Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

 

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

Sergeant Corey Wride

Utah County Utah Sheriff’s Office

January 30, 2014 – Sgt. Corey Wilde was shot and killed by ambush when he stopped to check what appeared to be an abandoned vehicle. Sgt. Wride was still seated in his patrol car when a suspect opened fire. The shooter then fled and later engaged in a shootout with other deputies, wounding one in the head. The suspect managed to escape after carjacking a vehicle, but was critically wounded by Juab County Utah deputies during yet another gun battle.

Sgt. Wride leaves behind his wife and five children.

Sergeant David Baldwin

Jefferson County Colorado Sheriff’s Office

January 26, 2014 – Sgt. David Baldwin was killed when his police motorcycle was hit head-on by a driver illegally passing a car on a double yellow line.

Sgt. Baldwin was a 27-year veteran of the sheriff’s office. He was also a U.S. Air Force veteran.

/by

Guilty, Or Not?: Skip The Polygraph and Reach For The Ice Cream

Guilty or not

 

Nearly two decades have passed since I watched serial killer Timothy Spencer, The Southside Strangler, die in the electric chair. I knew the details of the case, including that Spencer had been released from prison after serving three years on a ten year sentence for burglary. His release from prison, however, was conditional. He was to live in a state-run halfway house for a predetermined amount of time. The year was 1984. DNA testing was not yet available to law enforcement.

Spencer was allowed to “check out” of the halfway house on weekends. I assume he, like others serving part of their sentences in halfway houses, was allowed to go out to work or search for employment, attend religious services and AA and NA meetings, see a doctor or dentist, shop for clothing, and leave the halfway house on weekends.

During Spencer’s weekends away from the halfway house is when he added other, unauthorized, stops to his schedule. During an eleven week span Spencer visited quiet suburban neighborhoods where broke into the homes of four women. In each of the break-ins, he attacked the women, bound their hands, and then brutally raped and killed them. His murder weapon in three of the four cases was a cleverly designed ligature that tightened more and more as the victim struggled. Detectives weren’t able to locate a single shred of discernible evidence at either of the crime scenes, but they collected any and everything they thought might help locate the killer, including samples of the murderer’s semen.

Finally, a relentless investigator named Joe Horgas heard that British police had identified a killer through DNA matches of blood and semen. Horgas then contacted a lab that specialized in DNA testing and they agreed to help. Horgas soon received the news he’d been hoping to hear—Spencer’s DNA matched the semen samples collected by detectives. Spencer was then arrested, tried, and convicted. It was four years after the first rape and murder.

Timothy Spencer was the first killer in the U.S. sentenced to die based on DNA evidence. I watched him die, and believe me, death by electrocution is far from being a passive exit from this world. A man moaning and breathing hard during lethal injection has nothing on those who’ve ridden Old Sparky on the journey to wherever it is they go after all is said and done. But it is what it is.

Now, back to Spencer and his last day alive on this planet. I mentioned earlier that he showed no signs of remorse, and that he’d offered no final words. But, as years have passed, I’ve often wondered (who knows why) what Spencer had selected as his final meal. I’ve never found out, but here’s why I mentioned it.

Recently, a Cornell University study has concluded that a condemned person’s last meal selection can actually shed a little light as to his/her true guilt or innocence.

For example, researcher Kevin Kniffin, found that inmates who perceive themselves as innocent likely request a meal of fewer calories, or they decline to receive a last meal altogether (Kniffin’s study included the last meals of 247 people who were executed in the United States between 2002 and 2006).

Further, inmates who claimed innocence were 2.7 times more likely to decline a last meal than those who admitted guilt.

Interestingly, Kniffin’s research concluded that those who readily admitted guilty requested 34% more calories and were more likely to request brand name food items.

For example, those who denied guilt requested meals containing approximately 2,000 calories, and that’s if they chose to eat a final meal at all. Death row prisoners who admitted their guilt requested a last supper of approximately 2,800 calories. Those who remained silent, neither confessing guilt or sticking to a claim of “I didn’t do it,” asked for a meal of approximately 2,100 calories.

So, you be the judge. Guilty or Innocent?

1. John Wayne Gacy – 12 fried shrimp, a bucket of original recipe KFC, french fries, and a pound of strawberries.

2. Ted Bundy – steak (medium rare), eggs (over easy), hash browns, toast with butter and jelly, milk and juice.

3. Victor Feguer – a single unpitted olive presented on a ceramic plate and accompanied with a knife and fork.

4. Timothy McVeigh – two pints of mint and chocolate chip ice cream

*By the way, Patricia Cornwell’s first book was based on Spencer’s case.

 

/by

They Will Survive: Thou Shalt Not Cry During Police Academy Training

They will survive

Years ago, back when I had a full head of hair and my chest hadn’t fallen to my waistline, I was in pretty good shape, physically. I could run for miles, do pushups until the cows came home (whatever that means), and I could bench press just under 400 pounds. I was heavily into Aikido and Chin-Na and even had my own school where I taught and trained.

Actually, I trained really hard, almost obsessively, because I wanted to be able to handle myself when criminal suspects decided to try and fight their way to freedom. The good guys should always win, right?

