January 2011 - Page 2 of 3

Donka Doo Ball

It’s 3 am and your friends have decided that you’re far too drunk to drive, so you decide to walk home. Red plastic cup in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other. You place the cup against your lips, sucking the last of the foam and ice from the bottom. A quick drag from the smoke and you flip the butt out into the street. It sizzles as it lands in a small puddle left behind by a passing street sweeper. You toss the empty cup into a group of white azaleas near the entrance to an apartment building on the corner. It rolls in a slow half-circle, weighted by its thicker bottom, coming to rest near a mushroom-shaped landscape light.

A left turn and you’re on your way. Only a dozen blocks to go.

What a night! The party was great and the band was killer. In fact, you can’t get their tunes out of your head. Especially that PINK song, Raise Your Glass. So you start to sing…loudly. Too loud, in fact. But you don’t care because tonight you’re the man. Yep, you’re ten feet tall and bullet proof.

Raise your glass…

…never be anything but loud.

What part of party don’t you understand…

Doesn’t matter to you that you’re staggering through a normally quiet neighborhood, the one where two elderly women sit up all night peering outside, watching to see who got lucky and connected with their one-night-soul-mate. The ladies are also well-known for calling the police for every single sound that’s a little out of place. After all, you can’t take chances these days, right?

You think about the redhead who gave you her number. Awesome! She was the hottest woman there. You crank it up another notch.

Wish you’d just freak out…

I should be locked up on the spot!

Just your luck. It’s trash night and the curb is lined with dozens of garbage and recycle bins. You bump into an overflowing container, turning it over. A plastic bag filled with empty vegetable cans spills out onto the concrete walk. They ring out like church bells as they roll and tumble toward the curb. You slip and fall, landing on your stomach with your face resting near a storm drain. Cool stagnate air brushes across your booze-warmed cheeks.

Can’t stop, they’re coming in hot…

…It’s so on right now.

Raise your glass.

Suddenly, headlights round the corner. The car stops directly in front of you, idling. Then you hear it, the unmistakable crackles and robotic voices of police radios. Two pairs of shiny, black shoes make their way in your direction. You try to stand but that last drink, the double tequila shot, holds you down. The next couple of hours are a blur. The last clear memory is of puking in the backseat of a police car and the officer stating that she charged you as a DIP. And no, that doesn’t mean you were acting like Paula Abdul.

Actually, DIP is cop slang (an acronym) for Drunk In Public, one of the few offenses that’s pretty darn difficult to fight in court since the police are not required to conduct blood or breath tests for DIP cases. And beating the charge is next to impossible because this is one where it’s pretty much the officer’s word against yours. Fortunately, police officers nowadays normally have video evidence (cruiser cams) to back their testimony, if necessary. That’s if the case ever makes it to court, and chances are it won’t. Most people pay the small fine and move on.

In many areas, officers use the DIP (a misdemeanor) charge when a person is too intoxicated to care for himself, or could endanger another person. A DIP arrest could also be effected if the intoxicated subject is blocking or interfering with the free passage of foot or vehicle traffic on streets and/or sidewalks. The charge may also apply to someone who is under the influence of drugs. Either way, the charge is a discretionary call for the officer (See yesterday’s SouthLAnd review).

* Some states, such as Nevada and Missouri do not have public intoxication laws. Montana actually has a provision in their law that allows officers to take intoxicated subjects home, especially if they are a danger to themselves.

How does an officer determine if someone is DIP? Well, here’s a video of a person who just might meet the criteria. They call this young lady Donka Doo Ball. You’ll soon see why.

January 20, 2011/by Lee Lofland

Southland

Southland: Discretion – A Review

“All cops have to make judgment calls they hope they won’t regret. No cop ever bats 1,000.”

Discretion: a one of a kind, useful implement that’s tucked away inside every cop’s virtual toolbox. It’s a valuable part of police work that every officer uses many times during their career. It can be a deal maker, a deal breaker, the beginning of a never-ending source of valuable information, and a life saver. Discretion, however, was the basis for more head-butting between Lydia and her new partner.

A rental chainsaw coated in blood and tissue caused Lydia’s sixth sense to kick into overdrive. Her thinking was that a dead body couldn’t be too far away from the weekend lumberjack who’d rented it. So, an argument ensues about collecting samples for DNA testing, or not. Lydia says yes, Josie says no, but then gives one of her eye rolls and sarcastically says, “Go ahead. DNA your ass off.”

Detectives normally have free reign to use their discretion to investigate suspicious circumstances. However, Lydia’s new partner, Josie, felt that looking into the source of the blood-like material on the saw was a pure waste of time, and she had no problem letting her feelings be known. And, as usual, her manner of delivering that message was obnoxious, condescending, and irritating…for the duration of the entire show. And to make matters worse she insisted on snooping into Lydia’s private affairs.

I still can’t warm up to this Josie character. I believe the writers are attempting to portray the possible consequences of having two detectives of equal rank working as partners. But that’s a situation that occurs every day in the real world and, sure there’s an occasional clash of ideas and personalities, but not usually to this extent. Surely, not to the point where one begins to cower as Lydia has at times. In fact, Josie has weakened Lydia to the point where she almost seems softer and wimpier, maybe even a bit ineffective as a detective. It’s not very flattering. Still, the detail in this show, including the tensions caused by working with someone you don’t particularly see eye-to-eye with is incredible.

– John and Ben answer a call and Ben immediately, after hopping out of the patrol car, starts talking to his mom on his cell phone. John (remember, he’s still Ben’s field training officer – FTO) gets in Ben’s face about the call. He says, “Unless she’s had a stroke or her uterus is falling out, you’re on my hip.” Good point. A cop must cover his partner at all times. And a rookie-in-training must not waiver from a single rule, including paying full attention to every single thing that’s happening at the time. No distractions.

