SASKATOON – A Saskatoon police crisis negotiator has been recognized for his work in two 2014 cases involving active shooters. Constable Ryan Beerling received the 2015 National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) Crisis Negotiators Award at a conference in Arizona.
Beerling was nominated for successfully negotiating the surrender of two men in two separate shootings.
The first was on Aug. 12, 2014. Beerling spent 13 hours negotiating a peaceful resolution with an armed man who wanted police to kill him.
The man had barricaded himself inside a home in the 100-block of Avenue O South and during the stand-off, fired multiple shots at officers.
READ MORE: Suspect in custody after lengthy standoff in Saskatoon
Beerling efforts are credited with leading to the man surrendering to police.
Ten days later, Beerling was called to a home in the 300-block of Coppermine Crescent to negotiate with an active shooter. A man had barricaded himself inside the residence and was firing multiple shots at hostages who had hidden behind a truck, at officers at the scene and at neighbouring houses.
READ MORE: Saskatoon police release dramatic rescue video from standoff
He was able to convince the man to surrender around three hours later with no harm coming to anyone.
Beerling said he was both excited and honoured to receive the award.
“I’m just trying to be myself with the individual or persons.”
“If they don’t like it maybe we move on from there but really all you can do is be yourself and try to understand what has gone on to date to put themselves in that situation of crisis and how do we go from there.”
Beerling, who has been a crisis negotiator for three-and-a-half years, said he is still learning about his job.
“I’m lucky I get a chance to try it out and be a part of a team, which is really the fun aspect of it.”
Jacqueline Wilson contributed to this story
Comments