Skip to Content

Local hostage negotiator reacts to Alabama kidnapper

Goleta mayor, Roger Aceves used to be a hostage negotiator.

In 1994, Jose Segura took his son hostage at a home on Bath Street in Santa Barbara. Aceves was credited with convincing Segura to let his son go. It took more than 24 hours of negotiations. Aceves tells NewsChannel 3 about the process of convincing a hostage-taker to give up.

“As a negotiator, that’s what you want to do is have the person give up,” Aceves said. “So, on the phone, voice to voice, is to build up the trust. Make the person understand it is not as big a deal as they think it may be — diffuse it. And, talk them out safely. And, when it doesn’t work that way, you are going to feel a sense of failure.”

Aceves worked in law enforcement for 32 years. He spent part of his career with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department and part of it with the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Article Topic Follows: News

Jump to comments ↓

Author Profile Photo

News Channel 3-12

Email the News Channel 3-12 Team

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content