May 2013 - Lee Lofland

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

You gave your all to protect and serve us, and for that we are eternally grateful.

Officer Jason Ellis, 33

Bardstown Kentucky Police Department

May 25, 2013 – Just before 3:00 am, Officer Jason Ellis was on his way home after working his shift when he encountered debris in the roadway. He got out of his marked patrol car to clear the obstruction and a subject opened fire with a shotgun, shooting him multiple times. It’s believed that the shooter placed the debris in the roadway as part of his plan to ambush and kill the officer.

Officer Ellis is survived by his wife, two sons, his mother and stepfather, and two sisters.

May 31, 2013/by Lee Lofland

Police Procedure

Spotting Drunk Drivers: Shooting Fish In A Barrel

The driver who turns up a fifth of Jack Black while singing Sweet Home Alabama at the top of his little redneck lungs is obviously driving while under the influence of alcohol. But what about the driver who chugs only three or four teeny-tiny drinks before sliding in behind the wheel?

What makes a patrol officer zero in on that guy? And, what if a driver eats an onion after consuming his alcohol, or drinks a bottle of mouthwash? Will those tricks fool the officer’s breath-testing equipment?

Let’s start with some of the signs officers look for when scanning the roads for inebriated drivers. Here’re a few dead give-aways:

1) Stopping in the middle of the road for absolutely no reason. Believe it or not, this maneuver is quite often performed directly in front of a marked police car.

2) Driving the wrong way on a one-way street. The drunk driver is often seen flipping off approaching drivers.

3) Driving in the center of the road, straddling the center line. This, too, often occurs in front of a police car.

4) Failing to dim headlights when meeting an oncoming car. Older drivers can often be seen stomping the left floorboard of the car (that’s where the dimmer switches were located forty years ago).

5) Traveling well below, or above, the posted speed limit. Note – Exception to this rule is an old guy wearing a ball cap. These geriatric hat-wearers almost always drive well below the posted speed limit. May or may not be drunk. This one’s a coin toss. However, young guys have been known to wear baseball hats when consuming mass quantities of alcoholic beverages, and they’re sometimes a bit easier to spot, even in a crowd. Still, it takes a well-trained eye and years of experience to spot these crafty drunks.

Exception number two to the slow-driving rule—three-foot-tall women over the age of eighty.

6) A car that strikes stationary objects on either side of the roadway as it passes by. Has the appearance of a pinball machine in play.

7) My personal favorite is the driver stopped at the red light beside a police car. First comes the casual sideways glance toward the officer, followed by a nod and the mule-eating-briars grin. Then, they just can’t help themselves. Down comes the window so they can tell the officer what a fine job he’s doing. The idiot cannot stop himself at this point. He simply has to inform the officer that his third cousin twice removed on his mother’s side of his daddy’s grandmother’s family was the chief of police in Doodlebunk, Kansas. Well, it’s pretty obvious he’s stoned out of his gourd. Of course, the bag of dope hanging out of his shirt pocket doesn’t help his case.

8) And let’s not forget the driver at the DUI checkpoint. Officers ask, “How much have you had to drink tonight?” The driver’s response… “Two beers.” Always, without fail, their answer is “two beers” (or whatever type alcohol they choose).

As for the onion trick. No way. Attempting to fool breath-testing equipment is a waste of time. The machines don’t measure the amount of alcohol in the air, or in the suspect’s breath. Instead, they measure the ratio between the concentration of alcohol in the blood and the concentration of alcohol that’s in deep lung air, air that’s in the alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs).

So, eat an onion if you like, but I doubt your bad breath will help you make new friends in the cell block.

And then there’s poor ‘ol Steve. Caught driving drunk on a riding mower…again.

May 30, 2013/by Lee Lofland

Book Reviews

James Lee Burke’s Creole Belle: A Cop’s Eye Review

I’ve said it in the past and I’ll say it again here…open the cover to a James Lee Burke novel and you’ll instantly be doused with swamp water and the combined scents of meat fires and crab boils. Burke is undoubtedly the master of painting vivid pictures using words as his choice of medium, and a blank page as his canvas—he’s Manet meets Norman Rockwell.

