July 2014 - Page 2 of 3

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

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

Officer Melvin Santiago, 23

Jersey City New Jersey Police Department

July 13, 2014 – Officer Melvin Santiago was shot and killed after arriving at the scene of a robbery call. The suspect was later killed in a shootout with other officers.

Officer Santiago had graduated from the police academy only six months prior to the shooting.

Officer Christopher Goodell, 32

Waldwick New Jersey Police Department

July 17, 2014 – Officer Christopher Goodell was parked on the shoulder of the roadway, running radar, when a tractor trailer struck his patrol car in the rear, forcing it into a retaining wall. The officer was killed in the collision.

Officer Goodell is survived by his fiancee.

July 18, 2014/by Lee Lofland

Courts

California Death Penalty Ruled Unconstitutional

Federal Judge Cormac J. Carney ruled that California’s death penalty is unconstitutional, dysfunctional, and beyond repair. In his ruling, the judge said California’s system is so broken that inmates are left wondering about their fates for decades, or more. In other words, death sentences in the Golden State have been transformed into life sentences with a slight chance that they’ll end in the inmate’s death. More than likely, though, that death would be due to natural causes, not by the hand of an executioner.

The death penalty in California basically serves no purpose. That’s no shock to anyone who’s ever followed one of their death penalty cases (Scott Peterson comes to mind). But how does it compare to the rest of the country? Does the sentencing phase of a death penalty case in California stand on equal ground with other areas of the country? Of course not. California jurors don’t face the same pressures as do their counterparts in…well, let’s say Texas. Texas jurors, when they sentence someone to die you’d better believe they know that within a reasonable amount of time (if you can believe that 10 years, or so, is reasonable) the state is going to kill that prisoner. California…not so much. In fact, the last inmate executed in California, Clarence Ray Allen, spent 26 long years on death row.

Terri Lynn Winchell, a 17-year old Lodi, Ca. girl, was murdered 34 years ago. Her killer, Michael Morales, was sentenced to death for the murder. As his execution date finally rolled around, in 2006, a federal judge ordered a hold on all death penalty cases due to a court challenge of the state’s lethal injection process. The hold is still in place because the state has yet to submit a suitable method of lethal injection for the courts to review.

It will most likely be many years before this mess is sorted out. Until then, nearly 800 men and women sit on California’s death row, mocking a system that spins its wheels while costing taxpayers staggering amounts of money. For starters, the cost of a death penalty trial and one appeal (attorneys, experts, etc.) can exceed a standard criminal trial by $1.5 million, or more.

To put the numbers in perspective, it costs California approximately $137 million annually to house death row inmates. In comparison, the cost to house non death penalty inmates, including those serving life without the possibility of parole (which is basically the same sentenced served by death row inmates in California) is over $11.5 million.

Let’s not stop there, though. Let’s dig a bit deeper into the costs associated with California death penalty cases.

– The Supreme Court automatically considers all capital cases if a sentence of death is handed down – the Court’s budget for hearing these cases is well over $15 million.

– The budget for the State Public Defender’s Office (for death penalty cases) exceeds $12 million.

Shall I go on? Okay, one more, out of many. The state funded Habeas Corpus Resource Center has a budget of over $13 million to assist indigent inmates with their appeals.

Is it truly worthwhile to spend the extra bazillion dollars just to see the words “condemned to death” on a piece of paper? After all, in most California death penalty cases, those two words mean about as much as the cost of the paper on which they’re printed…not much.

Why not convert all death penalty cases to life in prison without parole and call it a day. The state could then put those savings toward desalination plants or other means to ease the drought. By the way, I saw where California just passed water restriction regulations that include a fine of $500 per day to residents who waste water (hosing off your driveway, washing a car without a nozzle, etc.). Yet, a city-owned park near our new home ran mega-giant sprinklers 24 hours per day for a week to water a soccer field that hasn’t been used in months. Well, let me back up a bit. The field hasn’t been entirely vacant. A couple of homeless guys have been sleeping near the fence beneath the shade of two large eucalyptus trees.

After a couple of days of non-stop watering, there was so much standing H2O that birds and other wildlife played in it for days, splashing and bathing and sliding around. I’m sure the two homeless men enjoyed the entertainment.

I wonder if the same people in charge of water conservation also control collected tax money and corrections budgets? For some reason, when I close my eyes and picture them, this is what comes to mind…

*Also in Judge Carney’s Wednesday ruling was the stay of execution for Ernest Dewayne Jones, who’s been on death row for almost 20 years for the rape and murder of a Southern California accountant.

