Motion sensitive devices have been around for quite awhile, and they sometimes go above and beyond what we want them to do. For example, they light our driveways when our friendly neighbor’s flag flutters. They set off our home alarm system after the burglar who broke a window to gain entry is already twenty feet inside the living room. And they turn off public restroom lights in mid stream (pun intended) if they no longer detect movement.

But, in spite of their quirks motion detectors are handy devices. It’s their sensitivity settings, or lack thereof, that can drive an owner to the point of grabbing a baseball bat to knock the thing from its mounting in order to club it into a million pieces. The nerve of it to flash on and off all night long causing us to think an army of creepy crooked criminals are crawling across our concrete walks. Yes, feral cats think it’s funny to disturb your evening by darting back and forth across your driveway simply to watch you come running outside in your pajamas holding an umbrella or spatula as a weapon to use against the intruder your winky-blinky light told you was there.

So, knowing the current issues and flaws associated with these flawed fixtures, scientists have developed a super-smart motion detector that not only works well and is extremely sensitive, it is 100% concealable. And speaking of its sensitivity, well, it can detect a movement as slight as someone moving the zipper on their jacket. You know, like when the bad guys in old films give their coat zippers a tiny tug upward before committing a dastardly deed. So yes, the new motion sensor, a sensor cable, will fit nicely in crime novels and other fictional settings. Here’s how it works…

The cable is fitted with ultra-sensitive magnetic sensors that detect changes in magnetic fields…even minute changes in those fields, such as the slight vibration caused by the movement of the aforementioned zipper. When the cable detects these changes in the nearby magnetic field it sends a message via Bluetooth to a controller that can activate outdoor lights, alarms, video recorders, call the police, alert a home or business owner, etc.

The sensor cable can be mounted along a fence line, hung in trees, and even buried underground.

This new device sounds wonderful and foolproof. However, it is still a cousin to the Internet of Things family, which means that no matter how seriously sensitive the sensor’s sensors are, its controller is susceptible to super-sorry hackers.

Still, imagine an entry team ready to serve a high-risk warrant at a home with one of these cables buried around the perimeter of the property when one of the team members discovers that he’d forgotten to zip his fly at the last bathroom break. Should he zip up, risking alerting those inside the target home to the team’s presence? Or, should he move in as planned, hoping there are no “escapes from custody.” Either way, the result would not be pretty.

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This is an article about your toasters, toothbrushes and TV’s, and your refrigerators and the locks on your front doors. Your new cars and baby monitors and your wrist-worn exercise trackers. And let’s not forget watches and even your mattress covers. Yes, I said mattress covers.

I’m talking about the “Internet of Things” and how our homes are ripe for anyone and everyone to use our gadgety-things as listening devices. That’s right, the tinfoil-hat-wearing-folks were absolutely and undeniably correct. Our toothbrushes are indeed capable of spying on us.

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The Internet of Things is basically a system of sorts that’s built on cloud computing, where sensors built into our gadgets—FitBit, TV, appliances, etc.—send and store collected data. Information received from those sensors is what allows the above-mentioned mattress cover to learn your sleeping habits and then adjust the temperature of your bed to one that’s comfortable to you. It even monitors your sleep through the night and makes whatever changes that may be needed as the night goes on.

The mattress cover also learns your normal bedtime and prepares the bed for you in advance of your pajama-wearing arrival. And…it checks the door locks to be sure they’re secure, switches off lights, sets the home thermostat, sets the alarm clock, switches off the stereo should you have forgotten to do so, and it’s even capable of turning on the coffee pot as soon as your feet hit the floor in the morning.

The smart-mattress cover connects wirelessly to your other gadgets to gather intelligence about your daily activities, such as the amount of exercise you had and what you ate. It uses the data to create the perfect bedtime rest environment. This thing even wakes you when you’ve reached the precise moment of light sleep that’s optimal for starting your day.

Sure, all of this sounds wonderful, however, hackers can use current information to see when you’re in deep sleep and then use your very own mattress cover to switch off your alarm system, unlock your front door to gain access to and steal your other smart stuff, including the doorknob, if so desired. There’s even a built-in microphone and who knows what that’ll detect…

Next, your car with it’s fancy GPS, emergency response systems, and back-up cameras. Yes, those systems are easily hacked and easily used by both the government and bad guys, with the latter desiring to steal your car or to possibly kidnap the occupants. Hackers can listen to conversations, use the GPS to locate the car, and activate the camera to view its surroundings.