Creole Belle is a tale of passion for the bayou and rage toward anyone who dares to threaten Dave Robicheaux’s precious Gulf coast. It’s a convoluted story with intricately detailed flavors of the mob, stolen and forged art, white slavery, Nazi war criminals, BP’s oil gushing into the waters of the Gulf, tar balls, the blues, and the love of fathers for their daughters, even if one of those daughters is a hired “hit-woman.” Actually, Burke unleashed a plot so splendidly thick and layered and lavishly decorated with all the trimmings, that readers may worry about the book’s bindings giving way at any moment. But the danger of the book coming apart is, as always, held together by the extremely strong friendship between Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell.

Dave and Clete plow through the pages, searching for Tee Jolie Melton, a young blues singer. Along the way, Clete finds the daughter he never knew, Gretchen, and Dave is bursting-at-the-seams-proud of his daughter, Alafair, who’s hard at work writing a novel.

During the hero’s journey, there’s plenty of action, plenty of heartache and angst, and plenty character flaws that ring true on many levels.

There’s also plenty of violence in this book; however, it’s violence that, while sometimes over the top, forces the reader to turn the pages again and again.

Clete barrels his way to the final chapter in traditional Purcell style—sex, drugs, alcohol, and a little Boogie-Woogie to help it all go down. Dave, on the other hand, pushes back when his old nemesis—alcohol—comes calling. But his determination and drive shoves him down the only path he knows, the right one. And he’ll stop at nothing, short of killing an innocent person, to reach a satisfactory conclusion to the crime du jour.

Emotions run high in this book, as high as the Spanish moss that lifts and flutters in the pre-storm breezes, like fine lace gently sprinkled over the branches of live oaks. Ghosts from both Dave and Clete’s past appear in the story to remind us of the daily struggles facing soldiers who’ve seen the worst of the worst.

I highly recommend Creole Belle. Sure, Dave’s a little off-center when it comes to following department rules and regulations, and, to my horror, Burke actually brought out the dreaded “c” word (cordite) in a line on page 363—“Clete and I had stayed high on booze and racetracks and the smell of cordite and…” Still, the book is a great read.

I feel I must warn readers who may be new to Burke’s work…this may not be the best book to start your journey with this author. I suggest dipping your toes in the water first, by picking up a copy of one of his earlier works. Then hang on tightly, because James Lee Burke is an author who, once his writing sets its hooks in you, will never let you go. You’ll be a fan for life.

May 29, 2013/by Lee Lofland

Courts

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, All Rise For…The Mayor?

It’s a small red-brick building nestled between Betty Lou’s Cut ‘n Curl and Smilin’ Bob’s Hardware and Pawn Shop. The lone parking space in front is reserved. The sign reads “Chief’s Parking Only.”

Inside, the hallway to the right takes you to the water department and the office of the building inspector. There, you can also purchase dog tags and yard sale permits. A left turn leads to the village police department, a force comprised of five dedicated, hardworking police officers—one chief, one sergeant, two full-time officers, and one part-time guy who’s also the mayor of the next town over.

Complaints can be filed with the dispatcher at the window, or by dialing the local number. Calling 911 in the Village of Bubbling Falls works the same as calling 911 in Big City, USA. Well, there is a tiny difference in the two…when you call 911 in Bubbling Falls, somebody always shows up to see what’s wrong. Not necessarily so in Big City.

Bubbling Falls dispatchers also work the computer terminals and NCIC. They know CPR and they know every single village resident and the quickest route to their houses.

Officers in Bubbling Falls attend the police academy and they receive the same training and certifications as the officers over in Big City. No, the Bubbling Falls PD doesn’t have all the latest fancy equipment with the shiny, spinning dials and winking, blinking lights. They don’t have specially trained detectives who only work homicides or white collar crime. And they don’t have divisions dedicated for traffic, vice, narcotics, and internal affairs. Budgets simply don’t allow it.

Instead, officers in Bubbling Falls are cross-trained. They each know how to run radar, direct traffic, dust for fingerprints, collect evidence, interview suspects and witnesses, and they know how to investigate a murder. They work burglaries and assaults. They also arrest drunk drivers, drug dealers, people who abuse their spouses, rapists, pedophiles, and robbers. They break up fights, help kids cross the street safely, and they locate lost pets. And, if one of their officers steps out of line they’ll straighten his butt out too.

