You need us.
For when they need you.
Make a donation
Past NECNA President Courtney Matthews has recently been diagnosed with lymphoma. Courtney - a Deputy Chief with the Boston Police Department, a founding member of NECNA, and a dedicated crisis negotiator who served the Boston Police Department for 36 years and led crisis negotiations for more than two decades.
In his honor, Tori will be running the Boston Marathon to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Please consider donating to help advance cancer research and support Courtney during this challenging time.
The New England Crisis Negotiators Association is dedicated to providing robust training opportunities for all who assist in defusing crisis situations.
Through our collective knowledge and experience, we can become more effective negotiators. It is our belief that every life is valued and our resolve and support for each other are equally important.
NECNA serves the professional development needs of those working in law enforcement, corrections, and mental health across the six New England states.
With the support of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, NECNA provides our members with regional training on topics including negotiation basics and scenario training (e.g. suicide prevention, active shooter, hostage, etc.), and organizes an annual conference that provides the opportunity to hear from experts in the field, network, and participate in live scenarios.
NECNA is a member of the National Council of Negotiation Associations (NCNA). Learn more about NCNA.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Save the Date…
25th Annual NECNA Conference - April 27-29, 2026, Hyannis, MA
Regional Trainings:
December 2025: CT State Police Captain Chris Bartolotta (ret.) will present a case study on a high-profile incident that occurred in Connecticut in 2010.
Virtual Session: December 17, 2025 (17:00-21:00hrs)
In-person Session: December 19, 2025 (09:00-13:00hrs) - Southington, CT area
Registration links are in the members’ area.
January 2026: Regional trainings presented by Apex Negotiation Strategies. In-person sessions are being planned at three sites across New England: LT Matt Garcia (ret.) and Det. Mike Hoagland (ret.) of CT State Police will discuss scenario development designed to enhance crisis negotiation readiness through practical application, research-based discussions, and advanced scenario execution. Registration links will be released soon.
February 2026: Two virtual sessions by SSA Issac Nichols (FBI) on AI and AI usage for Crisis Negotiators.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 (13:00-15:00hrs)
Thursday, February 12, 2026 (10:00-12:00hrs)
Registration links will be posted soon.
As a reminder, these training opportunities are FREE for NECNA members (2025 conference attendance included a free one-year membership). Non-members are invited to register as members for $40, which will provide access to membership benefits and all trainings through May 1, 2026.
FBI 40-Hour Schools
FBI Boston:
Jan 12-16, 2026: Nashua PD (NH) - registration opens Nov 10, 2025
Mar 23-27, 2026: Ashland PD (MA) - registration opens Jan 19, 2026
To register for an FBI Boston 40-hr course, please email Tina Norton (tmnorton@fbi.gov) or Tiffany Galas (tbgalas@fbi.gov) after registration opens.
FBI New Haven (CT):
40-Hour Schools
Planned for March & October 2026. More details will be posted when available.
Save lives in crisis.
Become a member today.
Benefits of membership
NECNA Membership gives you an edge when you need it most, and for just $40/year (May 1 - April 30) comes with a number of additional benefits, including:
Hands-on, scenario based training
Networking opportunities with other crisis negotiators
Mentorship opportunities with leaders in the field
Access to our Membership Directory so you can connect with fellow negotiators
Access to a library of members-only resources
Vote in NECNA elections
Advance your career and give back to the community by running for a position on the NECNA Board