– John and Ben encounter a man who’s in possession of a crack pipe. Of course, he was on his way to score when Cooper confiscated the pipe, destroyed it (had the user step on it), and then gave the guy a scare-tactic lecture of the gloom and doom that would rain down on his head if John caught him there again. Not arresting the guy was John’s discretion as a police officer. Now he has a possible informant, a guy who’s extremely grateful that he’s not going to jail. And he has Officer Cooper to thank for it. Letting the guy go was really no big deal, especially in places where paraphernalia possession is not illegal.

Sure, there was cocaine residue inside the pipe, and he could’ve been charged with possession of that small amount of the drug, but, as John said, “You want to spend 4 hours booking that guy? It’s called discretion. You gotta know when to use it.” It’s sometimes a better deal to grab an informant. Besides, maybe the speech worked and the guy’ll stop using drugs…yeah, right. But, he may, at least, stay out of Cooper’s way. Good use of discretion. And obviously a point made as a buildup for a later scene.

– Ben spots a parolee who served time for assaulting his (Ben’s) mother. He pretends the man is up to no good and tells a couple of lies to lure John into helping him make a traffic stop on the guy. As soon as the officers step out of the car, Ben crosses in front of John, his FTO, and says, “I’m contact, you’re cover,” meaning that he’d be the one to speak with the driver. Of course, Ben’s real goal was to confront the man and tell him to stay away from his mother, which, of course, is a very unprofessional act. However, it happens. Ben was later raked over the coals by his sergeant for using (abusing) his authority for personal gain (revenge). John also dinged him for lying to him about the incident, which, by the way, placed John in harm’s way.

– The next time John and Ben answer a call (a robbery-in-progress at a restaurant) John takes a quick peek over his shoulder to make sure his trainee is “on his hip.” Good detail. FTO’s constantly watch out for the rookies assigned to them. An FTO’s job is a tough one because they have to protect another officer while handling the actual call.

– Ben finds an illegal firearm in the restaurant. It belongs to the owner who states he needs it for protection. Ben, opting for a little officer’s discretion, allows the man to keep the revolver even though the serial number had been ground away. He thinks he’s doing the right thing by telling the man to buy a legal gun and then turn in the stolen gun once that purchase is made. After all, everyone needs a means to protect themselves, right? Bad move.

– Sammy’s situation with his wife has totally consumed his mind and he’s letting it interfere with his work. It happens. I’ve seen it many times. Unfortunately, a cop’s job often leads to a lot of time spent away from home. As a result, some spouses resort to cheating, as did Sammy’s wife, Tammy. Well, Sammy decides to break into his own home (Tammy changed the locks after he moved out) and a couple of deputies, who somehow magically appeared on the scene, checked him out at gunpoint. I’m not sure, but I doubt that Tammy had gotten any sort of legal papers that would have prevented Sammy from entering the house. If not, there’s no law that says you can’t break into your own home. But, I may have missed that fact.

Sammy’s scenes remind me of a cop I once knew who went through a similar situation. I don’t know where the writers of this show find their ideas, but I know one thing, they’re talking to real cops. And that’s a good thing.

– Ben, while answering a domestic call at a motel, beats the dickens out of a suspect and has to be pulled off the guy by John and two other officers (after a nice Tasering of the suspect by John). Ben beat the guy as a means to vent his frustrations about the parolee situation. Ben’s abuse of power and poor judgment are getting out of hand. Another set of rookie mistakes. And, again, it happens.

And now we’re at the end, where a shots-fired called comes in. And guess where it is…Yep, it’s the same restaurant where Ben allowed the owner to keep the stolen weapon. Guess who fired the shots that struck an innocent person. And guess what he used to shoot the guy.

And guess what...Discretion, when used improperly, can turn around and bite a cop right below where his handcuff case should be resting.

Another great show!

January 19, 2011/by Lee Lofland

I'm Just Saying

The Death Penalty For Jared Loughner?

Twenty-two-year-old Jared Loughner is certainly one of the most hated humans to have ever taken a breath of American air. And a wager that he’ll be found guilty of his heinous crimes would probably be a safe bet. If fact, he’ll probably be sentenced to death…if he’s not found to have a mental impairment that will prevent him from standing trial. But this story is a long way from over.

First things first. Enter the attorney who’s job will be to defend a man who killed six people, including U.S. District Judge John Roll, and wounded fourteen others (among the wounded was Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords).

Criminal defense attorney Judy Clarke

The attorney dubbed “The One Woman Dream Team,” Judy Clarke, has been named to represent Loughner in federal court, and she’s no stranger to tough death penalty cases. Some of her more well-known cases include, Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber), Eric Rudolph (the Olympics bomber), and Zacarias Moussaoui (9/11 conspirator). Clarke also represented Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother who drowned her two young boys.

Judy Clarke is the perfect attorney for cases such as the aforementioned, since she is a fierce opponent of the death penalty. Her passions surely drive her will to triumph, and triumph she has. Rudolph, Smith, and Kaczynski all dodged death row.

Clarke’s latest client, loughner, has been charged with two counts of murder (Judge Roll and Gabriel Zimmerman, a staff member of congresswoman Giffords). He has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder and a single charge of attempting to assassinate a member of congress. Since these crimes were committed against federal employees, Loughner will answer to the charges in a federal court somewhere within the United States, in Arizona if at all possible, but not likely in any courtroom near the shooting scene, or near Judge Roll’s court (the entire federal bench in Arizona has recused itself due to close ties to Judge Roll.

Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall

The state of Arizona has yet to issue warrants, but officials, including Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik and Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, have both stated that numerous state charges will be filed. LaWall says it’s important that justice be served for all of the victims, not just federal employees. The state charges could include one for each and every person (approximately 150 people were in attendance of the meeting) who were placed in the line of fire.

It’s important to note that not all attorneys are permitted to appear and plead cases before all courts. In fact, many attorneys who’ve been admitted to the state bar never appear in federal court. To do so, special requirements must be met.

Also, federal rules often differ from state rules of law. Will those different rules of law cause complications for Loughner’s defense?

Maybe so.

Loughner crime scene

Sure, this one’s an open and shut case since Loughner pulled the trigger, many times, in front of many witnesses. And without a doubt Loughner’s sanity, state of mind, etc. is going to be the root of his defense, and his sanity may very well be the single factor that spares his life. But it may not keep him from going to prison. And this is where the differences in state and federal rules muddy the waters.

The state of Arizona does NOT allow a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. Federal law does. Instead, Arizona’s options are Guilty, Not Guilty, or Guilty But Insane, and a Guilty But Insane verdict means a convicted person may be held at a state mental institution, BUT, if doctors determine their sanity has been restored at some point, they will then be transferred to prison to serve the sentence for their crime.

This time, no matter the direction this case takes, Defense Attorney Judy Clarke has her hands full. I think her record of winning death penalty cases is about to take a hit because prosecutors and law enforcement officials are coming after this guy, hard.

Pima County Arizona Sheriff Clarence Dupnik

* * *

Registration for the 2011 Writers’ Police Academy is set to open in a few days!

Reserve your spot early. Space will be limited this year!

New workshops!

New hotel!

Renowned experts in computer crimes, forensic psychology, criminal law, and bioterrorism!

Driving simulator!

Action, action, action!

Firefighers!

EMS workers!

Cops, Cops, and more Cops!

And, yes, FATS training will be back!

Details coming soon on our all new website.

See you there!

January 18, 2011/by Lee Lofland

Weekend Road Trip

Help! My DUMB BUTTON Is Stuck!

I write about emergencies all the time. In fact, I’ve responded to more emergencies than I care to remember. Yes, I’ve pretty much seen it all, from gruesome homicides to horrible crash scenes. And I’ve always remained calm and cool through the worst of the worst. But today I was faced with a personal emergency and I nearly lost my mind. In fact, I barely remembered the number to 911.

Actually, this started last night when our beloved blind and nearly deaf 19-year-old poodle wasn’t feeling well. So, I stayed up with her until after 3 am, holding and rocking her until she finally settled down enough to go to sleep. Then, this morning when the time came for her to head outside for her bathroom break my wife volunteered to take her, allowing me a few extra minutes of much-needed sleep.

But my rest quickly turned to panic. My wife, holding the 6 lb. poodle in her arms, slipped on the steps and fell. I quickly ran to her, thinking I’d help her to her feet and all would be well. Unfortunately, I noticed that her right foot jutted out to the right at a horribly grotesque and unnatural angle. And the bones of her ankle, the ones that normally protrude from the sides of her foot, were now poking out in the front.

This is where things begin to get a little hazy for me. I remember seeing my wife as she was heading toward the floor, cradling the dog in her arms (the dog, by the way, made it out of this just fine). And I remember rushing to her side (I was still as cool as the center seed in a cucumber). But when I saw “the foot” and the condition it was in, my mind went as blank as an author’s computer screen during an ugly spell of writer’s block.

I think I frantically walked in circles for a full minute before I finally heard my wife’s weak voice (she was in full-blown shock at this point) telling me to call 911, which I did after re-learning the functions on my cell phone. However, when the emergency operator came on the line I had difficulty remembering our address, my phone number, and my wife’s name and age.

That’s when it hit me. After all these years I finally realized why so many people sound so darn foolish when they call 911. There’s a feature in our heads, a DUMB BUTTON, that’s instantly activated when someone we love is hurt. And believe me, my DUMB BUTTON was pushed especially hard this morning. My wife was in intense pain. Excruciating pain. And her pain hurt me. And that hurt held its gnarled finger on my DUMB BUTTON for a couple of hours before it finally let go.

There were, however, some good things that happened today. The EMS crew that arrived to care for my wife was top of the line. They knew what they were doing and they did it in a hurry. The hospital ER staff was equally as good. So were the nurses, the morphine and dilaudid, and the folks in x-ray who revealed three quite nasty breaks in my wife’s leg (three bones, three breaks). But it was the surgeon who came in to realign the foot who impressed me the most. He administered the same goop that killed Michael Jackson, which turned out my wife’s lights for precisely 15 minutes. During that time, the doctor grabbed the foot, yanked once, pulled twice, and turned the foot back to where it was supposed to be. Then he held it in place while his assistant wrapped it with splinting material.

This brings me to where I am now, sitting in the OR waiting room at 9:30 pm, 13 long hours after the fall. Yep, my precious wife went into the OR at 6 pm for for an operation that was supposed to take no more than two hours—steel plates, screws, and pins.

Well, I just called the nurse in the recovery room to see if she had any news. She bluntly reported that my wife was still in surgery and that someone would let me know when she was out. Then she told me to relax, watch a little television, and maybe have some dinner.

I think she pushed a different button this time…

January 15, 2011/by Lee Lofland

Friday's Heroes

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the family of this brave officer.

Officer William H. Torbit Jr., 33

Baltimore City Police Department

January 9, 2011 – Officer William Torbit, while working a plainclothes assignment, arrived at the Select Lounge as a result of an officer-in-trouble call (Signal 13). While attempting to break up a fight between a group of females, Torbit was attacked by several males. One witness described the scene as large and chaotic.