Of course, Bubbling Falls is totally fictional, but there are many actual small towns and villages with small police departments. And those small departments work the same type cases as the departments in larger cities. No, not all departments are large enough to have officers who serve as detectives. But they all employ police officers who are fully capable of investigating any type of crime. And they do, from traffic offenses to murder. Sure, they do the same work as a detective, but they do it while wearing a uniform instead of some fancy-smancy suit and high-dollar wingtip shoes.

So you see, most small departments operate the same way as the large ones, just on a smaller scale.

For example:

The Yellow Springs Ohio Police Department serves a village of slightly less than 4,000 residents. Therefore, the department is small. However, there’s a college in town and the village is located near Dayton and Springfield, which translates into the potential for a higher crime rate than would normally be found in a town that size. And, the potential for more crime means more proactive police work for the small number of officers.

The YSPD doesn’t have plainclothes detectives to investigate major crimes. Instead, as is the case with many small departments, uniformed officers investigate all crimes. So, when an officer receives a call from the dispatcher they see it all the way through—from the 911 call through court, including evidence collection, interviewing witnesses, etc.

If the officers need additional help, or resources, they call on the sheriff’s office.

Remember, not all departments operate in the same manner. Some smaller departments DO have detectives, and those investigators may or may not wear a uniform. They could dress in a coat and tie, and they could have the title of detective, or investigator. If they’re a detective who wears a uniform their rank would normally remain the same as it was when they were assigned to patrol duties. There is no standard rule. It’s entirely up to the individual department.

One other thing to remember—a police department and a sheriff’s office are not the same. Deputy sheriffs work for sheriffs, not police chiefs. But that’s a topic for another day.

YSPD dispatcher

NCIC equipment

Felony traffic stop

Issuing a traffic summons

An arrest

Small departments may not have LiveScan fingerprint terminals. If not, they’d still use the old ink and ten-print cards

Ten-print fingerprinting station

Small departments collect and preserve evidence using the same methods and materials used by larger departments

Evidence storage is on a smaller scale in smaller departments

Evidence room in a small department

Evidence safe in a small department (for narcotics, etc.)

Officers’ shared workstation/office in a small department

Small departments follow the same procedures as any other department

Interior of a small department patrol car features the same equipment as any other patrol car

One interesting point to note is that Ohio mayors are authorized by law to hold Mayor’s Court, where they hear misdemeanor cases, such as bad check cases, assaults, tax-related issues, cases involving animals, trespassing, shoplifting, traffic offenses, etc.

Ohio law requires that prior to hearing certain cases, such as drug and alcohol related traffic offenses, each Mayor must attend 6 hours of classroom training. They must also attend a three-hour continuing education class each year.

State law also requires each Mayor’s Court facility be:

– Easily accessible by the public

– well-lighted and heated

– the mayor should preside from an elevated bench or table that separates them from the public. The table, or bench, must be flanked by the state flag and the U.S. flag.

– tables and chairs must be positioned so that all parties involved can see and hear the proceedings

– mayors must dress in attire that’s appropriate for the dignity of the proceedings

– smoking, foul language, and eating are not permitted in mayor’s courts

– Even though most mayor’s courts are held in small towns and villages, where nearly everyone knows his neighbors, first names and nicknames should not be used during the hearings.

– if an offense carries the possibility of jail time, the mayor must appoint an attorney to represent the defendant(s), if they haven’t already retained one.

*Of course, a defendant could save everyone a lot of time by checking the “guilty” box on the form handed to him at the start of the proceeding.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS

WAIVER OF RIGHTS

PLEA OF GUILTY OR NO CONTEST

Defendant’s Name: ____________________________________________________________

In the __________________________________ Mayor’s Court, ____________________, Ohio

Case No. _________________Charge(s)____________________________________________

I am present in Court today and have been told:

(1)The law requires this Court to bring me to trial within thirty days of the date I was charged.

(2)I have a right to have a lawyer here at anytime, and I may have my case continued to get a lawyer(s).

(3) If the charge I am facing carriesa possible jail sentence, the Court will appoint a lawyer at no cost to me if I cannot afford to hire one.

(4) If the charge I am facing carries a possible jail sentence, I have the right to a jury trial.

(5) I have a right to remain silent. Anything I say can be used against me.

