WESTMINSTER, Colo. — A crisis negotiation requires teamwork, and it also needs officers with heart.
"He's refusing to let her out, so we need to call in and see what we can get accomplished today," said Investigator Cheri Spottke, during a SWAT practice exercise.
In this training scenario, a husband is holding his wife hostage at a local rec center.
"She sounds a little bit police-y, so have her come out of police-mode a little bit and relax her voice," Spottke said.
She's the leader of SWAT negotiations for Westminster Police.
"Everybody has a career path in law enforcement and mine just happens to be the ability to talk to people and to relate and to communicate," said Spottke. "To help those in need, to help those who can’t stand up and speak for themselves, so I really think it’s that compassion and empathy piece."
She was a crisis negotiator for 14 years.
"My team is what makes me," she said. "I couldn't do this without them."
She's still part of the unit, but now works as their first female leader.
Her path to SWAT started in May 2005, when a man took two women hostage inside a local motel.
"I was still a pretty new officer and I was just in awe," said Spottke.
She was assigned to the perimeter where she watched the SWAT team work an all-night standoff.
"I was just mesmerized by their ability to talk to people and to really change the behavior of the subject and to get people out safe and it just really piqued my interest," she said.
Despite her passion for helping others, police work wasn't always at the top of her list.
"I went to college to be a nurse and the bug bit me and here I am 21 years later," said Spottke. "Definitely, I have a heart for service."
She's not the only person in her family who got bit.
"Growing up with a dad as a police officer, he always raised me as a strong woman," she said.
Her father was also a SWAT negotiator and her personal hero.
"Much to my parent's chagrin, their only daughter's the police officer in the family," said Spottke.
And, she's already working on preserving the family legacy.
"My niece is possibly looking into getting into it," said Spottke. "She'd be the fourth generation."
Nearly two decades later, Spottke is passing down her knowledge.
"She's been great ever since she's taken over," said Officer Tyler Tate.
Westminster's first female SWAT leader
He says he's learning a lot, after one year on the team.
"Her willing to listen to people and hear them out, no matter where they come from," said Tate. "She's always there and willing to listen and be that kind, gentle person."
Over the years, Investigator Spottke has watched the team grow and change.
"For a long time, just as a negotiator, I was the only female on the team, period, and there was some resistance," she said. "I had to prove to them, one I could do the job, that I knew what I was doing."
She's proving to other women it's all within their reach, now that she's earned the title and trust.
"I want to be that inspiration to other females in law enforcement that you can do anything you set your mind to," said Spottke.
Besides also having a role as a public information officer, Spottke started the Santa Cops program at Westminster Police, as well. Each year they bring hundreds of gifts to local kids.
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