Indeed, that was my message to the officers who participated in the various classes I taught at the police academy—I WILL SURVIVE. I wanted those three words to come to mind no matter how dire the situation.

It’s a mental thing, and believing you will make it through a situation is often the key to coming out on top. If an officer gives up and abandons the will to live, then he/she could easily succumb to wounds/injuries.

So, before we move on, let’s all say it together. I. WILL. SURVIVE.

Remember those three words, always.

After instilling the notion that cops absolutely must come out on top in any physical battle, my next challenge was to give officers the tools/training/techniques and tactics they needed to achieve that goal. Sometimes, though, the challenge was a bit more “challenging” than others.

My primary areas of expertise were defensive tactics and officer survival. I was the instructor who taught the techniques and tactics used by officers when bad guys needed a bit of gentle persuasion to wear a shiny set of Peerless bracelets, or to take a nice leisurely ride to the sheriff’s concrete hotel.

The first day of Hell Week, as our class was often called, was always a real treat for instructors. Have you ever watched any of the Police Academy movies? Well, a very similar group of rookies is normally what I faced at each academy.

Standing before me, the recruits usually ranged from the tall, uncoordinated and Frankensteinish, to the tiny, mouse-like and bookwormish. Then there were the Tackleberry’s, the gung ho recruits who couldn’t wait to “shoot ’em all and save the world.” And I’d be remiss if I omitted the “I know everything’s”. The “you can’t teach me anything’s”. The cocky “I’m a karate expert and I trained with Bruce Lee or one of the Gracie’s (why do almost all wannabe martial arts experts claim to have trained with one of Royce Gracie’s cousins, nephews, sisters, or a third cousin on his mama’s daddy’s brother’s side of the family? Never fails. Oh, and let’s not leave out the new cop-soon-to-be’s who don’t believe in using any kind of force on anyone, for any reason.

Sure, Junior, politely asking a murdering psychotic, drugged-up behemoth with I Kill Cops tattooed in human blood across his forehead, to please have a seat in your patrol car, will certainly work every time. No need for handcuffs or the cage. And while you’re at it, why not bat your eyelashes while asking him to pretty please put the bloody knife back into his pocket next to his pistol and adorable homemade pipe bomb.

And, finally, there’s normally one recruit who cries real tears when they feel the first bit of pain when learning…duh…pain-compliance techniques.

Rule number one – Thou shalt not cry during police training. Save the tears for puppies, babies, and slicing and dicing onions.

To kick things off, the first order of business was to determine how the group measured up as far as their level of physical fitness, starting with the basics—a few pushups, sit-ups, stretches, etc. And, their first one-mile run (by the end of the week they WILL run five miles).

Okay, that was a waste of time. The city was surely doomed. When this bunch of pukers, criers, and overweight video-gamers finally hit the streets the bad guys would have a field day.

The majority of the rookies barely made it across the parking lot to start the run, sweating like two-bit diner hot dogs under a warming lamp, and huffing and puffing and wheezing and sounding like a cat coughing up a two-pound hairball. But they would survive. I was determined they would. Besides, if they didn’t survive Hell Week, I’d kill them.

But survive they did. Sure, one or two couldn’t measure up and they’d drop out or we’d dismiss them from the academy, but most made it through just fine. And on the last day, after the five mile run, no one threw up, no one cried, and everyone looked pretty darn good.

And, just for good luck, I had them drop and give me twenty push-ups before sending them out to the streets with their training officers.

When all was said and done, I and the other academy instructors had given the recruits everything they needed to survive. It was up to them to use it.

If nothing else, I hoped they’d remember those three words – I WILL SURVIVE.

After all, those three simple words can make the difference between going home, or not.

 

/by

What Do Handcuffs And An Anniversary Have In Common?

What do handcuffs and an anniversary

Six years ago today I posted the very first article on The Graveyard Shift. My book on police procedure had been out for a few months and was, to my surprise, doing extremely well. So, I thought a blog about cops and robbers might be of some interest to a few people, and maybe even a nice compliment to the book.

The first article was quite simple, actually. In response to a writer’s question about handcuffs, I posted a picture of two pairs of restraints along with a brief description of each. Believe me, I had no clue what I was doing. But I managed to get the information out to a whopping sixty-eight people that day, and I was very pleased with the overwhelming response to my first attempt at blogging.

Today, well over 3 million individual people have visited The Graveyard Shift, and I’ve long ago stopped counting how many clicks come to the site and its archives. People from all walks of life visit, including writers (of course) readers, doctors, lawyers, police officers, teachers, directors, producers, actors, screenwriters, showrunners, school children (they use the site as research for class projects) prison officials and inmates, and, well, you get the idea. A whole lot of people visit this site.

After writing and posting articles to this blog everyday for six years, without fail, including while I was in the hospital for surgery and a subsequent MRSA infection that resulted in the infectious disease doctor telling my wife and me that I needed to get my affairs in order because I would not survive (whew! talk about a run-on sentence…), I decided the blog wasn’t enough. Writers needed to see this stuff in person. They needed to touch and smell and hear all things cops, firefighting, and EMS. So, along comes the Writers’ Police Academy.

