A blog about police procedure and investigation, forensics, and the craft of writing

by

Renowned Expert Lee Lofland

12

Writers’ Police Academy Golden Donut Short Story Winners and Runners-Up

Each year the Writers’ Police Academy hosts the Golden Donut Short Story Contest. It’s a fun contest with two major but simple rules—the focus of the story must be based on the photo we provide, and the story must contain EXACTLY 200 words.…
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Here’s How YOU Can Identify the Bones Found in Your Backyard

When the topic of identifying skeletal remains arises, two world-renowned renowned forensic anthropologists immediately come to mind—Dr. Elizabeth A. Murray and Dr. Kathy Reichs. Both experts are at the top of their profession and are two…
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Cops to Receive X-Ray Vision: Amaze Their Friends and Suspected Criminals

For years, comic book fans scanned the back pages to view ads telling them how they could, for a single dollar, receive a 7-foot-tall Frakenstein's Monster with glowing eyes, or a genuine invisible space helmet for the low, low cost of $2.98.…
Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for Writers

Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers.

As part of the latest Writers Digest Books Howdunit series, Police Procedure and Investigation is an authoritative guide that provides insight into a cop’s world; the terminology used by police officers; an in-depth look at the tools of the trade; squad house hierarchy; legal terms; courtroom terminology; jail, gang, and convict slang; street talk; drug crime information; con air procedures; information on autopsies and death penalty executions; cadet training procedures; fingerprinting details; a breakdown of murder and manslaughter charges; and tons of other useful information; all the things that explain why and how cops do what they do. A retired police detective, Lofland gives the lowdown on how everyday folks, as well as writers and journalists, misunderstand or incorrectly portray how the police work. Find out what mistakes you’re likely to make in your work. This book is the next best thing to having a police detective personally assigned to the reader.

With a career in law enforcement that spanned nearly two decades, author Lee Lofland is a nationally acclaimed expert on police procedures and crime scene investigations who consults regularly with best-selling authors and television producers. Now you can benefit from his years of experience with Police Procedure & Investigation.

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Strengthen Your Writing Muscles

Learn in-depth details about crime, crime scene and police procedures, and the tools used in real life investigations to help you develop realistic scenes and believable characters.


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Contact Lee Lofland

Writers’ Police Academy Online Courses

Learn insider details from top law enforcement investigators, forensics experts, crime scene investigators, medical examiners, EMS, firefighters, K-9 handlers, bestselling authors, editors, agents, and other writing professionals.


Writers’ Police Academy Online

Learn About Lee Lofland.

Lee Lofland is a veteran police investigator who began his law-enforcement career working as an officer in Virginia’s prison system. He later became a sheriff’s deputy, a patrol officer, and finally, he achieved the highly-prized gold shield of detective. Along the way, he gained a breadth of experience that’s unusual to find in the career of a single officer.


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THE CRIME SCENE

It’s time to register for the 2024 Writers’ Police Academy’s special event, KIller Con!

The 16th annual Writers’ Police Academy returns in 2024 with an exciting all-new event, Killer Con.

Hosted by Writers’ Police Academy, Killer Con is a unique hands-on Homicide and Crime Scene Investigator Training Academy for writers.
This special event is designed to assist writers with:
– Character development.
– Insider, behind-the-scenes details about investigators and the tools, equipment, tactics, and techniques they use to solve cases.
– Experiencing true-to-life training that’s needed to add stunning realism to any story.
– Writing scenes from the point of view of someone who’s “been there, done that.”
– Providing elaborate specifics to help immerse your readers into the worlds you’ve created.
Killer Con classes and workshops are taught by leading forensic and law enforcement experts and DOJ-certified instructors.

June 6-9, 2024

FOUR DAYS of PRO-LEVEL TRAINING
HANDS-ON TRAINING
GUEST of HONOR
EXPERT INSTRUCTORS
2024 SHORT STORY CONTEST