(6) The maximum penalty I can receive if I am convicted. If this is a traffic case, I also may lose the right to drive for some time and have points added to my driving record.

(7) If I am not a United States citizen, that a conviction could result in my deportation or denial of citizenship according to the laws of the United States.

(8) I have the right to remain free on a reasonable bail while my case is awaiting trial.

I HAVE READ THIS STATEMENT AND I UNDERSTAND IT. I WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND THEY WERE ANSWERED.

I have decided on my own to waive my rights and proceed today. I do not want a continuance to talk to a lawyer.

I plead:

Guilty ___

No Contest ___

Signed: ___________________________ Date ______________________________

Witnessed by: ___________________________ Date ________________________

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May 28, 2013/by Lee Lofland

Holiday Posts

Sacrifice For Me: Joe Bonsall and The Oak Ridge Boys

“So I can live

In the Land Of Free

Raise my kids

Live my dreams

There’s a price

For liberty”

Here is a very special video presentation honoring the Sacrifice made by so many so that we can live in The LAND of FREE.

*As always, my thanks to Joe Bonsall for his unwavering, faithful support of our men and women in uniform. Joe’s love of our country is, and always will be, an inspiration.

May 27, 2013/by Lee Lofland

Friday's Heroes

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

You gave your all to protect and serve us, and for that we are eternally grateful.

Officer Daryl Raetz, 29

Phoenix Arizona Police Department

May 19, 2013 – Officer Daryl Raetz was processing a DUI suspect alongside the roadway when he was struck by a passing SUV. He was transported to the hospital where he passed away. The driver of the SUV fled the scene, but was located the following day and was arrested for the hit and run. He was in the U.S. illegally, and he was also charged with drug possession.

Officer Raetz, an Iraq war veteran, is survived by his wife and child.

Deputy Sheriff Tim Causey

Horry County South Carolina Sheriff’s Office

May 19, 2013 – Deputy Tim Causey died of smoke inhalation after responding to a massive fire that destroyed 26 large condominium buildings. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Special Agent Christopher Lorek, 41

Federal Bureau of Investigation

May 17, 2013 – Special Agent Christopher Lorek, a Hostage Rescue Team member out of Quantico, was killed during a counter-terrorism fast-roping training exercise from a helicopter. The chopper experienced trouble causing Agent Lorek to fall a great distance to the ocean off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Agent Lorek is survived by his wife and daughters.

Special Agent Stephen Shaw, 40

Federal Bureau of Investigation

May 17, 2013 – Special Agent Stephen Shaw, a Hostage Rescue Team member out of Quantico, was killed during a counter-terrorism fast-roping training exercise from a helicopter. The chopper experienced trouble causing Agent Shaw to fall a great distance to the ocean off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Agent Shaw is survived by his wife, 3-year-old daughter, and 1-year-old son.

*Top photo – Savannah-Chatham Metro PD

May 24, 2013/by Lee Lofland

I'm Just Saying

Crying Wolf To A Flock Of Sheeple: Conspiracy Theories

I’ve been wondering exactly when the big transformation took place. You know, when the police became the bad guys and the bad guys became heroes.

Apparently, the switch happened one night while I was in my bed sleeping. Never saw it coming. Totally unexpected. Yep, one minute we’re all truly appreciative of the police and the dangerous job they do, protecting us from the evils of the world, and the next minute thousands of people had been transformed into “sheeple,” believing and following whatever wacko conspiracy theory passes their way. Nope, never saw it coming. And the false flag conspiracy theories are definitely coming, one after another after another after another. And it doesn’t matter what happens in the world, the theorists have a way to tie it to the police, the government, to Obama, to Bush, to anyone and everyone except the people who actually did the deed. In their minds, the police are always, without fail, wrong, or guilty of some huge, elaborate cover-up scheme that even Tim Burton or Stephen King couldn’t dream up in their wildest dreams and nightmares.

The conspiracy theorists have even gone so far as to accuse the U.S. government of fabricating and unleashing the recent devastating tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. They’ve also accused the state of Connecticut of attempting to pass legislature that would cover up the real truth about the Sandy Hook shootings. Many have claimed the entire incident was backed by the U.S government as means to take away firearms from private citizens.