Of course, you’ve all heard about criminals activating baby monitors and other household cameras, and the WiFi enabled toys for the purpose of locating children. The same is so for wearers of exercise and activity monitoring devices whose wearers can be quickly and easily located.

Smart sensors are being installed in concrete bridge decks that will enable your car to know in advance if icy conditions exist, or if the bridge is damaged and in danger of structure failure. Your car will soon be able to communicate with bridges and roadways and then tell its driver to select an alternate route when problems exist.

Police body cams and dash cam video recording devices are all susceptible to hacking. I suppose it’s not necessary to detail how harmful it could be for a hacker to destroy official evidence footage.

Anyway, the Internet of Things is now freakishly huge and freakishly spooky. There’s even a search engine devoting to allowing subscribers view live streams of non password-protected webcams, such as those in baby monitors, security cameras, computers, and televisions. This particular search site also features back rooms of banks, marijuana grow operations, school classrooms, private residences, and more. Any camera that’s not protected could be sending its live feed to this site, among many others all over the world, including to your neighborhood robber-rapist-pedophile-killer’s computer.

Remember, some devices, especially newer ones, have the option of password protection and opting out of cloud storage and communication, but many users skip the “opt out” function during device set-up. 

Who knows, your car could soon talk to my car and tell it to stop tailgating. And, of course, my car could respond to yours with a flip of a middle mirror.

Seriously, secure your devices and encrypt the communication between them. Instruction manuals should provide all the necessary information. If you do nothing, the device may be set to send it’s data to a cloud thats accessible by the manufacturer which is likely in another country. And, by doing nothing you’re leaving your entire home open to cyber-snooping. Otherwise, set an extra place at the table and add another pillow to the bed, because you just might have unexpected company.

Sleep well tonight, my friends. Sleep well…

 

 

Part of a police officer’s duty is to question suspects about their involvement in criminal activity. Of course, we’ve all seen TV shows and films where detectives rough up the person in question, hoping a few gentle love taps to the head will convince their prisoner to tell them where they’ve hidden their latest kidnap victim or the weapon they used to kill their cheating spouse.

But that’s not the way it’s done in real life. Well, it’s not supposed to work that way and there are laws against those sorts of tactics. Instead, interrogators must work within the confines of humane methods of eliciting information, and there is a bit of science behind good interrogation methods.

First, the basics. Human intelligence (HUMINT) collecting is nothing more than the gathering of information during the interaction of two or more people. Simple, yes? Well, it is simple, unless the only person willing to talk is the investigator. It’s when the others refuse to open up that things become a bit frustrating and less-than-fruitful, and that’s where skill and technique come into play. And, as they say, that’s when it’s time to “let the games begin.”

One extremely effective method of eliciting information is the Scharff method, and the secret to eliciting information using this tactic is twofold.

  1. The suspect must remain unaware of the investigator’s core objective and the detective must never reveal the information he/she actually knows and possesses, or does not know, about the details of the case.
  2. The suspect must, at best, underestimate or think very little of their own contributions of new evidence. They must not realize that what they’re saying is helping to piece together the crime-solving puzzle.

In other words, suspects must not suspect they’re supplying new information to the conversation, and one key to success in this scenario, I believe, is to try to think like the suspect. Place yourself in their position. What would they think in response to certain questions? Actually, there’s a psychological concept called perceptive taking that directly addresses considering the viewpoints of others.

Good investigators, while placing themselves in the shoes of their suspects, will know they must overcome the defenses already on the minds of many criminals, and they are:

  1. Don’t deny what the police already know. Instead, explain those things in a manner that excuses them or makes them seem reasonable, but not incriminating.
  2. Figure out what they want and do not give it to them.
  3. Do not say too much, but say just enough to sound as if you’re cooperative.

Armed with the above, investigators should begin the interview/interrogation knowing that suspects are wondering exactly how much police know about their involvement in the crime and, how confident the investigator is with his position/knowledge of specific facts.

The friendly approach to an interrogation works incredibly well, even for the most hardened (or so they appear at first) criminal. Sure, some are too tough to crack, but not most. Anyway, a relaxed, comfortable, and easy-going atmosphere helps set the stage. The suspect is far more apt to let down his guard when he’s at ease rather than having a large, red-faced, heavily-armed and sweaty cop thumping his chest and pounding his fists on the table.