During the attack, Officer Torbit was shoved to the ground and immediately drew his service weapon. Subsequently, he fired at least eight rounds at one of the men who was assaulting him. The civilian was mortally wounded. Four uniformed officers, who’d also responded to the scene, witnessed Torbit pull his weapon and they immediately began firing at him (a total of 41 rounds), thinking he was a civilian with a gun.

Officer Torbit was killed by gunfire from fellow officers he worked with on a regular basis. However, due to the chaos and the fact that Torbit was not in uniform, the fatal error occurred. One other police officer was wounded in the exchange of gunfire. Torbit was wearing his badge on a lanyard hanging around his neck.

Officers outside the nightclub where Officer Torbit was killed

Officer Torbit was known on the streets as Batman because he and his partner formed a real-life dynamic duo when it came to rounding up drug dealers and other offenders. Even though Torbit was a tough, no nonsense cop, several of Baltimore’s Central District bad guys, where Torbit worked, readily admitted that if he’d arrested them it was because they had it coming. They were also quick to point out that Torbit was fair, and credited him for turning their lives around.

January 14, 2011/by Lee Lofland

Guest columns

10 Worst Killings Committed in the Name of Love

We all know love can make you do some crazy things, but killing in the name of love is a whole other story. Every day there are plenty of murders committed out of passion, jealousy and obsession. It’s truly hard for the average person to wrap their brains around murdering anyone, let alone your husband, wife, children or anyone you love, but it happens more than you’d expect. Here are the 10 worst killings committed in the name of love:

1. Man Kills Wife’s Teen Lover: In March 2007, Eric McLean committed a murder out of love — in an effort to save his marriage. McLean shot and killed 18-year-old Sean Powell, who was having an affair with his wife. McLean claimed he accidentally killed the young boy when he was waiting in his car outside of McLean’s house so that he could see his former high school student teacher and married lover. McLean felt that Powell was stalking his wife, and when he refused to leave his property, McLean threatened him with a rifle by pointing it at him inside the car. Then, Powell grabbed the barrel of the gun and McLean accidentally shot him. McLean called 911 and admitted to killing Powell. Although prosecutors pinned McLean as a cold-blooded killer, his defense was strong. In 2008, McLean was convicted of reckless homicide with probation, and in 2009 he won a custody battle over his sons.

2. Skydiver Falls to Death by Love Rival: Els Clottemans and Els Van Doren had more in common than just their love for skydiving. The two Belgian women also shared a lover, Dutchman Marcel Somers. On Nov. 18, 2006, Clottemans, Van Doren and a plane full of skydivers went for a jump over eastern Belgium at 30,000 feet. Van Doren jumped a second too late and did not participate in airborne stunts with the others, but when it was time to open the parachutes, Van Doren’s parachute and safety chute did not open, and she plunged to her death. It became apparent that Clottemans was a suspect when she tried to kill herself hours before talking to the police for the second time. She sent anonymous letters to Van Doren’s husband, made anonymous phone calls to Somers and attempted suicide before trial. The parachute bag and helmet that Van Doren wore that day were investigated and used in court as evidence that the equipment had been tampered with. Video footage from a camera mounted on Van Doren’s helmet was viewed in court, as well. In October 2010, the jury agreed Clottemans killed her out of jealousy and with hopes to have Somers all to herself. They found her guilty of the murder and she was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

3. Teen Love Triangle Turns Deadly: Girls have fought for boys’ attention for the longest time. But catfights that turn deadly don’t usually happen to teenagers. Florida teens Sarah Ludemann and Rachel Wade knew about this all too well. The two girls had been fighting over 19-year-old Josh Camacho, who was two-timing them for months. Ludemann and Wade had it out for one another, participating in vicious taunts and harassing text messages, voicemails and Facebook posts that led to the final fight. In April 2009, Ludemann received a violent threat from Wade that was left on her voicemail. Wade threatened to murder Sarah in the message. Ludemann and her friends got in her father’s minivan to go fight Wade, but she wasn’t aware that Wade was armed. The two girls charged each other, and Wade pulled out a steak knife and began stabbing Ludemann, eventually piercing her heart and killing her. Wade’s attorney claimed that she brought the steak knife as a means of self-defense, but the jury didn’t buy it. In September 2010, Wade was found guilty of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 27 years in prison.

4. Mother Kills Brain-Damaged Son: Mothers will do anything for their children, but this woman took her love to the extreme. In 2008, Frances Inglis, a London resident, killed her 22-year-old son Tom by injecting him with a lethal dose of heroin. Before his death, Tom was in a vegetative state and had severe brain damage from falling out of a moving ambulance in 2007. Inglis felt that her son was suffering from severe pain and the only way to end his “living hell” was to take it into her own hands. After one failed attempt to kill her son with heroin, Inglis tried again. While Tom was lying in his hospital bed, Inglis injected her son with enough heroin to make him overdose and die. She was found guilty of murder and attempted murder and was given a life sentenced and ordered to serve a minimum of nine years. However, her sentenced was reduced to five years in 2010.

5. Mother Kills Children by Rolling Car into Lake: In an attempt to mend a broken relationship and be with the man who didn’t want a ready-made family, Susan Smith killed her two sons by rolling her car into the John D. Long Lake in South Carolina with her children inside. Smith made up a story for police, saying that a black man carjacked her and drove away with her children in the car. She and her husband appeared on TV several times and asked the community to join forces to look for her vehicle and the man that Susan had described as the carjacker. During police investigation, Smith became more and more suspicious because of her demeanor, inconsistent stories and failed polygraph tests. Lead investigators believed she knew where her children were and that she was responsible for their disappearance. Just nine days after the disappearance of her two sons, Susan Smith admitted to what she had done. Smith was charged with two counts of murder and sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison.