Then there were the Boston bombing suspects, the Tsarnaev brothers. These two terrorists killed and maimed hundreds of people, yet many people in the U.S. are saying they are innocent of the crimes, and that the elder brother was murdered by the police as an attempt to instill fear so they can take away guns and move the country toward a police state. A Facebook page dedicated to the younger brother states the two men were set up by the U.S government. They were paid actors who were to take part in a government-backed emergency drill. The site makes the claim that the two were given backpacks containing fake bombs, but were forced to flee the scene when the bombs detonated. The “free Jahar” site has over 8,000 followers. And let’s not forget the “he’s too pretty to be guilty” fans of the younger terrorist.

Law enforcement is also taking a big hit from the theorists. No matter the situation, the police are always at fault, with theorists accusing them of staging crime after crime in order to frame innocent people, or in some cases, murder innocent people.

Just yesterday, local, state, and federal officers were at a private home in Florida, conducting an interview with an associate of the elder Tsarneav brother, when the man, a mixed martial arts pro, attacked and stabbed one of the FBI agents. Officers then shot and killed the suspect. Well, the internet is buzzing off the scale today with all sorts of conspiracy theories and accusations about police misconduct. For example:

– police always shoot first and ask questions later

– no doubt the FBI agent lost his temper and killed the guy

– totally a set up. The FBI agent cut himself with a knife to give him an excuse to kill the man

– he knew too much about the government so they murdered him in cold blood

Well, the list is quite long, but most comments are similar in nature. Moving on to the next headline. Two men brutally attacked and butchered a British soldier in the streets of London yesterday. One of the men admitted to the murder on camera, while holding a large knife and meat cleaver in his bloody hands. Theorists have already claimed the British government was behind the attack.

The Aurora theater shootings – Yes, they claim the government was behind James Holmes’ shooting spree. Another attempt to take away guns from private citizens.

There’s just no end to the theories. And there’s no end to cop-bashing. In fact, it seemingly gets worse each day, with some media fueling the fires. Don’t believe it? Well, mosey on over to Alex Jones’ website, Infowars and you’ll get a big ole belly full of conspiracy theories.

I read a really nice article yesterday on the website Poe’s Deadly Daughters, where author Sandra Parshall discusses how writers may be contributing to the cop-bashing atmosphere. Parshall often writes thought-provoking articles and I think this is one of her best. Of course, I may be a bit biased since this one is about and sort of leans toward the defense of police officers.

In the article, the author talks about how many writers of various genres tend to portray the police as bumbling idiots, incompetent investigators, and law-breaking psychotic rebels who never follow rules. Parshall also correctly points out that writing cops in this fashion has become the norm across the board, which also makes the characters quite predictable, and predictable writing translates into a boring read. Readers are tiring of boring books written by authors who use the same tired cliche’s book after book after book, especially when many other writers are also using identical tired and predictable out of control cop characters and plots in their books.

The same can be said about claiming a conspiracy theory behind every single thing that happens in the world. We’ve almost reached the “boy who cried wolf” stage, where no one will believe anything, even when it’s the truth.

Next thing you know, the government will be claiming to have sent a man, or woman, to Mars. Yeah, right. We all know that whole moon walk thing took place in a Hollywood studio next to the grassy knoll set. Two buildings over from where the RFK and MLK assassinations were filmed.

May 23, 2013/by Lee Lofland

Police Procedure

Crime Scenes: The Do’s And Don’ts

“To Protect and Preserve.” Those are the words that should be on the mind of every officer who responds to the scene of a homicide. First responders have an immense responsibility. Not only do they have to assess the situation in a hurry—the victim may still be alive, etc.—, the possibility of the killer still being on scene is quite probable (the danger level is always extremely high). And, those officers must realize that the key to solving the case—evidence—must be protected. So, while facing the threat of personal harm and saving the life of others, patrol officers almost need to step through the scene as if walking on eggshells. That’s not asking too much of them, right?

Crime Scenes

* Crime scene and scene of the crime are not synonymous. A crime scene is anywhere evidence of a crime is found (a dumpster where a killer dumped the murder weapon, the killer’s home where he deposited his bloody clothes, where the body was found, etc.). Scene of the crime is the location where the actual crime took place (where the killer actually murdered his victim).