Friendly, but not overly friendly to the point where actions and words are not believable. And definitely not the psychopathic faux friendliness as discussed in yesterday’s post. If so, a seasoned crook, who could very well be a psychopath himself, would see right through the act.

No, the friendliness I’m speaking of must come across as genuine. To put it another way, be a real person.

The officer must also give the impression he knows far more than he does and that he merely needs to hear those same details directly from the “horse’s” mouth. During this extremely productive and successful process of playing the role of Detective Nice Guy, the investigator should NEVER press for details by asking point-blank questions, such as “Did you do it?”

Interrogators should present the “I know everything about what you did” illusion with extreme confidence, much like David Copperfield convinced his audience that the Statue of Liberty disappeared, investigators  must convince suspects they know more than they’re telling. But it’s a trick that takes a bit of practice studying seasoned experts to perfect.

Interestingly, and most helpful to police, is the fact that many criminal suspects, when exposed to the above method of interrogation, are somewhat quick to disclose and verify information they believe officers already know. And, once this information is revealed detectives may use it to embellish upon other areas of their pretend knowledge of details. It truly becomes a snowball rolling downhill once the first few truthful details are exposed.

Having a suspect repeat what he’s said several times throughout the interrogation helps the detective pinpoint inaccuracies and inconsistencies that will need to be addressed at a later point in the interview. Soon, though, it all comes together and the suspect will never know what hit them until it’s too late. Actually, many times they don’t have a clue that they’ve revealed intricate details about their activities and crimes.

This Detective Sweet N. Sugar method of interrogation was definitely my favorite method of eliciting confessions and other information from suspects. I studied it and used it more often than not, and it’s extremely effective.

But the tactic is not new. Not even close. In fact, it was used and developed by Hanns Joachim Scharff, a German Luftwaffe interrogator during the Second World War.

Much of the success of Scharff’s technique is attributed to his personality, a trait that cannot be taught. However, much about the tactic can be passed on to interrogators. In fact, the method I so often used is currently being presented to government agents with the hope that the method will help to reveal terrorism plots.

 

‘‘What did he get out of me? There is no doubt in my mind that he did extract something, but I haven’t the slightest idea what.’’ ~ Hubert Zemke

 

Most of us have known friends who’ve stabbed us in the back, betrayed us, or otherwise hurt us in some form or another. And, we’ve known people who seem to enjoy “sticking it” to others, even to people who’ve bent over backward to help them. This is especially so if those “jabs” help the “sticker” in some way, be it career advancement, attract a member of the opposite sex, or for some other form of personal gain.

Sure, these people are charming and they’re often the life of the party, making their way around the room chatting and yucking it up with anyone who’ll listen to their “smooth” words. But, while your so-called “friend” is flitting among your guests, lining up dates and one night stands with any and everyone in the place, they’re also likely to be busy putting you down simply for the purpose of appearing to be better than you, and they’ll say whatever it takes to achieve that goal. So…sound familiar? Do you know someone who fits this bill? Yeah, me too, unfortunately.

As bad and as sorry it is to be a lowlife phony backstabber, that might not be where the trouble ends. Believe it or not, that fake charm, those pretend smiles, and doing harm to people who trusted them could be an indication that the life of your party is a closet Ted Bundy.

Before we dig bit deeper into what makes these bewitching narcissistic traitors tick, we should first assign a name to our lying, cheating, done-somebody-wrong pretend friends, and that name is…PSYCHOPATH.

Psychopathy is a personality disorder that involves/includes a menagerie of traits that make it extremely easy to like the person and to fall victim to their plans and plots. Those same pleasant mannerisms sometimes fool even the most skilled police investigators during interrogations. And, it’s those very qualities could make it quite easy to be killed by them.

Psychopaths are charismatic, alluring, and they’re quite skilled at carrying on a silver-tongued conversation that could charm the devil himself. They’re manipulative liars who use their abilities to have people do things for them, such as give them money. They’re predators who actually do know right from wrong, however their own personal gain trumps whatever consequences could come their way if caught.

Yes, some women are psychopaths, but most are men who often prey on women who fall for their convincing lies and grandiose schemes. Psychopaths are easily able to enter into careers in government, academia, and yes, even law enforcement.