6. Mom Kills Three Children in Murder-Suicide Pact with Husband: One of the worst murder-suicides done in the name of love happened to a Saguenay, Quebec family on New Year’s Eve in 2008. That night, Cathie Gauthier and her husband, Marc Laliberté, killed their three children by poisoning them with a mix of Gravol, an anti-nausea medication, and a tranquilizer. Marc Laliberté committed suicide by slitting his wrists and died of blood loss. On January 2, Gauthier was found in the family home with her right wrist slashed after she called 911. Although Gauthier claimed the murder-suicide pact was completely her husband’s plan and he was responsible for the children’s deaths, prosecutors argued that she was the one who bought the medication that poisoned her children and was just as much of an equal participant as her husband. Gauthier was found guilty in the premeditated murders of her three children and was given a life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.

7. Mom Attempts to Kill Three Kids for Lover: With hopes of getting back with a man who never wanted children in his life, Diane Downs shot all three of her children, killing one. Downs came with a plan to tell police that a stranger had tried to carjack her, shot her in the arm and shot her three kids near Springfield, Oregon. She was able to escape and get to the McKenzie-Willamette Hospital with her children in the back. Her second child was already dead when they arrived at the hospital. Downs was treated for a gun wound in her left forearm. During police investigation, Downs retold the story and retraced her steps in a peculiar manner. Video footage captured her laughing as she described the traumatic details and her story didn’t seem to add up. Police discovered that Downs had been seeing a man in Arizona, who made it very clear he did not want to be with someone who had children. Police started to think this was Downs’ motive for murder and attempted murder. The key testimony that put Downs behind bars was her oldest daughter’s words that confirmed her mother was the one who shot all of them and killed her sister. Downs was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

8. Woman Kills Love Rival: Things can get deadly when two women are fighting over a man. This was the case for Shawna Nelson and Heather Garraus, who both were involved with a Fort Collins, Colorado, police officer, Ignacio Garraus. Ignacio Garraus had a three-year long affair with Nelson and even fathered a child with her, but broke things off one month before the shooting. On Jan. 23, 2007, Heather Garraus was brutally shot execution style by someone wearing a mask, who yelled, “You ruined my life. Get on the ground.” Soon after Garraus was found dead, police immediately started focusing on the only person who would have a motive to kill her — Nelson. DNA tests, gunshot residue, matching tire tracks and a number of other compelling evidence linked Nelson with the murder. In 2008, Nelson was found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

9. Woman May Get Death Penalty for Killing Love Rival: Some love-triangle slayings involve more than just the love rival. In 2009, Joshua Damien Fulgham and his mistress Emilia Carr kidnapped his wife, Heather Strong, by strapping her to a chair and suffocating her with a plastic bag. The duo then buried Strong’s body in the backyard of Carr’s mother’s home. Her body was discovered about a month later. In 2010, a jury found Carr guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping and recommended that the Florida woman get the death penalty. Fulgham is on trial for the same charges and awaits his sentencing.

10. Teen in Student-Teacher Love Triangle Killed: A love triangle turns deadly when an Arizona teenager was caught in bed with his high school teacher by her fiance, Sixto Balbuena. Balbuena, a Navy sailor, found Tamara Hofmann and Samuel Valdivia naked in her home and he proceeded to stab Valdivia. He claimed that when he entered the home he heard a noise and grabbed a kitchen knife, fearing for Hofmann’s safety only to find them together. Balbuena said he never meant to kill Valdivia, and only wanted to teach him a lesson, but a fatal stab to the stomach left him dead. Balbuena was guilty of second-degree murder and received a 10-year prison sentence in 2010.

*Article courtesy of criminaljusticedegreesguide.

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January 13, 2011/by Lee Lofland

Southland

Southland: Punching Water – A Review

“Most good cops are passionate cops. Put enough of them together and occasionally their passions explode.”

You know, there’s simply not a better cop show on TV. Action, emotions, compassion, and realism. That’s what Southland brings to the screen each and every week. And the cast and crew absolutely nail the details—so much so, that I feel as if I’ve dusted off the old gun belt and jump boots and hit the streets again.

If you, a civilian, have ever wondered what it’s like to work an eight-hour shift as a police officer you need to look no further than TNT at 10 pm on Tuesday nights. This week’s episode, Punching Water, was that “day in the life,” that began with a murder committed by a killer with an odd nickname, a moniker that led to an interesting “pointing of fingers” by a very reluctant witness.

When the witness (above) told Sammy that “nobody” killed the guy, he was actually referring to a thug/gang member whose street name was Nobody. Street names are important to people who, well, live and work the streets. Many criminals, street people, drug dealers and users, etc. don’t use their given names. Instead, they go by a nickname, which in many instances is the only name anyone knows them by, including the closest of their friends. These street names are often assigned to people due to an association to them and a certain item or event. For example, I once arrested a drug dealer whose street name was Pork Chop. He, of course, had a passion for eating fried pork chops. Pork Chop’s friends included Popcorn, Onion, One Eye, Truck, AK, and Doobie.

– Ben, Ben, Ben…what’s up with the Badge Bunny? Didn’t your police academy instructors warn you about those uniform-chasin’ members of the opposite sex? They’re everywhere, waiting to prey on unsuspecting rookies. Sure, it starts with sex, but where will it end? Following you around while you’re responding to calls? Sitting across the street from your house while you sleep? Phony 911 calls from her residence so she can see you in uniform? Speeding just so you’ll stop her for the infraction? Oh wait, that’s how it all started, right? You should have listened to the warnings. “Red-headed-Sallys” can be bad news. Perhaps you should give her a gentle nudge in the direction of the local fire department…

– During the shift briefing the sergeant tells the crew to stop gang member’s cars for every single infraction, write tickets, and tow their cars if possible. Good scene. That tactic can be just aggravating enough to cause someone to snitch, hoping the police will leave them alone.