Keep in mind, there’s no set-in-stone method of investigating a murder, because no two scenes are identical. And, no two officers/detectives think exactly alike. However, there are certain things that must be done, and there are mistakes that must not me made. Here are a few of each.

The Do’s

1. First responders must proceed to the scene as quickly and safely as possible. Why? Possibly catch the bad guy and to prevent the destruction/removal of evidence. Also, the first responders must be extremely vigilant as they approach a scene, because they just might pass the killer as he makes his escape.

2. Quickly start the crime-solving wheels in motion by contacting the necessary parties, such as investigators, coroner, EMS, etc.

3. Arrest the suspect, if possible.

4. Document EVERYTHING.

5. Preserve and collect EVERYTHING and anything that looks like evidence.

6. Assume that EVERYTHING is potential evidence.

7. Secure the scene. Absolutely no one is allowed to enter who’s not a key person in the investigation. This includes the chief, sheriff, and mayor. Locard’s Principle, in short, states that everyone who enters a scene leaves something behind. Everyone who leaves a scene takes something away. You definitely do no want to contaminate the crime scene, unnecessarily. And you certainly don’t want trace evidence disappearing on the shoes of your sheriff, simply because it was election year and he wanted to see his name in the paper.

8. Treat every single suspicious death as a homicide until the investigation proves otherwise.

9. Keep an open mind. No tunnel vision!

10. Photograph, photograph, photograph! And then take more pictures just to be sure you’ve captured everything in the area.

11. Study the victims. Learn everything there is to know about them. Know them. Know what they ate, what they liked to do, where they liked to go, who they liked and disliked, who liked them and who hated them, etc. Uncover every single minute detail of their lives. The victim is often the single most important piece of evidence in the case.

12. Share information with members of your investigative team. Bounce thoughts and ideas around among the group. Talk to everyone involved—patrol officers on the scene, the coroner, other investigators, the crime scene techs, etc.

13. Look for clues at the scene (fingerprints, lights on or off, temperature of the room, glasses in the sink, footprints in the carpet, blood, etc.), but also look for things that aren’t there, too—car keys, cellphone, computer, etc. The killer may have these items in his possession, or he may have dropped them or sold them.

The Don’t’s

1. Do not assume anything. Sure, the call came in as a suicide, but that doesn’t mean that’s what actually happened. That’s merely what a witness told the dispatcher. And definitely do not assume there are no weapons present at the scene simply because that’s what your dispatcher told you. Again, he/she was given that information by someone at the scene who may or may not know…or may not want the police to know!

Never assume anything. For example, victims such as Chris P., above, found in burning buildings may have been murdered prior to the fire.

2. Do not assume the suspect has left the scene. Consider everyone there as a possible murderer until you learn differently. Be smart and safe.

3. Do not allow anyone to leave the area until you’ve interviewed them. Treat every single person as a possible witness. Sometimes people don’t realize they’ve seen an important detail until they’ve been questioned by police.

4. Failure to secure a scene. Family members have a tendency to get in the way. They feel the need to be a part of the picture. They want answers. And they will try their best to see what’s going on. They may even block exits and entrances in their attempts to reach deceased family members.

Be safe. Keep your emergency retreat routes clear!

Absolutely do not allow anyone inside the scene. This includes members of the police department if they’re not part of the investigation.

Everyone has a camera/video recorder these days. And they take photos and videos that will be published to social media sites. If at all possible, do not allow them close enough to the scene to take photos that could jeopardize the investigation.

5. Releasing information to the media—hold your cards close to your chest until you have an idea of what information can be released to the public. Remember, what you say will be on the evening news! I know this one all too well…unfortunately.

6. Don’t get a case of tunnel vision. Keep your mind open to everything, at first. Then as the case starts to come together, the focus of the investigation will narrow. A murder investigation works like pouring liquid into a funnel. First you dump all you’ve found into the large end. Then you keep pushing and pushing until finally the killer’s name pops out of the other, smaller end.

7. Failing to take enough notes and photographs. You only have one shot at this, so take more than you need while the scene is still intact. There are no do-overs.

8. Don’t take sloppy notes and/or keep sloppy records. Remember, everything you write down could eventually be seen in court. And that will be a reflection of how the investigation was conducted. Clean notes = a clean, tight investigation.

