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Richard D. Klapp
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| Title: |
Commander, Retired |
| Industry: |
Government |
| Type of Organization: |
Municipal Law Enforcement Agency |
| Major Product/Service: |
Community safety, law enforcement, hostage negotiation and critical incident management |
| Expertise: |
With over 30 years experience, Mr. Klapp Founded and became Team Leader of the San Francisco Police Department Hostage Negotiation Team. He provided training in critical incident management in the Western U.S. to various law enforcement agencies and served as a Police Officer, Sergeant and Staff Instructor at the Police Academy and was Supervisor of Applicant Background Investigations, Lieutenant, Watch Commander, Lieutenant and Commanding Officer of the Police Academy and Commander of several divisions, among other positions. Mr. Klapp commanded 71 successfully negotiated hostage and barricaded gunmen incidents with no deaths, injuries or failures. He presided over Hostage Negotiation training provided by his team for over 300 law enforcement officers in seven Western states. |
| Geographic Area of Distribution: |
San Francisco, California |
| Affiliations: |
Mr. Klapp is a Life Member of the California Hostage Negotiator's Association as well as a Life Member of the International Police Association. |
| University/Degree: |
Attended, Central Michigan College, University of San Francisco, University of Virginia; Attended S.F.P.D. Academy; Attended F.B.I. National Academy, 125th Session, 1981 |
| Born: |
August 3, 1933, Kalamazoo, Michigan |
| Hobbies/Sports: |
Global travel, golf, physical fitness |
| Spouse: |
Sue Bessmer, Ph.D. |
| Married: |
1986 |
| Children: |
Therese M. Porter, Michael T. Kenny |
| Work History: |
While with the San Francisco Police Department Hostage Negotiation Team, Mr. Klapp served as the Team Leader for several years, where he personally negotiated 23 incidents of hostage and barricaded gunmen incidents successfully and commanded the team in the remainder. |
| Honors & Awards: |
Ten Medals of Valor; Six Police Commission Commendations; 32 Captain's Commendations; Two Chief of Police Certificates of Appreciation; Three Mayor's Recognition Proclamations and one Mayor's Award of Merit, from the Mayor of San Francisco; San Francisco Police Officer of the Year, Lion's Club International, 1974; POST Certificate of Recognition; POST Special Award of Appreciation; Three Certificates of Appreciation, F.B.I.; Certificate of Appreciation, U.S. Secret Service; Certificate of Recognition, California State Assembly; Two Certificates of Appreciation for two terms as President, California Academy Directors Association; Certificate of Appreciation and Honorary Life Membership, California Association of Hostage Negotiators |
| Published Works: |
Mr. Klapp has written numerous police policies and lectured on critical incident management. |
| Career Accomplishments: |
Mr. Klapp feels that his total dedication and commitment, without compromise, to the highest standards and principles of the Law Enforcement Profession, is what separated him from others. This included providing leadership by example to induce subordinates to adopt such standards in their performance and behavior. |