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July 17, 2014/by Lee Lofland

Just Stuff

It’s Time To Play "Name That Author!"

To top of the agony associated with our second move from hell in three years (more on this later), last night I wound up having an adverse reaction to medication. It started with a headache that came from nowhere and grew to a level of pain I never knew could exist inside a human skull. Well, short of having been penetrated by an ax blade or a half-dozen hollow-point rounds. Then came the nausea, and I’ll leave the rest to your imaginations. I was extremely ill all night long.

So, with the headache still throbbing, a repair guy showed up early this morning to fix two of our garage doors that, by the way, stopped working properly a few days after the purchase of the home. Next up is the pool repair guy who’s schedule to fix…you guessed it, a filter and pump that also stopped working just days after the purchase of the home. All of this while a remodel is still in progress. Oh, did I mention the delivery of our furniture has been delayed once again? Next week is the latest prediction. What’s one more week after living in an empty house for a month, right?

Anyway, I really didn’t feel up to writing an article this morning so I had a thought. Why not post a brief piece of someone’s writing and see if you guys can guess the name of the author who set the words to paper. So, here you go. It’s time to play Name That Author!

Here’s the excerpt…

It was just after ten when I walked into The Red Garter, a rowdy redneck bar situated at the start of a dead-end cobblestone alley off River Street. The joint, a downstairs corner of a rehabbed cotton warehouse, features live music and is well-known for serving an ass-kicking, fight-inducing drink called the Rebel Yell. A concoction made from vodka, gin, and grain alcohol.

The place was jumping, especially for a Thursday night. The crowd, an eclectic mix of tourists, bikers, fishermen, and women with big hair and far too much makeup, were scattered about, playing pool, drinking, and desperately attempting to hook up with a one-night-soul-mate.

A four-piece band was playing what could have been an old Blondie song, but I wasn’t sure. The bass was thumping so hard I couldn’t hear the singing, which was probably a blessing in disguise, especially if the skinny pink-and-blue-haired woman at the mic sounded as bad as the music.

After a quick look around, I headed toward my usual table in the rear of the joint near the dartboard, crunching empty peanut shells beneath my feet as I went. The place had an earthy smell, like old wood and dirt, mixed with hints of stale beer, sweat, and drugstore perfume. Most of the exposed brick walls and heavy lumber were original, from the 1800’s. Some say it, like many of the other historic buildings in Savannah, is haunted by the ghosts of those who died there during the civil war. The stories, true or not, attract tourists to our area like our hometown kitchen guru, Paula Deen, uses butter…by the truck load.

I heard glass break behind the counter as the bartender, a tall, hard-bodied former cop named Lonnie Reavis, tossed some empty bottles into the trash. He made brief eye contact with me as I passed, but promptly turned his attention back to the swarm of customers that surrounded the bar like hogs at a feeding trough. His dark skin glistened like used motor oil under the multi-colored lights shining down from the track above the beer taps.

I took a seat in a sticky wooden chair with my back to the wall. The only spot in the entire place with a view of both front and back doors. I felt the usual, slight thud as the handcuffs in my back pocket contacted the chair bottom. Out of habit, I turned to the side a bit so the steel wouldn’t dig into my hip.

It seemed like just yesterday when…

July 16, 2014/by Lee Lofland

2014 Writers' Police Academy

2014 Writers’ Police Academy Schedule Updated: It’s FANTASTIC!

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!

8:00

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 ~ 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

Disarming The Bad Guys ~ Eli Jackson – Details TBA

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

Group event/welcome/announcements. Have your cameras ready, but please remember ABSOLUTELY NO VIDEOS AT ANY TIME DURING THIS EVENT!