– One of the detectives said, “I’ve got a C.I. I can talk to.” He was referring to an informant (confidential informant). Each detective, over time, builds up a network of informants they can turn to for information. Good detail.

– John tells Dewey to “light ’em up,” meaning to initiate a traffic stop by turning on the blue lights (AKA “activating the emergency equipment). During the stop Cooper stood to the side and rear of the suspect’s vehicle while Denny approached with his hand on his weapon. Good officer safety.

– A thug tells one of the officers, “I ain’t no snitch. I’m off the paper,” meaning he was no longer on probation, which meant the officer no longer had that leverage over him.

– The scene where Nobody’s dead body was stretched out on the sidewalk was pretty realistic. Other cop shows should take notice. Even the blood was a fairly realistic color.

– Cooper calls for an RA unit. If I’m not mistaken this is LAPD-speak for rescue ambulance. Every locale has their own terminology for this stuff. In some areas officers simply say, “Send rescue.”

– This episode shows non-stop calls. Officers barely finish answering one before they’re dispatched to another. That’s the way it is, folks—an assembly line of he-said-she-saids, shootings, shoplifters, domestics, and unfounded’s.

– Sammy said, “The whole gang problem is about parenting. Walk into the living room it’s always the same song—Why, why, why did the Lord take my baby?” Sammy turned to look at his partner and continued, “Well, maybe he’s dead because you’re a crackhead and don’t know who the father is, and maybe if you’d raised him instead of his “homies” I wouldn’t be standing here.” I don’t think I could sum it up any better. That’s real life.

– A dead guy in the street surrounded by police officers and their vehicles. A crowd of looky-loos stands at the perimeter. The mother of the deceased forces her way into the scene, crying and hollering, “My baby. Why, why, why!” Seems like Sammy knew what he was talking about, huh? Yep, and I’ve been to this scene myself…dozens of times.

– There was a bit of racial tension floating around among the officers. It happens, and I’m glad the writers chose to show it. The same occurs along gender lines. BUT, cops work through it, and in the end they cover each other’s backs. No matter what…usually.

– Salinger says, “Fighting gang crime is like punching water. No matter how hard you hit it you can’t seem to leave a dent.” That’s the way officers feel, sometimes. No matter how hard you work, or how many you take off the street, they just keep coming…and coming, and coming.

– Someone referred to the AK-47 as a “neighborhood gun.” This happens quite often. A weapon is passed around to various gang members who use it for various crimes. Sometimes, the weapon is kept by a single person in a central location so others can get it as needed…sort of like checking out a library book.

– The scene where the entry team kicked in a front door, and the bad guy ran out the back into the waiting arms of detectives, was a good one. The runner had a planned escape route with convenient “helpers” (chairs, etc.) placed along the way to assist in climbing over fences. It reminded me a similar incident…We were trying to rid a neighborhood of drug and gang activity and one of our methods was quite similar to the tactics used on Southland. One night a group of uniformed officers hit the neighborhood at once, jumping out of unmarked vans. This caused the drug dealers to run, and their pre-planned escape routes included running through holes they’d cut in the chain-link fencing throughout those particular projects. Little did they know that I, and a few other detectives, were waiting on the other side of those holes. As they darted through, I used my steel Maglite to give each one a little “love tap” on the chins. They hit the dirt like falling trees.

– Cooper tells Ben, “You’ve got to learn when to turn off the camera inside your head.” That’s how cops survive the carnage. You turn it off. Unfortunately, not everyone can do that and it eventually takes its toll.

– John and Ben just happened to notice the shooting suspect’s vehicle in the line of traffic ahead of them. This happens quite often in real life…a patrol officer spots a stolen car in a hotel parking lot; she passes a car with a wanted suspect at the wheel, etc. Yes, sometimes luck provides the opportunity.

– Another good quote from this episode…”Remember what it was like the first time you put on your blues and stood in front of a mirror? Makes you remember why you became a cop.”

Finally…I can’t seem to warm up to Lydia’s new partner. Maybe she’ll grow on me. The problem is, however, her presence has already weakened the Lydia character. Nope, Lydia is no longer the tough cop she once was. And that’s a shame.

And Sammy’s wife…For me, she’s Southland’s Lanie Parish. And if you follow my Castle reviews you know that’s not a good thing.

January 12, 2011/by Lee Lofland

Castle Reviews

Castle: Poof You’re Dead – A Review

There was certainly a plethora of magic in the air this week. Yes indeed. And the show had some really nice scenes, including one where Castle slips on a pair of x-ray specs to check out Beckett’s hidden assets. So let’s get right to the review before the smoke clears, revealing the concealed mirrors and secret doors. And just so you know, there’s nothing up my sleeves, nothing under my hat, and…x-ray specs, huh? I wonder where you buy such a thing? Strictly for research purposes, of course…

Now, are you sitting down? I ask because I have something to say that’s both important and shocking. So here goes…I didn’t hate the Lanie Parish character this week.

I know, even Barney can’t believe I said that. But, (dare I say this too?) I actually thought the M.E. came across okay this week. Not perfect by any means, and I’ll certainly point out the bad stuff, but overall she was okay. And I’ll go so far as to say she was believable, at times. For example:

– Lanie said, “If I had to guess I’d say the victim drowned, but I won’t know for sure until I get him back to the lab.” Well, this was sort of okay. A medical examiner performs autopsies in a morgue, not a lab, but, at least this time she knew she had to do an autopsy before determining the final cause of death. Normally, she does this in the field. So, this scene was good. An improvement.