Many are so skilled at lying and manipulation that they’re able to slip through the cracks and pass psych tests and evaluations, and they use people in any way they can to get whatever they want. They sometimes talk their way into high-profile jobs of power, and they absolutely love and cherish the dominance and control those positions afford them. Psychopaths regularly fool family members, and they use their abilities to gain the confidence of the people they desire to kill.

What are some red flag warning signs that you’re in some way involved with a psychopath?

1. They’re extremely charming, but the allure is superficial, shallow, and as phony as a three-dollar bill.

2. Psychopaths believe they’re more important than they really are. They believe their self-worth is practically immeasurable, and that others are beneath them. And, when they feel threatened by someone they seek to destroy that person. Destruction doesn’t always mean death, however. It could mean an all out attempt to ruin a person’s career, family, livelihood, etc.

3. They show no remorse for the bad things they do. They can easily collapse a person’s family life and profession and flippantly walk away smiling and not caring at all about the damage they’ve done.

4. They accept not one ounce of responsibility for their actions. They care about one thing and one thing only…ME, ME, ME. They’ll pretend to care about others, but it’s all an act because that’s what they do…act.

5. Psychopaths seem to love excitement and thrills. It’s an adrenaline rush for them to see others suffer emotionally, especially if it was they who caused the pain.

6. Hyper-inflated egos. They love themselves more than anyone else could.

7. They’re users who take whatever than can get from someone before moving on when the well runs dry. Spouses and other partners are often the ones on the losing end of this deal.

8. Rule-breakers. Rules do not apply to these folks, and they’ll circumvent them whenever possible because it’s a feeling of power and control.

9. These people are experts at manipulation and con games, and they may be so skilled at how they present the con that you’ll never see it coming. They’ll charm the boss, the preacher, family members and friends, subordinates and they’ll charm the garbage man if they think they could gain something from it.

1o. Psychopaths are pathological liars.

11. Psychopaths are often organized, careful planners who do not impulsively. (Sociopaths are easily angered and sometimes fly into sudden, spontaneous fits of rage).

12. Psychopaths feel entitled—the world owes them.

Finally, psychopaths will kill. Think Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Gacy, and even Hitler. But they’re are not always criminals and/or murderers. They could be your manipulative, lying, and narcissistic, backstabbing neighbor, your coworker, your boss, your writing coach, or…your spouse.

So…how do you feel about the psychopath in your life? You know you have one. The question is…how fast can you run away, before it’s too late?

 

Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

 

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Police Officer III Allen Lee Jacobs, 28

Greenville South Carolina Police Department

March 18, 2016 – Officer Allen Jacobs was shot multiple times as he and other officers attempted to interview a gang member. When the officers approached the suspect he fled on foot. Officers pursued the man and eventually encountered him in a backyard where he fatally shot Officer Jacobs.

Officer Jacobs is survived by his expectant wife and two sons.

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Deputy Carl A. Koontz, 27

Howard County Indiana Sheriff’s Office

March 20, 2016 – Deputy Carl Koontz was shot and killed as he and other deputies served a search warrant for narcotics. As the team entered the residence the suspect opened fire, striking both Deputy Koontz and a sergeant. Entry team members managed to pull the two from the residence. The injured deputies were then flown to a hospital in Indianapolis where Deputy Koontz succumbed to his wounds.

Deputy Koontz is survived by his wife and son.

 

“This is not going to be the last time you lose one of your coworkers. That is a reality of the job.” ~ Beckett to police academy recruits.
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Melanie Atkins

All I can say about last night’s episode of Castle is that I liked parts of it, but not all of it. Not by a long shot. The idea of Kate and the boys investigating a murder connected to the police academy intrigued me, and yet the reality of the place came off as stark, sterile, and weird, as if it were Star Fleet Academy or something. And all the shots were so dark. What’s up with that? Can they not afford light bulbs?

Kate apparently holds all the records recruits can hold, and all of the current recruits look up to her. I enjoyed seeing her revisit that part of her past, but a little of that goes a long way. I have to admit that they got me this time, because I didn’t choose the right killer. I really expected it to be the female recruit who was so like Kate. Her being a mobster’s daughter took me by surprise.

Even so, the case didn’t really grab me, but the glimpses of Rick and Kate together did. I’m sick and tired of their fake break-up, and the first scene of them together in the loft with Kate avoiding Martha made me shake my head. Such a ridiculous storyline — but alas, all of that craziness is apparently about to come to an end. Because as we learned in the show’s final scene, the two of them are finally on the same page about fighting their enemies together rather than separately, which they should’ve been doing all season instead of living apart. Duh.