Now in it’s 5th year at the Guilford Technical Community College Public Safety Department (police, fire, and EMS academy), the WPA is a phenomenal event. Our first year at GTCC, we had a little over 100 recruits (attendees), and I was sweating bullets up until the day of the event, hoping we had enough people to break even and still have a little bit of cash left to donate to the criminal justice academy. We squeaked by by the skin of a single tooth.

To date, we’ve donated slightly under $50,000 to the foundation, with more on the way this year!

Yesterday was the opening of the 2014 WPA registration, and the response was totally out of this world. The event sold out in less than thirteen hours! And when I say sold out, we’re talking well over double the number of attendees we saw five years ago.

The WPA is now a huge event that takes place in several buildings and covers a pretty large piece of real estate. It’s a massive event that’s like no other on this planet.

Anyway, back to the blog. As I said, today marks the sixth anniversary and the following is the very brief article that started the ball rolling. We’ve certainly come a long way together since this post first appeared.

By the way, I cannot begin to thank you for all the support you’ve provided all these years. Here’s to at least six more…

Handcuffs

handcuffs.jpg

Each day I receive many interesting questions and comments about police procedure, CSI, and forensics. So I thought it would be fun to share my answers and experience on a Q&A blog. I welcome your questions and comments.

Question: Do all cops use the same type of handcuffs?

The two main types of handcuffs used by law enforcement are pictured above. The top image is of a pair of chain-link handcuffs. Most police officers prefer to carry and use chain-linked cuffs because the chain between the bracelets swivels, making the cuffs flexible and easier to apply to the wrists of combative suspects.

The lower image is of a pair of hinged cuffs. These are more commonly used when transporting prison or jail inmates. Hinged cuffs are not flexible (the hinge between the two bracelets does not swivel) which greatly reduces wrist and hand movement. This type of cuff is sometimes difficult to apply to the wrists during a scuffle.

Both style cuffs operate using a ratchet and pawl locking system. Both are equipped with a second lock (double-locking) to prevent any further tightening of the ratchet which can injure the wrists of the cuffed suspect.  The second lock also prevents prisoners from picking the lock.

/by

2014 Writers’ Police Academy Schedule of Events

2014 WPA

 

It’s finally here! Tomorrow at 12 noon (est) registration for the 2014 Writers’ Police Academy officially opens. We do expect a flurry of activity so please be patient. If you cannot get through at first please try again (and again, if necessary). The registration system is totally automated and we’ve tested it numerous times. It has worked perfectly each time. However, should a problem occur we’ll all be standing by to assist, if needed.

Once you have successfully made it to the registration page, please, please please read and make your selections wisely and carefully. There are special sessions that require sign-ups on the registration form. Once these sessions are full, that’s it. We cannot add additional slots.

Should the event sell out tomorrow, we’ll soon post details about a waiting list.

So, until tomorrow, here’s a look at what you can expect this year. As always, we’ll be adding to the list throughout the coming months.

*Don’t forget, Sisters in Crime has once again offered to pay over half of their members’ registration fees! Not a member? No problem. Everyone is invited to join the group to receive the generous discount.

 

THURSDAY, September 4, 2014

 

3:00 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.

2014 WPA Registration Officially Opens – Hotel lobby (follow the signs to the right of the lobby entrance)

*Name tags are required for admission to sessions and workshops.

 

5:30

Ride-along and jail tour orientation – Hotel (rm TBA)

 

6:00

Ride-a-long with on-duty patrol officers – Lottery

Jail Tours – Lottery

Airplane Demonstration – Details TBA – (Attendance is by sign-up at registration – first come, first serve)

 

7:00

WPA Orientation and Announcements – It is important that you attend this session, if at all possible, so you’ll have a better understanding of what to expect throughout this fast-paced and exciting weekend. Those of you participating in the ride-alongs, jail tours, and the visit to the airport for the police airplane demo need not worry about missing information. Simply hop on one of the buses on Friday morning and follow the crowd when you arrive at the police academy.

By the way, this session is a lot of fun, so please do bring your sense of humor!

 

7:30

Investigation of Felony Murder – Have you got what it takes to investigate an entire criminal case, from start to finish? Well, this intensive, hands-on workshop will definitely test your investigative abilities. Details TBA ~ Instructor Andy Russell

Part 1: Case Assignment/Briefing – Team one and team two

Participation is by sign-up at registration – first come, first serve.

*Team one is comprised of the first 20 people to sign up. Team two is the next 20 to sign up. 40 total participants

 

FRIDAY

7:30 A.M.

Buses depart from hotel. Please be seated on the buses and ready to go PRIOR to departure time. The WPA schedule is extremely tight and doesn’t allow room to wait for slowpokes, and there are no shuttles running to the academy. Buses depart at precisely 0730.

 

8:00 – 9:00    

Our first surprise. Have your cameras ready, but absolutely NO VIDEOS AT ANY TIME DURING THIS EVENT!

Instructor Joe Yow and staff

 

9:15

Meggitt (FATS) – live action shoot/don’t shoot scenarios, using real firearms specially tooled for simulation training. This is the same training taught to police officers. Meggitt is intense, but it’s extremely fun. One of the more popular workshops of the WPA.