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. Rm 130

Driving Simulator – You’ll see how well you can drive an emergency vehicle when the full lights and siren are activated. Rm 243

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. Location – Outside EMS bay door

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

9:15-1030

1. Domestic Murder ~ Tracy Fulk, Rm 114

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. ~ Jeff Flinchum, Rm 109

3. Women In Law Enforcement ~ Sgt. Katherine Netter, Rm 213

4. EMS ride-a-longs – Outside EMS bay

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. ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche, Rm 241

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. ~ Instructor ATF Special Agent Bill Queen, Rm 225

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. ~ Tim Fitts, ERTC Outside bay doors

8. Firearms 101 ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan, Rm 210

9. Why Good Cops Go Bad: An inside look at cop culture ~ Rm 244

10. Investigation of Felony Murder Part 2: The Scene (Team one) – Andy Russell, ERTC 1 (inside)

10:45 – 12:00 noon

1. EMS ride-a-longs – Outside EMS bay

2. Women In Law Enforcement ~ Sgt. Katherine Netter, Rm 213

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. ~ Jeff Flinchum, Rm 109

4. Fingerprinting and the AFIS System ~ Amy Wilde, Rm 208

6. Building Searches ~ Capt. Randy Shepherd (meet sheriff’s office vans at front of academy at 10:40).

7. Microbial Forensics: Using microorganisms as weapons ~ Dr. Denene Lofland, Rm 114

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. ~ Instructor ATF Special Agent Bill Queen, Rm 225

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. ~ Tim Fitts, ERTC Outside bay doors

10. Investigation of Felony Murder Part 2: The Scene (Team 2) ~ Andy Russell, ERTC 1 (inside)

Lunch 12:00-1:00

1:00-2:15

1. Domestic Murder ~ Tracy Fulk, Rm 109

2. Prostitution Sting ~ Emily Mitchum, Rm 241

3. EMS ride-a-longs – Outside EMS bay

4. Fingerprinting and the AFIS System ~ Amy Wilde

5. Tracking the Evidence:Footwear Impressions ~ Susan Powell, Rm 209

6. Microbial Forensics: Using microorganisms as weapons ~ Dr. Denene Lofland, Rm 114

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, Rm 225

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. ~ Marco Conelli, Rm 244

10. Investigation of Felony Murder Part 3: Developing the Case/Interviews (Team One) ~ Andy Russell, Rm 132

2:30 – 3:45

1. EMS ride-a-longs – Outside EMS bay

2. Prostitution Sting ~ Emily Mitchum, Rm 241

3. Fingerprinting and the AFIS System ~ Amy Wilde, Rm 208

4. Firearms 101 ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan, Rm 210

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, Rm 225

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, Rm244

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, Rm 114

8. Firearms Forensics: How and why bullets do what they do ~ Dave Pauly, Rm 210

9. Investigation of Felony Murder Part 3: Developing the Case/Interviews (Team Two) – Andy Russell, Rm 132

10. K9 Demonstration ~ Matt Long, Rm 109 and outside

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 (everyone)

Saturday, September 6, 2014

7:30 am

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

Breaching Methods ~ Capt. Randy Shepherd – Driving Track

This session for everyone. Be sure to bring your cameras. Remember, NO VIDEOS.

8:45

Meggitt (formerly FATS) – ongoing

Driving Simulator – ongoing

8:45-10:00

1. Suspicious Fire Deaths – Jerry Coble, Rm 210

2. Building Searches – Capt. Randy Sheppard (meet sheriff’s office vans at front of academy at 8:40).

3. Disposing of the Dead Body – Instructor Bill Lanning, Rm 244

4. TSA/Airport Security ~ Mike Macintosh, Rm 213

5. Police Gun-fighting ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan, Rm 109

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, Rm 225

7. Special Ops – What Are They Good For?: K9, water/dive, SWAT, bike patrol, and more ~ Rm 241

8. Investigation of Felony Murder Part 4: Dealing with Suspects/Interrogations (Team one) ~ Andy Russell, Rm 132

9. 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, Rm 114

10. EMS ride-a-longs – Outside EMS bay

10:15 – 11:30

1. Self Defense For Women ~Dee Jackson, Rm 117

2. The First Five Minutes of a Code Blue ~ Sarah Yow, Rm 250

3. Crime Scene Processing/Evidence Packaging ~ Instructor TBA, Rm 209

4. K9 Demonstration ~ Instructor TBA, Rm 109 and outside

5. Real Cops for Real Writers: The Psychology of Cops ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche, Rm 114

6. Forensic Art and Witness Recall: How investigators reach inside someone’s head to see what the witness sees ~ Robin Burcell, Rm 244

Have you ever wondered why so many people can see the same incident, and yet have a completely different description of what happened or who they saw? Sketch artists have to learn the art of interviewing in order to get the clearest picture of a suspect from a witness’s description. Witness memory is fragile and easily swayed. Examples from real cases, and demonstration of techniques will be used in this course.