I’m ready to forget the last 15 episodes even exist and move on, except that they have yet to defeat LokSat. Another tired, contrived storyline. After last week’s show, however, they’ve at least connected LokSat to Rick’s missing time, so hopefully once they catch that particular boogie man (or woman), they’ll put both stories to rest for good. They can’t do it fast enough for me. I’m so tired of dreading to do this blog.

I’m also ready for Kate and Rick to live together again, to laugh, and fight normal crimes. Like they used to do on Castle, before the new showrunners decided to ruin my favorite show. I miss those days so much that I’m rewatching the entire series to get my fix. I’ll skip season 8, of course, because the entire LokSat fiasco has been such a disappointment.

Let’s move on from here and get back to the old Castle. Please.

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Lee Lofland

I didn’t particularly care for the episode, but, as you know, my main job is to discuss the rights and wrongs of the police procedure and forensics, so let’s begin with good ‘ol Lividity Lanie…

Beckett to Lanie. “Got a time of death?”

Okay, wait for it….wait for it…wait for it…and, GO!

“Between nine and midnight,” said Lanie.

Did I hear that right? Did Lanie actually utter those words? Why yes, I believe she did.

So, Castle writers…how difficult was it to have have poor, sweet Tamala Jones say something that was absolutely and incredibly believable? That’s right, there was no dumb, “based on lividity,” gobbledygook. No consultation with a crystal ball. No voodooery. No fortune telling or tea leaf reading. Merely a simple, “Between nine and midnight.” The line was clean, concise, and…I’m so happy that, well…

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And then there is Hayley. Grrrrr. Enough said.

Beckett plays police academy instructor to give her a means to question potential murder suspects. There’s a fine line here that defense attorneys might say she crossed when interrogating those potential suspects without first advising them of their rights. Technically, I suppose the argument in favor of the tactic would be that they were not in custody at the time of the pretend very real questioning. However, did the recruits feel they were able to leave?

Beckett’s trick of placing an item (a bag) on the table during questioning is a very real and very old tactic that often works quite well. For example, I once arrested a killer based on decent evidence, but wasn’t able to locate the murder weapon, a gun.  Therefore I decided to try a trick of my own. I entered the interview room that day and took a seat across from the accused. I advised him of his rights and started in making small talk, mindless chatter merely to give me time to establish some sort of connection before putting my real plan into motion.

Earlier, I’d asked my partner to deliver to me a large, sealed paper evidence envelope in which I’d placed a snack for later in the day. The snack consisted of a lone banana.

A few minutes into the interview there was a knock at the door. My plan was officially underway.

The bad guy sat watching as my partner delivered the package to me and leaned over to whisper something in my ear. We spoke for a minute and then I looked the killer in the eye and smiled while gently tapping the bulge in the envelope. I have to admit, it did appear to be a gun, but I never once said it was, nor did I even offer a hint what it was or what was inside. In fact, I didn’t mention the package.

During the interrogation, I watched the accused shooter begin to squirm in his seat. I actually saw beads of perspiration sprouting on his face and shaved head. A few minutes into the interview, without me having to say anything at all about the banana, he confessed.

The trick worked. The guy thought I’d found the murder weapon. Of course, prior to taking him to jail I opened the bag to retrieve my snack, and while peeling the banana I offered him a piece.

Hey, I’m a smart ass, but I’m not rude.

Sorry, I sort of drifted off topic there for a moment. Back to Castle…

Beckett was in the midst of interrogating a police academy recruit when he asked for a lawyer, a couple of times. She ignored his request and continued asking questions. When a person requests an attorney officers are required to cease questioning at once. Zip it. Nip it. It’s done. The fork has been stuck, and, well, you get the idea. When they ask for an attorney you must stop the interrogation.

I did pick the correct killer, but for a minute considered the academy sergeant. However, the writers were trying far too hard to make us believe he was the suspect, so my focus returned to the head of the academy. After all, he fit nicely into the vacant spot in the boilerplate script.

I never once thought the female recruit did it. However, the moment she pulled a gun on the mob guy/her father, she should have been discharged from the academy and the NYPD. She became a criminal at the point. And, Beckett and crew should have shot her while she stood there pointing a gun at a citizen, threatening to shoot him.