Driving Simulator – You’ll see how well you can drive an emergency vehicle when the full lights and siren are activated.

EMS ride-a-longs – Take a ride in a real, working ambulance. Ride in the jump seat and see what it’s like with a patient in the back.

Registration for late arrivals – Academy lobby (name tags are required for admission to sessions and workshops)

 

9:15-1030

1. Domestic Murder ~ Instructor Tracy Fulk

2. Cyber Crime: A look at Cybercrime and how it affects our daily lives, even if we think we are not victims. Statistics, government and private industry response. ~ Instructor Jeff Flinchum

3. Disposing of the Dead Body ~ Instructor Bill Lanning

4. Crime Scene Processing/Evidence Packaging ~ TBA

5. Romance Behind the Badge: Infidelity, cops and cops, cops and nurses, badge bunnies, waffle queens, spouses, divorce, dating, chick magnets, female cops looking for love, LGBT, romance and the ticket. ~ Instructor Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

6. Deep Undercover: Former ATF Special Agent Bill Queen discusses how he, while working undercover, spent over two years as a member of one of the most dangerous motorcycle gangs in America.

7. 3rd Alarm Blaze: Assume the role as a firefighter by wearing the protective clothing, feel the force of a water-charged hose line, and participate in a hands-on session where you handle the fire-fighting equipment carried on a fire apparatus. Professional firefighters will be available to explain the complexity and technical aspects of the profession. ~ Instructor David Bullins

8. Firearms 101 ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

9. Why Good Cops Go Bad: An inside look at cop culture

Investigation of Felony Murder Part 2: The Scene (Team one) – Instructor Andy Russell

 

10:45 – 12:00 noon

1. Prostitution Sting ~ Instructor Emily Mitchum

2. Women In Law Enforcement ~ Instructor Sgt. Katherine Netter

3. Cyber Crime: A look at Cybercrime and how it affects our daily lives, even if we think we are not victims. Statistics, government and private industry response. ~ Instructor Jeff Flinchum

4. Fingerprinting and the AFIS System ~ Instructor Amy Wilde

5. Romance Behind the Badge: Infidelity, cops and cops, cops and nurses, badge bunnies, waffle queens, spouses, divorce, dating, chick magnets, female cops looking for love, LGBT, romance and the ticket. ~ Instructor Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

6. Footwear: The most overlooked evidence ~ Instructor Robert Skiff, Sirchie Training Manager

7. Microbial Forensics: Using microorganisms as weapons ~ Dr. Denene Lofland

8. Deep Undercover: Former ATF Special Agent Bill Queen discusses how he, while working undercover, spent over two years as a member of one of the most dangerous motorcycle gangs in America.

9. 3rd Alarm Blaze: Assume the role as a firefighter by wearing the protective clothing, feel the force of a water-charged hose line, and participate in a hands-on session where you handle the fire-fighting equipment carried on a fire apparatus. Professional firefighters will be available to explain the complexity and technical aspects of the profession. ~ Instructor David Bullins

Investigation of Felony Murder Part 2: The Scene (Team 2) ~ Instructor Andy Russell

 

Lunch 12:00-1:00

 

1:00-2:15

1. Domestic Murder – Instructor Tracy Fulk

2. Prostitution Sting – Instructor Emily Mitchum

3. TSA/Airport Security – Instructor Mike Macintosh

4. Fingerprinting and the AFIS System – Instructor Amy Wilde

5. Footwear: The most overlooked evidence ~ Instructor Robert Skiff, Sirchie Training Manager

6. Microbial Forensics: Using microorganisms as weapons ~ Dr. Denene Lofland

7. Researching Exotic Crimes: Crime writers are always looking for unique situations and motivations. This seminar covers unnerving perversions and paraphilias, and discusses how to find sources and interview “unusual” people. ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

8. Why Good Cops Go Bad: An inside look at cop culture

9. Memoirs of An Undercover Detective: Retired NYPD Detective Marco Conelli sheds his masks to reveal crime solving techniques and survival in the organized crime control bureau. Marco goes undercover in delivering the facts to help your novel…with attitude to spare.

Investigation of Felony Murder Part 3: Developing the Case/Interviews (Team One) ~ Instructor Andy Russell

 

2:30 – 3:45

1. Aerial Surveillance – Instructor Capt. Randy Sheppard

2. Women In Law Enforcement – Instructor Sgt. Katherine Netter

3. TSA/Airport Security – Instructor Mike Macintosh

4. Firearms 101 ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

5. Researching Exotic Crimes: Crime writers are always looking for unique situations and motivations. This seminar covers unnerving perversions and paraphilias, and discusses how to find sources and interview “unusual” people. ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

6. Broken Bones, Ballistics & Backdrafts: Technical Stuff That Writers Get Wrong – Fiction readers are getting more sophisticated all the time, and it’s a writer’s job to get the details correct. New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap brings his thirty years of experience as a firefighter, EMT, safety engineer and hazardous materials specialist to the classroom in a lively, interactive session to teach the basics of projectile ballistics, fire behavior, how explosives work, and what makes hazmats hazardous. What actually happens when a person gets shot or stabbed? Do silencers really work? What’s the difference between a fire, a deflagration and a detonation? These and many other questions will be answered. Note: This presentation contains graphic imagery. ~ John Gilstrap