7. Broken Bones, Ballistics & Backdrafts: Technical Stuff That Writers Get Wrong ~ John Gilstrap, Rm 241

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.

8. Equivocal Death Investigations: Manners, Causes and Mechanisms ~ Dave Pauly and Dr. Katherine Ramsland, Rm 225

9. Investigation of Felony Murder Part 4: Dealing with Suspects/Interrogations (Team Two) ~ Andy Russell, Rm 132

10. Building Searches – Capt. Randy Sheppard (meet sheriff’s office vans at front of academy at 10:10).

11. EMS ride-a-longs – Outside EMS bay

Lunch 11:30 – 12:45

12:45 – 2:00

1. Suspicious Fire Deaths ~ Jerry Coble, Rm 210

2. Underwater Evidence Recovery ~ Lieutenant Cameron Piner, (meet vans at 12:35 in front of academy for transport to YMCA pool)

3. Self Defense For Women ~ Dee Jackson, Rm 117

4. The First Five Minutes of a Code Blue ~ Sarah Yow, Rm 250

5. Real Cops for Real Writers: The Psychology of Cops ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche, Rm 114

6. Forensic Art and Witness Recall: How investigators reach inside someone’s head to see what the witness sees ~ Robin Burcell, Rm 244

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, Rm 225

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 ~ Marco Conelli, Rm 109

9. Investigation of Felony Murder Part 5: Developing the Prosecution Summary (Team One) ~ Andy Russell, Rm 241

10. TSA/Airport Security ~ Mike Macintosh, Rm 213

2:15 – 3:30

1. Underwater Evidence Recovery ~ Lieutenant Cameron Piner, (meet vans at 2:10 in front of academy for transport to YMCA pool)

2. Handcuffing and Arrest Techniques ~ Stan Lawhorne Rm 117

3. ABC’s of Death Investigation From a Nurse ME’s Perspective ~ Jacque Perkins, Rm 127

4. EMS and Crime Scene ~ Joe Yow, Rm 210

5. Police Gunfighting ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan, Rm 109

6. Cold Cases: Hits and Misses ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland, Dave Pauly, Rm 225

7. Special Ops – What Are They Good For?: K9, water/dive, SWAT, bike patrol, and more ~ Rm 114

8. Crime Scene Processing/Evidence Packaging ~ Instructor TBA, Rm 209

9. Investigation of Felony Murder Part 5: Developing the Prosecution Summary (Team Two) ~ Andy Russell, Rm 241

10. Disposing of the Dead Body ~ Bill Lanning, Rm 244

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 ~ 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.

July 15, 2014/by Lee Lofland

Police Procedure

You’ve Got To See This!

Life passes much too quickly, so stop for a moment and see what it has to offer. Take a drive out into the country, park the car, get out, and take a few steps in any direction. You just might see something like this…

July 12, 2014/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.

Deputy Sheriff Jacob Daniel Calvin, 31

Tipton County Indiana Sheriff’s Office

June 28, 2014 – Deputy Sheriff Jacob Calvin was killed in a rollover vehicle crash while responding to the scene of a car accident.

Deputy Calvin is survived by his fiancee, parents, grandparents, brother, stepsister, and stepbrother.

Officer Perry Renn, 51

Indianapolis Indiana Metropolitan Police Department

July 5, 2014 – Officer Renn was shot and killed after responding to a shots-fired call. When he and another officer located the suspect in an alley, the shooter opened fire with a high-powered rifle, fatally wounding Officer Renn.

Patrolman Jeffrey Brady Westerfield, 47

Gary Indiana Police Department

July 6, 2014 – Patrolman Jeffrey Westerfield was shot and killed by ambush while sitting in his patrol car. It was his 47th birthday.

Patrolman Westerfield is survived by his four daughters and fiancee.

July 11, 2014/by Lee Lofland

Police Procedure

An Inside Peek At Police Special Assignments

There are many jobs within police departments and sheriff’s offices, and each of those duties require special skills and training. Some of the assignments even require a special “look.”

In addition, many of the officers assigned to these special details have their own expectations of how they should carry themselves, and which type of appearance is appropriate for the mission.

Over the years, police officers have developed a set of unwritten guidelines for working in the individual divisions, and with one glance cops can usually tell another officer’s assignment. How? Well, certain little details give them away. Such as…

Narcotics

– Officers assigned to this detail immediately grow long hair and a beard, then tell everybody the boss ordered it.

