I was half asleep last night, watching some dopey 70’s rerun where the bankrobber took hostages, threatened to kill them, got a cop to give up his gun, and naturally, screwed up and was arrested by the heroic gunless cop. Has anyone ever really gotten away by taking hostages when surronded by police? Do cops in that situation give up their guns? Not that I am making plans, I just want to know.
I’m just guessing, but it seems like hostage situations always result in being surrounded by HUNDREDS of cops, none of which apear to give up their guns.
I suspect that a cop would never actually give up their gun unless the situation was so untenable that there would be no point in keeping in (ie surrounded by 30 terrorists or something). The hostage is the only thing protecting the bad guy from a bullet to the head. If the cop gives up his gun, he then looses any control over the situation whatsoever.
Besides, if TV cop shows have taught me anything, a cop who gives up his gun to save a hostage usually ends up either dead or resigned to traffic duty for getting a hostage killed.
Then again, I’m not a cop. I’m just guessing what would happen based on what seems to be a reasonable response.
What about D.B. Cooper? Of course, he didn’t hijack the plane just to make a getaway after commiting another crime. (As far as we know, anyway)
the general rule seems to be:
take hostages only if you are already on the getaway device (read: plane with LOTS of fuel - enough to get to a friendly-to-you/hostile-to-cops soverign country (and don’t count on Panama 
).
otherwise, you’re pretty much dead meat - surrender or die.