9. Don’t discuss a case where members of the general public have an opportunity to hear the conversation! Words are too easy to misunderstand and that can certainly come back to bite a detective in the…well, in a place where the sun doesn’t shine. Think about it…A trial witness says, “Yes, I heard the detective say…”

10. A case is not a suicide until the investigation proves it is. How many murderers have “gotten away with it” because of lazy officers? Sure, it’s easy to take a peek at a victim and assume suicide. But every case should warrant a closer look. You never know, especially if the circumstances are suspicious. And never discount that detective’s “gut feeling,” The investigator’s 6th sense.

11. Do not rush into a crime scene without first taking everything in. Take a moment to assess the area. Are there any dangers, including hidden ones, such as gas leaks, poisonous chemicals, A KILLER WITH A GUN!

No, you’re eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. The woman with the gun is THAT Marcia Clark

12. Don’t assume the victim is dead. Check for vital signs. You certainly don’t want him to lie there suffering while you stand around waiting for the coroner. A few seconds could mean the difference between life and death.

13. Don’t assume that the cooperative witness with the happy face is innocent. He/she could very well be the killer. Remember, things are not always as they seem.

May 21, 2013/by Lee Lofland

Uncategorized

ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan: Rockstar For A Day

A couple of weeks ago, I got to be a rockstar for a morning.

Well, sort of.

There were three of us wearing badges at the school, all of us there to represent our agency. It was a public relations morning—a chance to go out and wave the company flag, to smile and be Officer Friendly. We were there to talk to several classes of grade school students about police in general. There were three of us there. And as we walked down those halls I kind of felt like a rockstar.

As we passed rooms, little faces pressed against windows, pushing against each other as they clamored. Teachers called out for order and the furor died to a dull roar, but then a few of the adults poked their heads out of doors or from down the halls, waving and smiling at us. Like I said, I was feeling like a rockstar.

Most of the times when we “visit people” they’re not happy to see us. As the saying goes, “It’s all fun and games until the cops show up.” When the blue uniforms show up, most people know someone’s going to jail. And this is true with even kids. Countless times, I’ve been at a home on a search warrant and the whole family was seated on the couch watching as strange men and women in vests and carrying guns prowl through their belongings. The kids blame the cops for the intrusion, and they really blame the blue when one of their parents are taken away. You can see it on their faces. When I do my job, I know people aren’t going to be happy with me, and I come to expect anger from the people I investigate. You just let it roll off of you and do your job. But it’s always difficult to keep the “Joe Friday” game-face going when it’s a ten year old with tears in her eyes as you take her Daddy away.

So that morning a few weeks ago, when I got asked to help do a school presentation, I readily agreed. I figured the kids would be happy to see us…I just didn’t realize they would be so excited. Their excitement made me stand a little taller. Walking down the hallway, the three of us in a line, I could almost hear a booming rock anthem playing in my head, and I almost expected the three of us to start walking in slow motion like you see in a movie. The rockstar air kept up when we walked into the first classroom and the kids were all sitting looking at us with bright eyes, all smiles and whispering. For about a minute I did feel like a rockstar.

Of course, then a six year old pulled the rug out. The honesty of youngsters.

“Can we see the dog?”

That set off a flurry of squeals and shouted questions about the real star of the whole shebang, and put Shawn and me, the mere humans in our place.

They couldn’t have cared less about the two federal agents sporting guns and badges. They couldn’t have cared less about the two humans and the bag of equipment we carried. These girls and boys (and probably the adult teachers) were there for the star of the hour—Hope, an eight year old Black Labrador retriever. Hope is officially termed an Explosives Detection Canine or as most people call them—bomb dogs. Of course the kids were excited—they were excited by our four legged agent. The kids kept edging closer to the star, and every time the teachers kept having to shoo them back on the carpet. Finally, the kids all sat and listened to us mere humans talk about being federal agents and what we did. I think it was the teacher telling them if they weren’t quiet they couldn’t pet the dog. But finally, we had their attention.

Shawn and I trotted out bullet proof vests and helmets and radios and the kids were impressed. At least, I think they were. They listened politely as we talked about our jobs as ATF agents, and specifically what our Canine handlers like Shawn do.

