48 Hours: "The Negotiators"

Podcast by CBS News | Aired December 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, "48 Hours" takes listeners inside a harrowing, real-life hostage standoff in Queens, New York. With unprecedented access, listeners follow the emotional journey of Detective Sergeant Wally Zines and Lieutenant Jack Cambria of the NYPD Hostage Negotiation Team as they attempt to save the lives of several hostages—including a four-month-old baby—held by Jarrett Jordan, a desperate young man with a loaded shotgun. The episode not only chronicles the step-by-step progression of tense negotiations but also gives a rare look into the psychology, techniques, and toll borne by those on both sides of the crisis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Sudden Catastrophe (01:06–03:00)

• Backdrop: On what should have been a quiet morning, NYPD officers are called to an emergency: a gunman has shot three people and barricaded himself in a home with hostages, including an infant.
• Detective Wally Zines: Caught at the end of his night shift, he is called in for overtime to handle the crisis.
• Real-Time Drama: The 48 Hours crew is on-site, granting listeners first-hand, moment-by-moment access.

2. The Negotiators: Who They Are & What Drives Them (03:07–07:06)

• Lieutenant Jack Cambria: Head of the NYPD Hostage Negotiation Team, praised for his calm, methodical demeanor.
  • “Time is on our side, and we’ll talk as long as it takes.” — Cambria (08:45)
• Detective Sgt. Wally Zines: Veteran negotiator and Manhattan detective; extroverted, intuitive, and family-oriented.
  • “It’s a ringside seat to the greatest show on earth and it doesn’t cost you a dime.” — Zines (06:06)

3. The Hostage Taker: Jarrett Jordan's State of Mind (03:41–09:47)

• Profile: 23 years old, recently released from Rikers Island, history of domestic abuse.
• Motives: Enraged after failing to find his ex-girlfriend, now holding their baby and others at gunpoint.
• Hostage Leverage: “Cause I got my daughter in my hands, man.” — Jordan (04:52)
• Critical commentary: The negotiators must tread carefully: “If you say the wrong thing, it can end right there.” — Zines (05:01)

4. The Stakes and Emotional Pressure (07:25–11:21)

• Children in Danger: Negotiators reflect on the unique agony of cases involving young children.
  • “It’s a very tough thing, especially when you have your own. You immediately bring your children into it, replace them with yours.” — Zines (07:34)
• Rapport Building: Wally shares personal stories to humanize himself to Jarrett, hoping to inspire empathy for the hostages.

5. Negotiation Tactics Unfold (11:42–17:20)

• Trust-Building: Wally gives in to Jarrett’s initial demands to pull back tactical units, then requests release of a hostage in return.
• Stalling and Patience: Lieutenant Cambria’s strategy is to take things slowly, building rapport and credibility with Jarrett.
  • “Oftentimes, going into negotiations looking for a quick resolve is usually a mistake.” — Cambria (08:30)
• Using Civilians: At risk, Jack bends his rule and lets Jarrett’s friend Brian talk to him, but with limited results (13:35–14:09).

6. The Breaking Point and the Human Element (15:01–17:20)

• Jarrett’s Repetition: He repeatedly demands to speak with ex-girlfriend Diane, a potential flashpoint.
• Wally’s Vulnerability: He confesses to having children, recounts his son’s premature birth, and the importance of a parent's bond (15:57–16:45).
  • “That child’s an extension of you... When you look at your own child that you made, you may change your mind on certain things.” — Zines (15:57)

7. Crisis Escalates, Then Finally Gains Traction (17:24–26:39)

• Technical Problems: Jarrett’s phone battery almost causes negotiations to stall (19:09–19:22)—they counter with a “throw phone.”
• Credibility Crucial: A single lie can demolish hours of progress.
  • “You can be honest with someone for five hours... if you get caught up in one lie, then those five hours have just gone down the drain.” — Cambria (20:53)
• Emotional Exhaustion: The toll on Wally is clear, as he still makes time to call his children (24:36).

8. Critical Resolution: Baby’s Release (25:12–32:27)

• Breakthrough: After more than four hours, Jarrett agrees to release his baby daughter with a female hostage (26:03–26:19).
• Tense Execution: A male exits with the baby—unexpected, raising fears of a ruse (31:37–32:00).
• Baby Cheyenne Safe: Relief as Cheyenne is confirmed safe and cared for.

9. Tragic Conclusion: The Negotiators’ Burden (32:27–39:01)

• Shocking Turn: Released man, James Alexander, informs police Jarrett has shot himself (33:19–33:41).
• Aftermath: Jarrett is found dead; no other hostages were present.
• Emotional Fallout: Both negotiators reflect openly on what could and could not be done:
  • “We have an awesome burden placed on our shoulders in order to get this all accomplished.” — Cambria (28:59)
  • “Did I say the right thing? Did I do something wrong?” — Zines (38:51)
• Collateral Loss: Diane’s mother, shot by Jarrett, succumbs to her injuries.

10. The Human Cost and Ongoing Mission (39:06–40:01)

• Processing Grief: Even as the negotiators process their loss, duty calls—Jack trains new officers, Wally faces retirement.
• Legacy of the Negotiators: Their work saves lives, though not every outcome is a victory for all.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the psychology of negotiating:

  • “What we seek to do is empower these individuals to resolve it themselves and save face and come out with dignity and respect.”
    — Lieutenant Jack Cambria (09:57)

• On the emotional challenge:

  • “You have to fix the lawn... I was supposed to be home to take care of the children.”
    — Detective Sgt. Wally Zines (24:04)
  • “I haven't forgotten about you. I love you. Listen, I love you. All right. I’ll be home as soon as I finish.”
    — Detective Sgt. Wally Zines (24:42)

• On facing tragedy despite best efforts:

  • “We did have a success. We brought out Little Cheyenne.”
    — Detective Sgt. Wally Zines (39:01)
  • “You seek to make a difference and I still had that same desire.”
    — Lieutenant Jack Cambria (39:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Start of Crisis & Initial Response: 01:06–03:00
• Negotiator Team Background: 03:07–07:06
• Negotiation Progress (phone calls, tactics): 07:25–19:22
• Baby Cheyenne Negotiated Release: 25:12–32:27
• Discovery of Jarrett’s Suicide: 33:19–36:14
• Negotiators’ Debrief, Emotional Toll: 36:34–40:01
• Reflections and Episode Close: 39:06–40:01

Episode Tone & Language

The episode is intense, empathetic, and sensitive, presenting both the practical and deeply personal dimensions of police negotiation work. The voices of the negotiators are candid, often raw, revealing the human vulnerabilities that underpin even the most professional procedures.

Summary for New Listeners

"The Negotiators" delivers a powerful, real-time account of a six-hour hostage standoff, exposing not just the strategies and split-second decisions of experienced NYPD negotiators, but also the emotional labor, ethical judgments, and human limits of their work. Listeners are placed in the thick of the negotiation—the fear, the patience, the calculation, and ultimately, the grief—culminating in both the saving of a baby and the loss of life. The episode is a rare, unfiltered look at the intersection of crime, crisis response, and the human spirit.