MSP Sergeant Receives 2026 Negotiator of the Year Award

Upper Peninsula, Michigan. A sergeant from the Michigan State Police (MSP) St. Ignace Post has received a statewide award for his work as a negotiator. Sgt. Jacob Hubbard’s actions during a high-risk incident demonstrate the important role negotiators play in helping law enforcement resolve dangerous situations and protect lives.

Sgt. Hubbard was presented with the 2026 Michigan Association of Hostage Negotiator’s “Negotiator of the Year” award for his role in helping bring a dangerous situation to a safe resolution in Marquette County in January 2026. While there were other candidates who demonstrated excellent work as well, Sgt. Hubbard was the unanimous winner.

In addition to his full-time duties as a sergeant at the St. Ignace Post, Sgt. Hubbard serves as a negotiator with the MSP Emergency Support (ES) Team.

The ES Team specializes in responding to dangerous and critical incidents. The team provides specialized training and equipment for situations involving hostage rescue, armed and barricaded suspects, high risk arrests, and more. The team includes tactical and negotiation units that work together to resolve these incidents safely.

In Marquette County on January 3, 2026, at approximately 8:50 p.m., a neighbor of Kyle Beauchemin reported that one of Beauchemin’s dogs had attacked the neighbor’s livestock. Deputies from the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and an MSP trooper from the Negaunee Post attempted to contact Beauchemin at his home but received no answer.

At about 9:50 p.m., MCSO deputies and MSP troopers were dispatched to the home again for a reported domestic violence incident. Reports indicated that Beauchemin was inside with his girlfriend and their four children, who were being held against their will. An estimated 28 pitbull mix dogs were also in and around the home. MCSO deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Beauchemin.

The MSP ES Team was called to assist in the early morning hours of January 4th, because of the dangerous circumstances of the suspect being armed and holding hostages. Sgt. Hubbard was able to contact Beauchemin’s girlfriend. She expressed fear for her safety and the safety of the children. Beauchemin was reportedly armed with firearms.

Sgt. Hubbard was able to make contact with Beauchemin and negotiated with him for several hours. Although Beauchemin agreed several times to leave the cabin peacefully, he did not follow through. Sgt. Hubbard was able to keep him on the phone and continued working to resolve the situation without further harm being done.

Eventually, a decision was made to enter the cabin. During the planning process, Sgt. Hubbard provided the tactical team with a detailed description of the cabin and information about the location of the firearms.

As the team entered, Beauchemin used his girlfriend and the children as human shields. Sgt. Hubbard relayed information about Beauchemin’s movements to the tactical team in real time, helping the other ES team members respond accordingly.

Beauchemin was taken into custody, and all five hostages were rescued safely. He was lodged in the Marquette County Jail, and the investigation was turned over to the MCSO, the lead investigating agency.

Sgt. Hubbard’s work during several hours of negotiations helped keep the situation from escalating. He also provided critical information that helped the tactical team plan and carry out the operation.

The safe resolution of this incident was the result of teamwork and coordination among multiple agencies. Sgt. Hubbard and the entire MSP ES Team worked alongside the MCSO, MSP Negaunee Post troopers, Marquette County Central Dispatch, and MSP Negaunee Regional Communication’s Center.