– Start watching every episode of Gator Boys and Honey Boo Boo to learn how to speak and act in the “real world”.

– Buy a biker wallet with a big chain.

– Make every case involve overtime.

– Learn to play golf while guzzling Jack Daniels.

SWAT

– Wears team T-shirts, dark sunglasses, and boots, everyday.

– Tries to fit the word breach in to every conversation.

– Has a mirror handy to check hair, if they have hair.

– Never says hello to anyone who is not an operator, but is quick to deliver the cool SWAT head nod.

– Subscribes to Soldier of Fortune and Muscle and Fitness.

– Plays golf while wearing a gun.

Feds

– Shaves head and grows goatee (unless they want to be a management weenie, then they remain clean shaven, with short almost military style haircut).

– Wears 5.11 pants, and a polo shirt with agency logo (unless they want to be a management weenie, then make sure they always wear shirt and pants to which a jacket and tie can be quickly added for those occasions when the president shows up unexpectedly).

– Arrives at work at 8AM sharp and spends one hour answering emails, and 30 minutes checking their retirement investments. Then go with another agent to Starbucks “to discuss a new case.”

– After participating in their first warrant service, they make plans to join the agency SRT, SWAT, etc, to “properly utilize their superior tactical skills.”

– After doing their first buy bust, the agent immediately begins asking the boss about “long term undercover” jobs.

– Refuses to play golf with the inferior locals cops.

Traffic units

– Write tickets to EVERYBODY, including mom.

– Spend every weekend cleaning their vehicles and polishing their boots.

– Annoys everyone on the radio calling out their stops.

– Talks only about the huge number of traffic tickets they write in a single day.

– Rides by storefronts with big windows to admire their reflection.

– Golf is lame. Paintball all the way.

K-9 Units

– Become sadistic.

– Proudly show pictures of their latest dog bite.

– Brag constantly about their largest drug find.

– Smells like a dog.

– Uniform coated in dog hair.

– Works out three times a day, with or without the dog.

Administrative

– Good for three-hour lunches, everyday, telling everybody it’s a “meeting.”

– Upgrades department cell phone practically every month.

– Tells everybody they’re published in a national law enforcement magazine.

– Update their revenges list on a weekly basis, and has investigators build files on “enemies.”.

– Plays lots of golf (often called “afternoon meetings).

Patrol Officers

– Have nerves of steel.

– Despise department politics, and stupid rules and regulations.

– Inability to keep mouth shut.

– Is respected by peers.

– Plays golf but is unsure of the rules. Driving the cart while drinking a cold Bud is cool, though.

FTO (Field Training Officer)

– Automatically grasps the door handle until knuckles turn white when car is put in gear.

– Considers a multiple-victim homicide in progress a “good training opportunity” and asks to take primary.

– Considers less than three hours of OT to be a quiet day.

– Knows that it’s a rookie’s place to handle ALL foot pursuits while he/she follows along in the air-conditioned patrol car.

Investigators

– Come in at 0800, or so.

– “Breakfast” is from 0815 to 1030.

– Shuffles through paperwork from 1030 to Noon.

– Lunch from noon to 1400.

– Meet informants from 1415 until 1500

– Rest of the day is spent in the office talking to anyone who’ll listen about the book they’re planning to write based on their many outstanding cases and accomplishments.

Sergeant

– Remembers very well “how we used to do do it.”

– Always willing to tell his officers the above.

– Tries to fit the word “liability” in to every sentence.

– Talks about “what he’s hearing from upstairs.”

– Hates what he’s hearing from upstairs.

– Plans retirement on a daily basis.

– Counts the number of days until retirement…every day of every week.

Trainee

– Watches every episode of Cops, 48 Hours, CSI, and the Andy Griffith Show.

– Worships the ground the SWAT guys walk on.

– Arrives for work three hours early and stays over past regular shift (on their own time) to ride with other officers.

– Thinks the sergeant is always thrilled to see him/her.

– Male trainees are too young to grow facial hair.

– Won’t drink on the golf course because it violates the open container ordinance.

New Corrections Officers

– Show up for work 15 minutes early.

– Buy only the best ink pens.

– Wear T-Shirts of their “dream police department” under their uniforms.

– Wears a full duty belt of gear (purchased with their own money from the local cop shop), even though they have to remove everything when they arrive at the facility. But it’s really cool to go inside a convenience store wearing full gear.

– Become friends with every local police officer.