By the way, how in the heck did the three seasoned detectives miss finding a gun on the recruit before sending her in, wired, to trick her father into confessing to a crime? After all, a gun missing from the academy was the murder weapon. She (Decker) was a bit of a loose cannon. Add two and two in that situation and, well, you at least pat her down before sending her inside.

It was a nice touch to have Beckett mention a “panic phrase” (or word). When people, such as informants or undercover officers, are sent into potentially dangerous situations, while wired, they’re typically told to say the panic phrase when serious trouble pops up so the handlers/officers on the outside/backup will know to rush in and save the day.

Finally, LokSat…GO AWAY! We’ve seen the movie Groundhog Day, and it was wonderful, but to mimic the premise of that film by repeating the same old tired thing week after week after week has truly gotten old and stale. Please move on.

 

 

This little piggy went to rob him,
This little piggy stabbed him,
This little piggy had a gun,
This little piggy had none.
Those little piggies ran … wee, wee, wee, all the way home!

Footprints have been a part of crook-catching and crime-solving for a long, long time. Investigators have used them track bad guys from point A to point B, and beyond, if needed. They’ve also used footprints to match shoes to print found at crime scenes.

Detectives have matched material(s) found lodged in shoe soles to identical material(s) found at crime scenes (broken glass, soil, blood, carpet fibers, etc.). And they’ve even used them to make a decent scientific guess at the height and weight of a suspect.

Now, however, scientists have developed a new and better method of identifying footwear—Frustrated Total Internal Reflection (FTIR) imaging—that could link a specific person to a shoe. Well, sort of.

The new method of footwear ID creates a digital picture of the footprints in question.

Here’s how it works. First, though, it might be a good idea to brush up on your science and math skills, or, at least dust off the calculators and slide rules. I’ll show you why in a moment.

We each have our very own footprint, but I’m not speaking of the ridges on our toes and heels, etc. No, this is about the individual ridges and wear patterns on the soles of our shoes, and the marks they leave behind as we walk. I know, this sort of thing (wear patterns, etc.) have been considered in the past, but this new method goes far beyond the former technique of investigators collecting the footprint using various manual techniques, such as ink pads and specially sensitized papers, or using electrostatic dust print lifters as many of you had the opportunity to experience first-hand at the Writers’ Police Academy.

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Author Donna Andrews photographing electrostatic footwear prints at the Writers’ Police Academy. This is Donna, like the thousands of other writers who’ve attended the WPA, going the extra mile for her fans and readers. 

It’s extremely time-consuming to have investigators collect prints and then turn them over to examiners who painstakingly scrutinize them for abnormalities and then search a suspect’s shoes, looking for those same identifying marks. Then, when all is said and done, the examiners say yay or nay (the eyeball technique is a bit more accurate than that, but you get the idea).

Even the method of using electrostatic dust print lifters, although a bit less time-consuming and messy (no metal molds or goop to mix and pour, etc.), still requires eyeballing to compare to a suspect’s shoes.

FTIR, in short, eliminates the hours of hand examination by digitally detecting and recording the amount of and distribution of pressure applied to each area of the footprint (specific weight distribution). Thus, matching a print to suspect’s shoe is far a more accurate process than merely comparing a photograph to a shoe sole. The new technique could also tell scientists and investigators precisely how much pressure was generated when a crook kicked in a door during a home invasion or B&E. It can even tell investigators the extent of a person’s gait.

Okay, so here’s where your calculator comes in handy, and I’m only going to bore you with a tiny bit of the math involved, but it will give you an idea as to how this works.

Draw three circles. Look at the moon. Add three squares. Two bananas and four tornadoes. The tree is green. And add an X. How many cows are driving in the carpool lane?

Sorry, wrong equation. That was a math homework assignment for one of our neighbor’s kids.

FTIR is a bit less complicated than elementary school homework. Such as: “…many shoes are typically made from polymeric materials, they will have a higher refractive index than air. This change in refractive index results in a change in the critical angle required for light to be totally internally reflected at this interface which is now given by the equation , where nshoe is the refractive index of the shoe material.”

And… “is achieved by ensuring that the light is always incident on the glass(plastic)/air interface at an angle that is larger than the critical angle, ?c. This angle can easily be determined from the formula , where n is the refractive index of the sheet material. For glass, which has a refractive index of ~1.5 at visible wavelengths, the critical angle is ~42°.”

