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Lee is a freelance writer for magazines, such as The Writer, and for newspapers across the country. He also writes regular articles for Mystery Writers of America newsletters and for Sisters In Crime's national newsletter, InSinC.
Click on the titles below to read some of his articles.
February 2006
Since I'm a former police detective turned writer I spend a great deal of time reading about my present day counterparts. I also enjoy seeing how law-enforcement officers of yesteryear handled the complex issues of their day. Perhaps my all-time favorite examples of police work at its finest are the old black-and-white episodes of The Andy Griffith Show
January 2006
As a police detective, I served numerous search warrants, but my preferred method of searching someone and their property was with the suspect's permission - preferably written permission. A consent search saves police officers tons of time and paperwork, and probable cause does not have to be established prior to the search.
Dogs used by police agencies are trained for specific purposes, and the breed of the dog normally determines the duty assigned to it. Strong, aggressive breeds such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers are normally chosen as patrol dogs. These dogs are the biters of police canines, and they are used for the apprehension of criminals, crowd control, and for the protection of their handlers. They are trained to bite on command, and they are trained never to bite a suspect who is standing still and complying with a police officer's commands.
Before we can discuss the crime of murder, I must point out the difference between murder and homicide. Homicide is any killing of one person by another. Murder is the unlawful killing of one person by another and normally involves intent, malice, and - often times - hatred.
Knock, Knock, Who's There?
Search warrants are an important tool for police officers and, while they are difficult to obtain, there is no better feeling than using one to discover a cornerstone piece of evidence.
Two Heads Are Better Than One
Citizens are rarely allowed to see the private lives of police officers. From the public's point of view, cops are sometimes seen as uncaring, gruff individuals with little or no sense of humor. Nothing is further from the truth. Many police officers I worked with thought of themselves as the ultimate practical jokers...
To Die Or Not To Die? That's The Real Question
With all the recent publicity regarding high-profile criminal cases such as the Scott Peterson trial and the child killings in Florida , the issue of the death-penalty is once again in the news. The country is divided in its opinions about whether we should put these killers to death or house them behind bars for life...
Stop, It's the Police... Or is it?
Recently in Atlanta, Georgia, a suspect overpowered a deputy sheriff, took her key to a secured weapons lockbox, removed her sidearm from the box and killed three people - all were law-enforcement officers. I, too, have been in scuffles where a suspect attempted to remove my weapon from its holster. It's a horrifying experience...
Stop or I'll Shoot... Maybe
The most frequently asked question, by far, in all the seminars and workshops I've done over the years is.Have you ever shot anyone? The reactions I get when I say yes are varied; I've learned that people expect my answer to be no. I was once involved in an extremely violent shootout with an armed bank robber, and that day my training proved to be very effective. I survived, and the robber did not....
Donuts, Zippers and Guns... Oh My!
After recovering from the bumps and bruises I received from nearly two decades in law-enforcement I have now devoted all my time to writing and speaking to writers about real-life cop experiences and crime scene investigations. During my seminars and conferences, I'm asked hundreds of questions and these are my responses to a few...
Please contact Lee for answers to your questions.
Email Lee: lee@leelofland.com
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