Court Security

– They say they don’t want to work patrol, but secretly monitor dispatch channels while inside the courtroom and at home.

– Have jail and courthouse cafeteria menus memorized.

– Have seriously thought of entering law school after sitting through three jury trials.

– Think they know more than the judges and attorneys.

– After sitting through four or five trials, they’re positive they know more than judges and attorneys.

Defensive Tactics Instructors

– Starts stretching and warming up before making arrest.

– Can spend hours debating the advantages of ASP vs. straight stick.

– Has spent more than $50 on a wooden baton.

– Knows how, where, and when every scar on their body was received.

– Giggles when a suspect starts to resist.

Firearms Instructor

– Responds to every question/statement with the word, ‘huh?’

– Thinks a new tactical handgun is a great Christmas gift for the wife/girlfriend.

– Has an image of a custom 1911-A1 for a screen-saver.

– Wears the latest high-tech electronic hearing protectors during normal conversation.

– Decorates uniform shirt with every marksmanship pin and medal available.

– Clean their weapons while eating lunch.

– Uses gun-cleaning lube/oil as cologne.

– Wears at least two concealed backup weapons at all times.

– Wears an ankle holster to bed in case he can’t reach either of the 12 firearms hidden throughout the bedroom.

– He/she and their family decorate the gun safe during the holidays.

July 10, 2014/by Lee Lofland

Death Investigation

Life After The Death Notice

It’s 9pm and Officer Smith has just left the scene of a homicide. The father of two small children, and husband to a loving wife, had gone to the store to pick up a gallon of milk for morning Lucky Charms when he was caught in the crossfire between two rival gang members. The barrage of bullets that pierced his flesh, striking more than one vital organ, killed him instantly. The violent exchange of rounds was over in mere seconds. Luckily, a passerby saw the whole thing, and with his statement the police were able to arrest the suspects within hours of the senseless killing. The two shooters were eventually convicted and sentenced to serve ten years each in the state penitentiary.

But let’s back up to the night of the shooting. Officer Bernard “Buzzy” Smith had the unpleasant task of delivering the bad news to the victim’s family. So he located the man’s wallet and ID and wrote the address in his pocket notebook. A few minutes later, with a lump in his throat he couldn’t make disappear, the officer parked his patrol car in front of a small brick rancher on the east side of town. He switched off the ignition and waited for the headlamps to click off before calling in his location. He searched his mind for the right words and how to say them. An owl hooted twice from the depths of the tree canopy above his car.

The house was well lit and the driveway littered with plastic kid toys. A girl’s bicycle stood propped against the lop-sided chain-link fence separating lawn from concrete pavement. A blueish glow flickered in a front window. The TV was on. Wednesday night. Maybe the family was watching the remaining eight American Idol contestants croon their way toward the final prize. Someone on that Hollywood stage would go home at the end of the show. The man of this particular house, however, would never come home again.

Officer Smith stepped from his patrol car, adjusted his gun belt, and headed for the front door. He took his time walking up the three brick steps before slowly reaching for the brass knocker.

She’s young—20-ish—with short curly brown hair. A little boy clinging to one hip. The girl at her knees, clutching her mother’s dress, is around six. Seven tops. She’s missing a tooth.

Somebody on TV is singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow, a newer, modern version of the classic song.

The woman smiles at first, but the grin quickly melted away. She knows. Tears filled her eyes. Next came the trembling. Shaking. Gut-wrenching sobs.

Officer Smith has seen it all before, many times. But he can’t get emotional. It’s part of the job and he must be strong while doing it. He leads the woman to the living room. She has a seat on the couch while he grabbed the remote and switched off the TV, stopping Ryan Seacrest from announcing the names of the bottom three contestants. Officer Smith sat in a chair across from the new widow. He leaned forward—gun leather creaking and keys tinkling—resting his elbows on his knees. He began to speak…

So what happens next? You know, long after the funeral. What happens to the families of murder victims then? Do they simply go on with their lives? Not hardly.

The families of murder victims say they must deal with many unexpected things that aren’t always associated with death by natural causes. Things such as:

– Always seeing and remembering the condition of their loved one as he/she lay in the morgue. Remember, sometimes family members must go there to identify the body, and this can be an extremely devastating experience.

– The general public can be extremely cruel, sometimes blaming victims for their own demise and the violence that caused the death.