Obviously, this stuff is a bit above the pay grade of the average detective. Thankfully, the scientists who devised this new method of accurately measuring and gauging footwear evidence have done all of the hard work. For me, well, as fond as I am of science (I have to be, I’m married to a successful scientist), sometimes the old fashioned methods are still the best. Such as the time when…

One morning, immediately after downing a cup of coffee made in the pot in my office, I responded to investigate a burglary. Riding with me was a brand new detective. His first day in plainclothes. We arrived at the scene and it was quite obvious the point of entry was a side door complete with a clear dusty footprint next the brass knob. The jamb was shattered and splintered. The kick had been a nice one.

I spoke with the manager who told me the burglar had taken only cash, and that she’d hidden the money inside a secret location known only to her. I asked her a couple of times if she was certain that only she knew about the hiding spot. “Wait,” she said. “The other day a guy I know was here when I closed up, but he’d stepped outside just before I hid the money. He could’ve been at the window, looking in.”

I asked for his name, made a mental note of it, and then walked over to where my rookie partner was busy collecting all sorts of meaningless evidence and taking dozens of photographs of the footprint on the door. I let him finish, told him to clean the fingerprint powder from his face, hands, arms, and, what was a few minutes earlier, a freshly pressed and bright white shirt.

Once he’d properly stowed his evidence collection kit, camera, and goodness knows what else, I drove out of the lot. I knew the guy the manager mentioned and that he lived nearby. He was a crackhead known for stealing to support his $1,000 per day habit.

I was heading down Main Street when lo and behold the little dirtbag passed us going in the opposite direction, toward the scene of the crime. I was quite familiar with this guy, having arrested him many times over the years. I also knew his driver’s license had been suspended for DUI, a couple of them., my PC (probable cause) for a traffic stop.

I made a U-turn and rushed to catch up to the car. When I did, I hit the blue lights and burped the siren once. My stunned partner had no clue what I doing, and said so. “What’s going on,” he asked. Watch and learn, rookie, I thought as I stepped out of the car and hitched up pants on the side where my SIG Sauer 9mm rested.

I walked up to the driver’s window, which Carl Crackhead (not his real name, duh) had already rolled down. “Did I do something wrong,” he asked.

“You know your license is suspended.”

“I know,” he said, “but I needed a pack of cigarettes. I was only going to the store. Give me a break.”

“Step out of the car,” I said.

He did, but moaned and complained the entire time.

“Let me see the bottom of your right shoe,” I said.

He held it up.

I took a chance. “Anything you want to tell me before I take you to jail?”

He looked down and then back up. “How’d you know it was me? How’d you know I broke in the store? Aw, man, my shoe print…”

He confessed to everything. Watching the manager hide the money. Going there at night to kick in the door. Taking the money and then using it buy crack.

I handcuffed him and had him sit in the front passenger seat of my car. My rookie partner rode in the back with a confused look on his face.

After we’d processed Carl and he was safely tucked away inside a cell, my partner said, “How’d you do that? I mean, all you did was look at a footprint. How?”

I’d heard him tell the story of my “amazing” detecting skills to other officers over the years, and he’d often revisit the scenario with me. As far as I know he may still think my abilities to solve crimes were of the supernatural. Perhaps that’s why I so often call BS on Lividity Lanie’s voodoo crime scene skills. Because I know that’s not how it works in real life.

However, an investigator’s gut feelings are no joke. They’re as real as, well, adding tornadoes and boxes to learn the sum of apples and hermit crabs equals 9 to the circle of hummingbird power.

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* Actual scientific math equations above – Scientific Reports/Watch Your Step.

Goofy math equations – Potentially any school in the U.S. (I’m kidding, of course. We all know I’m only referring to those schools that teach Common core math. I’m still kidding, or am I? 🙂

 

What’s it like to work undercover? Well, there’s this…

1. No longer having to schedule time for haircuts.

2. Devoting time to maintaining the proper amount and length of facial hair.

3. Your uniform du jour is a Led Zeppelin t-shirt, old jeans, and tennis shoes.

4. Getting to drive cool cars, such as a rusty and dented Ford Pinto.

5. Having a two-beer limit on allowable consumption of alcohol while working.

6. The joy of hanging out/socializing with drug dealers, gang members, and killers.

7. Playing dress-up for a living.

8. Not having to wear a hot, smelly Kevlar vest but sometimes wishing you could wear a hot smelly Kevlar vest.

9. Not having to carry a heavy gun on your side but really, really missing the familiar comfort associated with the weight.