7. Policing “Back in the Day:”  What if your book takes place a few decades ago, or, more likely, what if your work involves flashbacks or cold case scenarios? Laws, procedure, and equipment have changed drastically over the years. Don’t be caught inserting or eliminating that one minor detail that tears the authenticity right from the pages of your story ~ Lt. David Swords

8. Firearms Forensics: How and why bullets do what they do ~ Instructor Dave Pauly

Investigation of Felony Murder Part 3: Developing the Case/Interviews (Team Two) – Instructor Andy Russell

 

4:00- AT Auditorium

Lisa Gardner – From Fact to Fiction:  How to Turn Chilling Research into a Thrilling Novel

 

5:35

Buses depart for hotel

 

6:30 – 7:00

Cash bar

 

7:00 – 8:30

Reception at Marriott Hotel – Sponsored by Sisters in Crime National

 

9:00

Crime Scene Light Sources – Marriott Hotel parking lot

Instructors Andy Russell and Bill Lanning

 

Saturday, September 6, 2014

7:30

Buses depart from hotel. Please be seated on the buses and ready to go PRIOR to departure time. The WPA schedule is extremely tight and doesn’t allow room to wait for slowpokes. We cannot wait for anyone, and there are no shuttles running to the academy.

 

8:00 – 8:30

TBA

 

8:45

Meggitt (formerly FATS)

Driving Simulator

EMS ride-a-longs

 

8:45-10:00

1. Suspicious Fire Deaths – Instructor Jerry Coble

2. Building Searches – Instructor Capt. Randy Sheppard

3. Disposing of the Dead Body – Instructor Bill Lanning

4. K9 Demonstration – Details TBA

5. Police Gunfighting ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

6. Murder Typology: Varieties of Multiple Murder –  Sort out the confusion over how to decide what makes a multiple killer into a serial, spree, or mass murderer, focusing on methods, motives, and state of mind. ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

7. Special Ops – What Are They Good For?: K9, water/dive, SWAT, bike patrol, and more

Investigation of Felony Murder Part 4: Dealing with Suspects/Interrogations (Team one) – Instructor Andy Russell

 

10:15 – 11:30

1. Self Defense For Women – Instructor Cpl. Dee Jackson

2. The First Five Minutes of a Code Blue – Instructor Joe Yow

3. Crime Scene Processing/Evidence Packaging – Instructor TBA

4. K9 Demonstration – Details TBA

5. Real Cops for Real Writers: The Psychology of Cops ~ Instructor Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

6. Presumptive Blood Testing ~ Instructor Robert Skiff, Sirchie Training Manager

7. Broken Bones, Ballistics & Backdrafts: Technical Stuff That Writers Get Wrong – Fiction readers are getting more sophisticated all the time, and it’s a writer’s job to get the details correct. New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap brings his thirty years of experience as a firefighter, EMT, safety engineer and hazardous materials specialist to the classroom in a lively, interactive session to teach the basics of projectile ballistics, fire behavior, how explosives work, and what makes hazmats hazardous. What actually happens when a person gets shot or stabbed? Do silencers really work? What’s the difference between a fire, a deflagration and a detonation? These and many other questions will be answered. Note: This presentation contains graphic imagery. ~ John Gilstrap

8. Equivocal Death Investigations: Manners, Causes and Mechanisms ~ Dave Pauly and Dr. Katherine Ramsland

Investigation of Felony Murder Part 4: Dealing with Suspects/Interrogations (Team Two) – Instructor Andy Russell

 

Lunch 11:30 – 12:45

 

12:45 – 2:00

1. Suspicious Fire Deaths – Instructor Jerry Coble

2. Underwater Evidence Recovery – Instructor Lieutenant Cameron Piner

3. Self Defense For Women – Instructor Dee Jackson

4. The First Five Minutes of a Code Blue – Instructor Joe Yow

5. Real Cops for Real Writers: The Psychology of Cops ~ Instructor Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

6. Presumptive Blood Testing ~ Instructor Robert Skiff, Sirchie Training Manager

7. Murder Typology: Varieties of Multiple Murder –  Sort out the confusion over how to decide what makes a multiple killer into a serial, spree, or mass murderer, focusing on methods, motives, and state of mind. ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

8. Memoirs of An Undercover Detective: Retired NYPD Detective Marco Conelli sheds his masks to reveal crime solving techniques and survival in the organized crime control bureau. Marco goes undercover in delivering the facts to help your novel…with attitude to spare.