Lanie said that the petechial hemorrhaging was present around the victim’s eyes and on his face, which was a good indication that he’d drowned. Normally, in an unnatural death, petechiae is an indication of strangulation or trauma to the neck. It’s even present due to autoimmune problems. But, petechial hemorrhaging is not normally a positive indicator of drowning. Instead, she’d be looking for things like foam in the airway, evidence of clawing with the hands as the victim struggles to survive, wrinkled skin, and others. An autopsy would usually reveal water in the airways. Also, diatoms found in the body can be compared to diatoms in the water where the body was found. If they match then the body was alive when it entered the water. If they don’t match the victim was dead prior to the body entering the water, meaning he was killed elsewhere and his body was later dumped into the water.

Anyway, Lanie’s petechiae diagnosis was weak. But, later in the show she tells us the cause of death was asphyxiation, not drowning, which the presence of petechiae indicated. So, after making a full circle she ended up making sense. And she looked good when she did. The problem with her looking so good was that she was dressed to the nines while in the morgue playing with dead bodies. This was totally unrealistic.

Oh…Lanie mentioned that there was no water in the lungs, meaning the victim could not have drowned. Well, there is a condition called dry drowning, where a victim can actually asphyxiate at the time of hitting the water (a muscular paralysis brought on by the shock of hitting the water, for example). Dry drowning victims present little or no water in the lungs.

– I suppose I should mention that a woman who knew the murder victim was allowed to walk around inside the crime scene.

She also stood near the victim’s body while speaking with detectives. Nope. Not in real life.

– Beckett and Castle arrive at the magician/victim’s warehouse and while walking toward the doorless building, Beckett exclaims, “Look, look, look. Footprints!” What? Did the person who made those prints step on a totally wet ink pad before walking across the ASPHALT pavement? How else would someone make a perfect set of footprints on that type of surface. Ridiculous. And I won’t even mention Beckett’s uncanny ability to locate the brick/switch that opened a secret door in the exterior wall of the building. I know this…the next time I come across a solid brick wall I’m feeling for the loose brick instead of walking around to the front door. Beats waiting in line at the post office.

And then there were the wheelchair tire marks on the concrete floor. I’m guessing the person in the chair also rolled across that mysterious ink pad before entering the building, because the tire prints were quite clear and went on forever. This was a Three Stooges moment, folks. I say that because, well, if wheelchairs made marks like this one did, wouldn’t the floors of each and every assisted living, retirement village, etc., be totally covered in skinny tire prints, like a NASCAR track for the physically challenged?

Esposito said he matched the wheelchair tire prints and was tracking them down to a manufacturer. I know there’s a database, or reference, for footwear and vehicle tires, but one for wheelchair tires? I’m not so sure about that one. I guess it’s possible.

– Lanie backslid for a moment when she said she discovered traces of some sort of chemical in the victim’s nose and throat. She even went on to say that the chemical is used in jet oil, nerve gas, and hydraulic fluids. Well, she’d have to be specifically looking for this stuff in order to test for it. Now, if the stuff was obvious to her, then she may have ordered a test for it, but it would take quite a while to learn the results. And she wouldn’t run the tests herself. Nor would she compare fingerprints as she stated elsewhere in the show.

But, I’ll have to give Lanie P. a pass this week, since she was so obviously distracted by her new sleepover buddy, Esposito. For me, this will take some getting used to. And, I agree with Castle when he said, “Never sleep with someone you work with.”

Okay, enough of the cop stuff. Again, this show disappointed those viewers who like to help the characters solve the mystery. Those mystery-solving TV-watchers don’t like to have the killer (characters we’ve never seen until the end) simply tossed at them at the end of the show. It would have been nice to at least seen these folks walk through a scene, or something. And this is not the first time we’ve been cheated by the writers of this show.

In this episode, it was as if the writer reached a point in the script and realized that she had run out of time and needed to wrap it up. So, she reached to the sky, pulled a killer out if thin air, and then typed THE END.

Still, the show was cute, funny, and viewers, in spite of the flaws, can’t seem to get enough of it.

You know, the chemistry between Castle and Beckett simply oozed from my television set this week. And that’s great, BUT…something’s got to give. Sure, there are plenty of hot coals burning, but even the most dedicated firebug/looky-loo will eventually lose interest and go home if they don’t see a flame sometime. I think it’s coming, though. Yep, I think lips will touch lips, soon.

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January 11, 2011/by Lee Lofland

Police Procedure

10 Most Corrupt Police Forces in the World

Just about every country deals with corruption in one way or another, but some can’t even trust the people whose sole job is to protect them. All around the world, police forces have been plagued by deep-rooted corruption and criminal activity that have hurt society and endangered its citizens. Many policemen are underpaid and turn to corruption to make more money, but their selfish deeds have wreaked havoc on countries that desperately need help.

Here are the 10 most corrupt police forces in the world:

1. Haiti: Haiti is notorious for having one of the most corrupt police forces in the world. The Haitian police have negatively influenced society and Haitian culture with their unethical practices for quite awhile. In recent years, the Haitian National Police have violated various human rights and broken numerous laws, such as kidnapping, drug trafficking and police brutality. They have even resisted preventing or responding to gang-related violence. The lawlessness of the HNP appears to have died down slightly after the catastrophic earthquake in January 2010, but only time will tell if it will stay this way.