They seemed impressed that Shawn and Hope had traveled all over the country to special events and had helped provide security for several presidents and visiting dignitaries. Of course, I think the kids were most impressed that Hope got paid for an explosives “find” with a dog biscuit. Shawn explained that his and Hope’s job were to check out suspicious packages, and Hope’s job was to tell him if there was explosives in the package.

Hope’s a passive indicator dog meaning, whenever she has a “find” she sits and looks towards her handler (I have to say every time I see this in action, regardless of the handler, it looks to me like the dog’s saying, “Hey dummy there’s stuff right here you wanted me to find, now feed me.”).

Hope searching for explosives

Hope quickly located the “package” and waits patiently for her handler and for her treat

Still, I think the kids really only paid attention because their teacher said if they didn’t they couldn’t pet Hope. The kids were duly impressed when Shawn and Hope demonstrated her search ability. The kids loved it when Hope found the “bomb” (really just a cardboard box with a package of Blackcat firecrackers) we had hidden at the start of the talk.

It’s great to be around little kids and their boundless enthusiasm for life and their imagination. And as they say, you never know what will come out of the mouths of babes. One little boy said he thought we must be spies and that we probably had grappling hooks to climb walls. I came to think that all of these kids have parents who are speed demons, because when asked what they thought cops did, most all of them said stop people from speeding.

After the talk, we let the kids don the helmets and bullet proof vests and try out our handheld radios. The kids had fun. Tons of smiles in the too big equipment on their little bodies.

But the most smiles were from the patient dog who endured countless hugs and small little hands tugging on her head.

A lot of the time cops measure their job success in activity—arrests or tickets or citations. Investigators keep tally of how many cases cleared, narcs keep it in how much money and dope they seize, and those are all used for yearly reports and evaluations. Chiefs and Sheriffs keep track of crime rates and crime statistics, whether crime’s going up or going down. Now all of those things are important. But that morning I got to be a part of something just as important. That morning, I got to see the smile of a child.

And I got to be a rockstar for a morning.

Sort of.

* * *

Rick McMahan has been a federal Special Agent for over two decades. For the past 14 years, Rick’s worked as a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). He’s been an on the job trainer for new agents as well as a firearms instructor. Prior to working for ATF, Rick was a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations for 6 years. Rick works in central and southeast Kentucky. In his career, Rick’s investigated Outlaw Motorcycle gangs, militia extremists, and murder for hire conspiracies along with other criminal schemes. In his spare time, Rick writes and has had his short stories selected, not once, but twice for Mystery Writers of America Anthologies (DEATH DO US PART edited by Harlan Coben and VENGEANCE edited by Lee Child). His writing has appeared in numerous publications, including MYSTERY SCENE and CRIMESPREE mystery magazine.

May 20, 2013/by Lee Lofland

Weekend Road Trip

Paradise In North Carolina

North Carolina’s Outer Banks, a long stretch of barrier islands, is not only beautiful, serene, and a fantastic vacation destination, it’s also the spot—Kill Devil Hills—where the Wright brothers first took to the air.

Of particular interest to writers and Nicholas Sparks fans, Rodanthe (Nights in Rodanthe) is a town on the Outer Banks. In fact, portions of the film adaptation of Sparks’ book were filmed in Rodanthe.

Our first stop on the islands is Jockey’s Ridge (above photo), the tallest sand dune in the eastern United States. The height of the dunes vary from 80 to 120 feet depending upon the weather and winds.

Jockey’s Ridge is located in Nags Head, N.C., home of world-record fishing, shipwreck remains, and the pirate, Blackbeard.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in the country. Standing at 208 feet tall, it’s also the tallest brick lighthouse. The light’s beacon can be seen from 20 miles out to sea, warning sailors of the dangerous Diamond Shoals off the coast of Hatteras.

The waters off Cape Hatteras are so dangerous to passing ships, the area is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

In 1999, the 6,250 ton Hatteras Lighthouse was moved further inland due to an ever-eroding shoreline. A circle of stones marks the lighthouse’s orignal site. In the photo above, the lighthouse can be seen in it’s new location. By the way, Cape Hatteras is the nearest point of land to Bermuda (563 miles as the pelican flies).

Names of former lighthouse keepers are engraved in each stone in the circle.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla, N.C. was first lit on December 1, 1875. It remains unpainted to distinguish it between the two nearby black-and-white-striped lighthouses.