Investigation of Felony Murder Part 5: Developing the Prosecution Summary (Team One) – Instructor Andy Russell

 

2:15 – 3:30

1. Underwater Evidence Recovery – Instructor Lieutenant Cameron Piner

2. Building Searches – Instructor Capt. Randy Sheppard

3. Medical Examiner – Details TBA – Instructor Jacque Perkins

4. EMS and Crime Scene – Instructor Joe Yow

5. Police Gunfighting ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

6. Cold Cases: Hits and Misses ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland, Dave Pauly, and Robert Skiff

7. Special Ops – What Are They Good For?: K9, water/dive, SWAT, bike patrol, and more

8. Policing “Back in the Day:”  What if your book takes place a few decades ago, or, more likely, what if your work involves flashbacks or cold case scenarios? Laws, procedure, and equipment have changed drastically over the years. Don’t be caught inserting or eliminating that one minor detail that tears the authenticity right from the pages of your story ~ Lt. David Swords

Investigation of Felony Murder Part 5: Developing the Prosecution Summary (Team Two) – Instructor Andy Russell

 

4:00 – AT Auditorium

Alafair Burke – Topic TBA

 

5:35

Buses depart for hotel

 

6:30

Book store opens

 

6:30

Cash bar

 

7:00 – 8:30

Banquet, awards, silent auction and raffle, and announcements. You must present your ticket to enter the banquet room

 

8:30

An evening with Michael Connelly

 

*Book signings with featured guests and presenters immediately after the conclusion of banquet activities

 

Sunday, September 7, 2014

9:00

Investigation of Felony Murder Part 6: Court Presentation

Team One and Team Two ~ Instructor Andy Russell

Judge and Prosecutor TBA

 

10:00 – Noon

Debriefing panel – All Available Instructors

The debriefing panel has often been described as the best session of the entire event. It’s where you have the opportunity to address the panel of experts, asking questions pertaining to your work in progress, about police officers, detectives, sheriffs, police chiefs, crooks, thugs, thieves, and well, pretty much anything related to the world of cops and robbers.

You’ll definitely want to bring your sense of humor and a tissue or two. You’ll need both.

 

12:00 Noon

2014 WPA staff officially signs 10-42, off duty

 

* The WPA schedule remains a work-in-progress until just a few weeks prior to the event. Even then it’s subject to change due to the unpredictable nature of law enforcement. Should an emergency occur that affects the schedule/program, we will do everything we can to substitute another equally exciting workshop(s). Check back to view changes to the schedule, if any. We often add new workshops as they become available.

Session room numbers will be available a bit closer to the event.

/by

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

 

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

Agent Carlos Rivera-Vega, 32

Puerto Rico Police Department

January 21, 2014 – Agent Carlos Rivera-Vega succumbed to gunshots wounds he received while conducting an investigation.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

Detective Sergeant Tom Smith, 42

Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Department – California

January 21, 2014 – Detective Sergeant Tommy Smith was accidentally shot and killed by another officer after making a forced entry into an apartment. The two detectives were at the residence to serve a search warrant for stolen property and to conduct a probation check. Smith was wearing his vest at the time of the shooting. However, the round struck an area of his chest not covered by the protective gear.

Detective Smith is survived by his wife, also an officer with the department, and their six-year-old daughter.

/by

Concealed Carry: What’s In Your Underwear?

Concealed carry: underwear

Are you having trouble concealing your handguns? Ladies, do you worry that tucking a .45 semi-auto into your unmentionables would leave a serious panty-line? How about it fellows? The elastic in those boxers not strong enough to support your weapon?

Indeed, both of the aforementioned potentially embarrassing problems are serious concerns. After all, there’s nothing worse than slipping on that curve-hugging, made-for-the-Golden-Globes Tom Ford dress only to discover the clear outline of your favorite smooth bore shot-firing pistol.

Well, your mind can now rest easy. Here are a few solutions to insomnia-inducing concealed-carry woes.

First up, is a company called UnderTech Undercover, a firm that manufactures undergarments and other wearing apparel designed especially for the fashion-conscious gun-toter.

Take a peek at UnderTech’s website to view what might prompt you to purchase a new addition to your wardrobe.

http://www.undertechundercover.com/index.php

Next up is the belt buckle gun.

Then there’s a wide assortment of pocket holsters that are tailor-made to fit a variety of tiny handguns. Yes, they’re specially made to fit the pockets of pants or any other clothing hidey-holes.

Above photos – ATF

Here’s a short video about the pocket holster.

Of course, there’s always the briefcase gun and that always popular leather clutch (purse) that features a spot for lipstick and another for your favorite pistol.

*By the way, the pun near the top of the article was a product of my wacky sense of humor.

*     *     *

Registration for the 2014 Writers Police Academy is scheduled to open at 12:00 noon on Sunday, January 26th. That’s this Sunday.

Also, the schedule has been posted on the WPA website. Remember, though, the schedule is a “schedule-in-progress,” meaning parts of it could change, as well as workshops being added throughout the coming months leading up to the event. So please check it often.

See you in September!

 

 

/by

A Preview of the 2014 WPA Workshops

Writers' Police Academy

 

Curious about the 2014 WPA workshops? Here’s a very small preview of what you can expect…

1. Cyber Crime

2. Disposing of the Dead Body

3. Deep Undercover

4. Microbial Forensics: Using microorganisms as weapons

5. TSA/Airport Security

6. Researching Exotic Crimes

7. Equivocal Death Investigations

8. Special Ops – What Are They Good For?

9. Aerial Surveillance

10. I’m extremely pleased to announce that New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap is joining us this year as one of our special guest speakers.