2. Mexico: Mexico has one of the most corrupt police forces in the world and it continues to get worse every day. Crime is at an all-time high in Mexico City and border towns, but many police officers are only making it worse. Mexican police turn to corruption to find other means of money because the pay is low. Police will bribe criminals and extort tourists and have been known to give victims the option of “plata o plomo,” which means they can either accept a bribe or be killed. Mexican police also work with drug cartels to protect them and enforce drug trafficking. They often ignore reported crimes and do not investigate them, often imprisoning innocent citizens to cover up their dirty work.

3. Kenya: Kenya has one of the most corrupt police forces in the world. According to a Transparency International repot, an astounding 92 percent of Kenyans ranked their police as the most corrupt and many of them have paid a bribe to Kenyan police within the last 12 months. Citizens are bribed into paying police for access to various services, such as Customs, healthcare, police, education, registration and permits, and even utility services. Kenyan police have even targeted Somali refugees who’ve crossed the border in desperation by raping, beating and blackmailing them.

4. Uzbekistan: The Ministry of Interior (MOI) controls the police in Uzbekistan, which has a long history of corruption. The Uzbekistan police have been known to detain citizens to extort bribes and take away their human rights. Police brutality and bribery have also been committed by Uzbekistan law enforcement. Bribery is used in Uzbekistan for just about everything – traffic stops, civil lawsuits and even admission to leading educational institutions. With the rise of the bribery system, police protection does not come free to the people of Uzbekistan.

5. Burma: Burma is another country with a troubled police force. Corruption among police is nothing out of the norm here. The Burma police force has been known to make victims pay for criminal investigations and often extort money from civilians. Burma is ruled by a highly authoritarian military regime, which has a direct hold on the police force and the rights of citizens.

6. Iraq: The Iraqi police have had a long history of corruption and, despite funds and retraining efforts, they’ve managed to maintain their corruption. Iraqi police continue to be highly sectarian and participate in kidnappings, ransom payments and bribery. They have proven to be ineffective at controlling terrorism efforts and protecting civilians in the ways they need to be.

7. Somalia: The Somali police force is one of the most corrupt agencies in the world. This war-torn country continues to face a great deal of adversity and civilians are at the greatest risk. Somali police have been known to be ineffective and crooked. Because they are underpaid, many Somali police officers steal, extort, bribe and harass individuals to get money. They’ve also had a history of police brutality and often ignore societal violence. In 2009, nearly 1,000 Somali police officers went missing after receiving extensive training funded by the German government. It is believed that the police officers escaped to join the Islamist militia Al-Shabaab.

8. Afghanistan: Afghanistan has had one of the most corrupt police forces in the world, and it seems like it’s only getting worse with time. Graft has made it impossible for Afghan police to improve and effectively do their job, but corruption is witnessed within the police force, as well. Afghan police have been known to extort money and inflict violence on civilians at police checkpoints around the country. Police also bribe civilians into paying them for their release from prison or to avoid arrest. Although police corruption has gotten slightly better with international efforts and retraining, it continues to suffer at the whim of governmental corruption and power.

9. Sudan: Sudan is one of the most corrupt countries for various reasons. Not only has their former president Oman Al-Bashir been indicted for war crimes and genocide, but this nation suffers from a corrupt police force. Sudanese police have been known to extort bribes from civilians in order to supplement their incomes. Police rarely file reports or investigate crimes, and often use violence and retaliation against people who complain about police abuses.

10. Russia: Russian government is no stranger to corruption, especially within its police force. Within recent years, facts have surfaced about the corruption and crimes being committed by Russian police officers. Police brutality, extorting bribes and arresting innocent citizens are all crimes that have been committed among Russian police forces. In order to ensure monthly quotas and make ends meet, Russian police turn to corruption and bribery.

* This article is courtesy of criminaljusticesdegreesguide.com and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Graveyard Shift.

January 10, 2011/by Lee Lofland

Weekend Road Trip

Mermaids, Wooden Fish, and…Book Signings?

Hwy 80 East out of Savannah, Georgia, otherwise known as the Island Expressway, is a road flanked by gorgeous scenery. It leads you through Thunderbolt, Wilmington Island, and past Fort Pulaski. To the right is a vast marshland. To the left, just beyond a row of palm trees that stretch as far as the eye can see, is the South Channel and the Savannah River, where large container ships make their way from the Atlantic Ocean to the Port of Savannah. Signs on either side of the highway advertise shark fishing and dolphin sightseeing tours. A floating casino awaits its next group of gambling passengers.

Twenty minutes into the trip, the entire upper portion of your GPS screen suddenly turns bright blue. The ocean is near. But something on the left catches your eye. Something like nothing else you’ve ever seen before. Is that a ten-foot metal mermaid guarding the entrance to a…business?

You rub your eyes, shake your head, and have another look. Yep, it’s mermaid, all right. And that’s when you notice she’s not alone. So you park your car and get out to explore. And this is what you find…

Fish art. And lots of it.

Wooden sidewalks as winding and twisted as a plot in a Jeffery Deaver novel lead customers through an eclectic assortment of merchandise. If you can’t find it in this place, well, it simply never was…

The mermaid.

Pots, pedestals, and…drums?

I think the idea is to “steer” customers this way.

You tell me.

A local artist displays his pieces on an exterior wall.

This place has a bit of everything on display.

A fish with a stop sign dorsal fin.

The man behind the madness, Ralph Douglas Jones. Mr. Jones was kind enough to give us a guided tour of his establishment, and he told me of his desire to write a book. He also told me that he enjoys hosting combined book signings and wine tastings at his place. He admitted that more wine gets tasted than books sold, but his heart is in the right place.

When we were finally done with the tour and listening to several fascinating stories, I commented to Mr. Jones that his “store” was stocked with everything except the kitchen sink. That’s when he led me to the only corner I hadn’t seen…

January 8, 2011/by Lee Lofland