10. Working your own hours as the need dictates (drug deals, gun shipments, etc.).

11. Tattoos are part of your uniform.

12. Drinking beer from a can still wrapped in a paper bag, even when you don’t like the taste of beer.

13. Remembering not to wave and smile when you see one of your cop co-workers, and hope they’ll remember to do the same in return.

And, when the assignment ends…

1. You have to shave and cut your hair.

2. Shaving for the first time in many months causes your face and neck to burn…intensely.

3. The feeling of stepping outside after getting that haircut. The world looks brighter and fresher. Skies are bluer. The air feels crisp and clean when it first brushes against your exposed neck. But you feel totally naked and exposed to the world.

4. It feels great to be back at work, but you sort of miss not wearing that clunky, stinky vest and that heavy gun. And you actually kind of miss being out at night, hanging out in the streets while sipping beer from cans concealed inside paper bags.

5. You sometimes catch yourself attempting to push your non-existent hair away from eyes.

6. You have a better understanding of what it’s like to be on the other side of the badge, and you’re extremely happy to be carrying handcuffs instead of wearing them.

* Yes, that’s me in the top photo. The hair disappeared a few days later.

Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

 

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Officer Jacai D. Colson, 28

Prince George’s County Maryland Police Department

March 13, 2016 – Officer Jacai Colson was shot and killed during a shootout at the police station where one man fired at police and passing vehicles while his brother filmed the incident.

Sadly, the shot that killed Officer Colson during the intense gun battle was fired by a fellow police officer.

Officer Colson was working an undercover assignment and was in plainclothes at the time.

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Officer Nathan Taylor, 35

California Highway Patrol

March 13, 2016 – Officer Nathan Taylor was directing traffic at the scene of a vehicle crash when a car struck him while attempting to speed past the slow traffic. He was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Officer Taylor is survived by his wife, three sons, parents, sister, and three brothers.

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First Sergeant Joseph G. Portaro, 50

West Virginia State Police

March 14, 2016 – First Sergeant Joseph Portaro fell ill while participating in a fitness run at the training academy. He was transported to the hospital where he later passed away. He is survived by his wife and three children.

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Patrolman David Ortiz

El Paso Texas Police Department

March 14, 2016 – Patrolman David Ortiz was on motorcycle patrol when a vehicle struck him from behind, pushing his motorcycle into the car in front of him and trapping him beneath it. He was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

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Trooper Thomas Clardy, 44

Massachusetts State Police

March 16, 2016 – Trooper Thomas Clardy was seated in his patrol car during a traffic stop when a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed suddenly swerved across three lanes of traffic and struck his car from behind. He was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to injuries received in the violent crash.

Trooper Clardy is survived by his wife and six children.

 

The FBI wants Apple to help it access the iPhone owned and used by the terrorists who killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Ca. last year. Apple has refused and, in fact, has challenged the request in court. The battle is ongoing.

But hacking into iPhones is not new to the government. Actually, they’ve been doing it for a long time, and the process is as simple as purchasing a $200 IP box that’s easily available on eBay. The device is simple to use—connect the phone to the box and it zips through every possible PIN combination until it unlocks the phone. This method of hacking is called “brute-forcing.”

I know, Apple installed a safety that erases a phone’s data after 10 failed attempts to log in. BUT, the IP box is one step ahead of the game because it cuts power to the phone after each attempt, therefore the log-in attempts don’t accumulate.

Here’s a video of the device unlocking an iPhone with a 4-digit code. It takes a couple of minutes so prepare to yawn a few times before the exciting climax when the code appears and the phone unlocks. By the way, this process has been known to take as long as 111 hours (40 seconds for each PIN attempt).

Apple claims they plugged this security “hole” after iOS 8.1, but law enforcement experts say they’ve used brute-forcing devices to unlock the later versions.

It’s believed that the number of iPhones vulnerable to brute-forcing exceeds 100 million.

In the current argument/case between Apple and the U.S. government, the phone in question, the one used by the San Bernardino terrorists, runs iOS 9, which is protected against a brute-forcing attack.

So, the battle goes on.

In the meantime, rest assured that hackers, for whatever reasons, are working diligently to gain access to the latest iPhone models, leaving us to wonder if the newer Apple iPhones will continue to remain protected against falling from a poisonous tree.