– Some less than reputable media outlets want sensational headlines, even if that means publicizing inaccurate statements about the victim and the victim’s family. After all, they can always retract the statements later, right? Please know that not every media source is this insensitive. In fact, most are not, but the inaccurate stories that do make their way to the eyes and ears of the families of the deceased are very hurtful.

– The financial burden that comes with losing one income. There are sometimes large medical bills left behind as well.

– Families sometimes must deal with public sympathy for murderers.

– The murder trial is difficult to sit through, hearing all the gruesome details.

– Short prison sentences often cause outrage (too lenient for the crime).

– Having to see and hear about the case on TV. Family members do not consider the death of a loved one as prime time family entertainment.

– It’s extremely frustrating to be told, as a family member, that you cannot be in the courtroom during certain parts of the trial.

– Being the last to know anything.

– Wondering if the victim suffered.

– Remembering the things you said, or didn’t say, the last time you saw the victim alive.

– Plea agreements that allow some participants involved in the murder to walk away free and clear of the crime.

– The appeal process.

– The parole process.

– Nightmares.

So many nightmares.

And the grief goes on and on and on…

July 9, 2014/by Lee Lofland

Police Procedure

What Happens After The Cuffs Go On?

“He’s running!” A bag of cocaine is tossed to the ground along with a small handgun. The bad guy takes off. He’s prepared for the sprint—tennis shoes, loose clothing, and he has a small head start…and he’s younger. The runners are always much younger than the pursuing officer.

It’s difficult to chase someone while wearing a suit and dress shoes, but that’s the nature of the beast. So detectives don’t complain, they just do it. Sure, they’ll hear the teasing from the uniforms, later… “Who taught you how to run, your grandma?” Slowest chase I’ve ever seen.” “Looked like a sack race minus the sack.” “You got weights tied to your ankles?” “You put your feet on backward this morning?” “You do know the purpose of a foot pursuit is to catch the bad guy, right?”

Yeah, that’s really funny, guys. Ha, ha…

In spite of the awkward, wingtip-clad feet, the investigator almost always catches the thug, wrestles to get the cuffs on the crook’s sweaty wrists, and stands him upright for the walk back to the unmarked police car. Then it’s back to the police station for processing (aka booking), which includes mugshot photos, fingerprinting, and normally the the prisoner’s phone call to his wife, mother, attorney, or bail bondsman. Sometimes, there’s a list of local bail/bond folks beside the jail/lockup phone. I’ve even seen a bondsman’s name and number scrawled or scratched on the wall beside “the phone.”

Signs like the one above are reminders for the officers who sometimes have a tendency to forget the details, or those who’re inclined to skip a step because it’s 3am and they’re working overtime and are due in court in six hours.

Officers must lock their weapons inside a lockbox before entering the booking area. This is to prevent prisoners from gaining control of a firearm. The officer locks the box and takes the key with him.

Arrestees are often seated and handcuffed to benches while waiting for processing. Notice the handcuffs attached to the second rail from the left.

Prisoners are fingerprinted for both in-house records and for the FBI national database, AFIS. Most departments now use automated fingerprinting devices, such as this LiveScan terminal.

Capturing a suspect’s fingerprints on a LiveScan terminal

Fingerprints are transferred to a computer terminal where the suspect’s personal information is entered.

Digital images replace ten-print cards (cards used for capturing inked fingerprints).

Some departments still use the old ink and ten-print card method of fingerprinting (LiveScan terminals are expensive).

Then, with the processing complete, prisoners are placed into a holding cell until they post bond, or until they are transferred to the county jail to await their first court appearance, usually an arraignment.

Police department holding cell. Those of you who attended the first Writers’ Police Academy may remember seeing this cell as part of your police department tour.

Steel plates mounted on the walls serve as beds (mattresses are issued when the prisoners arrive).

Combination sink, drinking fountain, and toilet.

In-cell telephone. Collect calls only.

After processing, the cycle begins again, and again, and again…

July 8, 2014/by Lee Lofland

Writing

Whatcha’ Gonna Do When They Come For You?

How do you start your day? A cup of coffee, a piece of toast, a glance at the morning paper? A nice long run on the path beside the duck pond? Maybe you prefer to watch the morning news while having a steaming bowl of oatmeal before heading off to the office where you’ll spend at least eight grueling hours dealing with clients, paperwork, employee woes, supervisor troubles, payroll issues, and, well, we all know how exhausting a work day can be, right?