Broken Bones, Ballistics & Backdrafts: Technical Stuff That Writers Get Wrong – Fiction readers are getting more sophisticated all the time, and it’s a writer’s job to get the details correct. New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap brings his thirty years of experience as a firefighter, EMT, safety engineer and hazardous materials specialist to the classroom in a lively, interactive session to teach the basics of projectile ballistics, fire behavior, how explosives work, and what makes hazmats hazardous. What actually happens when a person gets shot or stabbed? Do silencers really work? What’s the difference between a fire, a deflagration and a detonation? These and many other questions will be answered. Note: This presentation contains graphic imagery.

John Gilstrap is the New York Times bestselling author of End Game, High Treason, Damage Control, Threat Warning, Hostage Zero, No Mercy, Nathan’s Run, At All Costs, Even Steven, Scott Free and Six Minutes to Freedom. In addition, John has written four screenplays for Hollywood, adapting the works of Nelson DeMille, Norman McLean and Thomas Harris. Most recently, he has signed two movie deals for his books. He will write and co-produce the film adaptation of his book, Six Minutes to Freedom, and executive produce the film adaptation of Scott Free.

A frequent speaker at literary events, John also teaches seminars on suspense writing techniques at a wide variety of venues, from local libraries to The Smithsonian Institution. Outside of his writing life, John is a renowned safety expert with extensive knowledge of explosives, hazardous materials, and fire behavior. He currently works as the director of safety for a large trade association in Washington, DC. John lives in Fairfax, VA.

 

*We will make an announcement tonight regarding the day and time when registration officially opens.

 

/by

Castle: Limelight – A Good Cop/Bad Cop Review

Castle: Limelight

 

Do you have regrets about a decision you made in the past? If you had the opportunity for a “do-over,” would you change the path you traveled as a result of your bad decision? Well, that was the theme of this week’s episode of Castle—fixing bad choices.

While it was an interesting concept, the show was not exactly a smash hit. Of course, it followed a couple of really strong episodes, therefore, the bar was set pretty high. Unfortunately, this one never reached the level of those preceding it. Remember, though, my eyes are focused on the investigation of the criminal case and how Beckett and crew tackle it.

So let’s see if I’m totally barking up the wrong tree. Melanie usually sets me straight when it comes to the “other” aspects of the show—the romance and all things “mushy.”

Melanie…

Melanie Atkins

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this episode of Castle as much as I did the last two. The show was case heavy, with a Miley Cyrus vs. the paparazzi-like plotline, and I found it to be dull and not “Becket-flavored” enough to hold my interest. Two personal plot points woven in did grab my attention, however. I only wish the show had focused more on them than on the lame case.

Point number one:  Kate put her and Rick’s engagement announcement in the paper after stories on page six suggested he was getting back together with Gina, ex-wife number two. This surprised me. Kate is a very private person, and she’s resisted stepping into the limelight ever since Rick first set foot in the precinct. Yay for her! This cements her commitment to their marriage, proving to Rick once and for all that she’s ready. His publicity person probably wasn’t too thrilled, but who cares? Their engagement is up front on page six.

Point number two: Alexis kicked Pi to the curb. At least, we were led to believe that was the case. We didn’t get to see it on screen, and that irked me. Why the writer and director chose to focus on the case is beyond me. I would much rather have watched Alexis telling Pi to take a hike than to have listened to that quasi-celebrity whine about her screwed up life.

What about you? Did you like this episode? All of them can’t be stellar, of course, but hopefully they’ll give us more classic Castle during February sweeps. I haven’t heard much about any of the upcoming shows. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Lee Lofland

I’ll begin by saying this was one of the goofiest cases ever. It made no sense whatsoever. Of course, I was onto the killer (Mommy Dearest) the moment she appeared on screen. Actually, my wife and I gave each other “the look” the moment we saw her.

And, as if learning the ID of the killer so early in the show wasn’t bad enough (you know what’s coming), Lanie apparently took a ride in a time machine, regressing back to her Ouija Board/crystal ball/root doctor/Magic 8 Ball days.

Her most glaring faux pas was estimating the victim’s time of death based on lividity. Obviously, Lanie didn’t read last week’s review because I went into pretty vivid detail about lividity (livor mortis). All she had to do was read a couple of paragraphs and she could’ve delivered something that made some sort of sense. However, she and the writers whipped out the old fortune-telling board and its magical pointer, combined with a quick shake of the old 8 Ball.

I’m sure the meeting went something like this…

“Okay, fellow writers, do we go for realism this week? Or should we make our medical examiner character appear as dumb as we possibly can? Hey, I know, let’s give the old 8-ball a go at it”

The head writer gives the ball a good shaking and then says, “Oh, Magic 8 ball, should we continue on the path of realism that was so refreshing and added a nice, new dimension to the show? Or, should we go for Three-Stooges-silly?”

I think we know which triangle appeared in the black ball’s magic window—Yes, definitely go for stupid.

Okay, here’s the thing. If you read last week’s review you may remember the discussion about lividity, and what it is and what makes it happen. Here’s a replay.

