimic a real-life hostage scenario led by Sergeant Bill Maxwell. According to a social media statement, this training is a vital practice for the specialized team, ensuring their readiness for any potential critical incident that might arise within county jail facilities.
The rigorous training involved circulation of duties among team members, with individuals taking turns as primary negotiators, coaches, intelligence officers, and more. Such role-rotation is pivotal in guaranteeing preparedness for diverse and unpredictable situations. Impressively, the Corrections CNT holds a history stretching over two decades and racked up more than 20 call-outs in 2025 alone, indicative of their crucial role within the criminal justice system.
Sergeant John van Houte, an original founding member of the Corrections CNT, remains a significant influence on the team. He contributes his extensive experience and knowledge, fostering the development of new negotiators and helping to maintain the high standard of service the team provides. Shared in the office's post, "One of the Corrections CNT’s original founding members, Sergeant John van Houte, continues to play a vital role today, sharing his decades of knowledge and helping guide the next generation of negotiators."
On social media, the sheriff's office expressed pride in their team's dedication, professionalism, and teamwork, which are evidently carried over into their actual fieldwork. "We’re proud of the dedication, professionalism, and teamwork our CNT brings to every training and every call for service," says the post. With an increasing number of critical incidents requiring sophisticated negotiation skills, teams like MCSO’s Corrections CNT are proving to be an indispensable asset to public safety and the de-escalation of tense situations behind bars.