Suppose there’s no time for coffee, though. No oatmeal or cornflakes. No toast or Pop Tarts. Instead, your office calls and says you’re needed right away. So you head out the back door and sprint to your car. Fifteen minutes later you’re enjoying a brisk, adrenaline-filled scuffle with a murderer who’s crazy-high on methamphetamine. Ten minutes after securing the killer behind bars you’re lucky enough to have a lovely peek at a bloated body that’s teeming with hundreds of writhing, squiggly maggots.

Yes, that’s how some cops start their day. How about you? Does your job description include wondering if a wanted cop killer is hiding in the trunk of the stolen car you’ve just pulled over?

How often does your boss send you out to a deserted location to pick up the guy who was last seen carving up his elderly neighbor like a Thanksgiving turkey?

Perhaps, instead of eating lunch you can stand out in the hot sun, on asphalt that’s at least 130 degrees, to direct traffic around an auto crash where a mother and her young children were killed by a hit and run driver.

I know this happens every day at your place of employment—a man walks in off the street, naked, holding a knife to his own throat. So you, or one of your coworkers try to talk him into putting down the knife and allow you to help him. Of course, the man begins shouting and cutting himself, severely. So you reach into your desk drawer, push aside a stapler and a pack of gum, and grab your handy TASER.

Maybe you’re a pizza delivery person who receives regular training on maneuvering through tight spots while driving at high speeds.

You get the picture. A cop’s world is, well, a world of its own. And it’s up to you, the writer, to bring your readers inside this most unique place that’s occupied by real people who just happen to have a job that’s a bit different than yours.

A police agency is sort of like a pot of stew—lots of different ingredients (officers and other employees) come together to make one dish. In real life, those ingredients are a diverse group of individuals, with different mannerisms, ways of speaking, beliefs, backgrounds, etc.

In other words, no two officers/detectives think and/or act the same, and that’s how those characters should be written. Diversity, diversity, diversity.

Keep in mind, too, that police officers are real people who do real things, including grocery shopping, sing in church choirs, play ball, spend time with their kids, cook, go to movies, etc.

There are many possibilities regarding officer assignments, and the larger the department the more divisions/duty assignments are available, such as detective divisions, SWAT, CSI, etc. In smaller departments patrol officers may do it all—1st responder, crime scene investigation, witness interviews, interrogate suspects, collect evidence, fingerprint and book suspects, etc.

Still, the job of police officer is extremely unique and you owe it to your readers to offer them a believable story, even if it means…hold on to your hat…doing a bit of research. Believe it or not, you’ll probably have a lot of fun “on the inside.” For example, you might see…

Anyway, I’ve rambled enough. But before I close and head out for a doctor’s appointment, I’d like to walk you through the rest of of a police officer’s normal day (if there is such a thing as a normal day for officers). So here goes…drug dealers, shots fired, fighting, lost children, crying mothers, abusive parents, hungry children, murder, suicide, shoplifters, pursuits, fatigue, carjacking, crack cocaine, addicts, prostitutes, burglars, no lunch, robbers, assaults, bleeding, spit on by abusive citizens, battered spouses, drunks, rabid animals, B&E, lost pets, remove wild animal in citizen’s garage, pool, or basement, bad checks, autopsy, trip to crime lab, traffic accident, shots fired, fighting again, more lost children, more crying mothers, speeders, question witnesses, peeping toms, search woods filled with tons of poison ivy, serve warrants, miss child’s play at school, citizen can’t get furnace to work, dog stuck in drain pipe, citizen locked keys in car, see a woman about Elvis hiding behind the cheesecake in her refrigerator, citizen locked herself in bedroom and doesn’t know how to turn button on doorknob to get out, pull unconscious man from burning house, citizen hears prowler, kids throwing water balloons at elderly people, check homes for people while they’re on vacation, testify in court, 4-12 officer calls in sick—must work 8 more hours.

And, of course, there are moments like this one that make it all worthwhile…

July 7, 2014/by Lee Lofland

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California Death Penalty Ruled Unconstitutional

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2014 Writers’ Police Academy Schedule Updated: It’s FANTASTIC!

You’ve Got To See This!

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

An Inside Peek At Police Special Assignments

Life After The Death Notice

What Happens After The Cuffs Go On?

Whatcha’ Gonna Do When They Come For You?

Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers

Countdown to 2024 KILLER CON

Writers’ Police Academy

Get to Know Lee Lofland