When the heart stops beating, gravity pulls blood to the lowest point in the body. Blood pooling in those low areas stains the surrounding tissue, giving an appearance that looks somewhat like bruising. This purplish staining of tissue is called livor mortis, or lividity. For example, a victim lying flat on his back at the time of death exhibits lividity on his back, buttocks, and the back of his legs. The same is true on the front of the body, if the victim is found lying face down.

Are you with me so far? Lividity is the purplish staining of tissue caused by gravity drawing blood to the lowest points of the body.

The murder victim this week was found in an alley, lying face down in a pool of blood. She’d been killed by a blow to the head, which, by the way, was inflicted by Mommy Dearest (more on this in a minute).

Remember, lividity can be seen on the flesh at the lowest points of the body.

Here’s a picture of the victim as she was when Lanie made her voodoo prediction. Now, pretend you’re a detective for a moment, and then tell us in the comments section below why Lanie could not have used lividty to determine a time of death.

I look forward to reading your comments.

Moving on.

The blow to the head that killed the victim was delivered by Miley Cyrus’s Mandy Sutton’s mom. I know most of you are writers who do your homework/research when it comes to murder, so I ask you this… How often (in real life) do women kill using some sort of blunt object? Now, let’s ask the cops a similar question. How many cases have you worked where a woman killed someone by hitting them in the head?

You know, I’ve been in a couple of life or death situations where I finally had to resort to giving my attacker(s) an aluminum shampoo (a hit to the head with my heavy, metal flashlight—the one that holds four D-cell batteries).

I’m not talking about a gentle “love tap.” In one particular instance I was fighting for survival, so I’m talking a blow hard enough to send a baseball over the Green Monster at Fenway Park. The kind of hit that starts a geyser of blood. At that point it was either him, or me. I chose ME. And you know what happened? It made the guy really mad and then he started hitting and choking and biting me harder than before.

Then there was the time when a suspect hit me in the head with a 2×4 to prevent me from arresting and handcuffing his buddy. The blow was so hard I actually saw the “white light and stars” you hear people speaking of. Did it kill me? Obviously not.

Anyway, the point of that little tale is to let you know that blows to the head normally do not kill someone. In fact, they rarely cause unconsciousness. Of course, both have occurred, so it’s not impossible, just not probable.

Back to Mommy Dearest, Ms. Lohan, I mean Sutton. Bashing someone’s brains out is an unusual crime for a woman to commit. Normally, women prefer to keep their distance when taking a life—poisoning, murder for hire, and even shooting.

To do the damage we saw to Brittany Spea Mandy Sutton’s double, Ms. Hilton Ms. Sutton would have needed to really jackhammer the young woman’s noggin. Otherwise, the victim would have suffered a nasty headache, but surviving to sue the pants off her attacker. And that’s after turning around and beating the woman six times west of Sunday for hitting her.

So please do use good judgement when writing those “blow-to-the-head-with-a-book murder mysteries.

Okay, that’s enough for this week. Sure, there were other things that deserved a mention—good and bad—but I’ve rambled far too long already, so we’ll see you again next we— Wait! I almost forgot to mention Pi and the possibility of him getting the boot from the show. I almost did a happy dance around my living room last night when it appeared that Alexis is considering kicking the aggravating guy to the curb. The show will definitely be better without him.

Okay, we’ll see you next week.

*     *     *

IMPORTANT WPA NEWS!

Those of you planning to attend the 2014 Writers’ Police Academy should watch carefully for an announcement regarding registration. There are only a few days left in January and registration IS opening this month. If you haven’t already done so, please visit the WPA website to sign up to receive updates and news. The link is at the bottom right of the main page.

I’ll also post the announcement here and on my Facebook page.

Also, the 2014 WPA schedule of events will most likely be posted later today or in the morning.

Updates to the website are underway, complete with sponsor listings and more.

The WPA is in dire need of sponsors. This year is the most expensive ever. Believe me, every little bit helps! So please do consider joining your fellow writers as a 2014 WPA sponsor. You can contact me for details, or you can click the Become A Sponsor link at the top of the WPA website home page.

Also, we are currently seeking items for the annual silent auction and raffle. If you’d like to send something please contact me at lofland32@msn.com

As always, I thank you for supporting the WPA and all of our dedicated instructors.

*Profits benefit the criminal justice foundation at our host police academy/college.

background: #bd081c no-repeat scroll 3px 50% / 14px 14px; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer; top: 1874px; left: 20px;”>Save

/by

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

 

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

Sgt. J. Michael Phillippi, 65

Virginia State Police

January 11, 2014 – Sgt. J. Michael Phillippi was traveling at a low speed when his unmarked Impala ran off the side of the road and struck a road sign, then crossed the highway and struck an embankment. Responding deputies found Sgt. Phillippi seated in the car and wearing his seat belt. Although the car suffered minimal damage, Sgt. Phillippi passed away in the hospital a short time later.

Sgt. Phillippi, a 42-year veteran of the VSP, is survived by his wife.

Deputy Sheriff David “Bubba” Johnson, 52

Montgomery County Tennessee Sheriff’s Office

January 12, 2014 – Deputy Sheriff Bubba Johnson was killed when his patrol car left the roadway and struck a tree.

/by