And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming.
And the lamplight o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted—nevermore!
Frequently Asked Questions about the Writers’ Police Academy
1. What is FATS?
FATS is an acronym for Firearms Training Simulator.
– WPA recruits experience shoot/don’t shoot scenarios
– For a detailed workshop description visit https://leelofland.com/?p=7045
2. What should I wear to the WPA?
Wear comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes. And please remember, the event is held in September in the south. It could be very warm and humid. You should also be prepared for the normal afternoon rain showers.
Attire for the reception is casual.
Business casual is acceptable for the banquet, but you’re more than welcome to take it up a notch!
3. What if I can’t keep up with everyone?
The WPA is not physically demanding. Yes, the event is a hands-on event, but it’s designed so that WPA recruits can do as much or as little as they want. The experience is wonderful no matter what you do or don’t do!
There is no running, exercising, lifting, pushing, pulling, etc. There is, however, some walking involved. Yes, you will be expected to walk from workshop to workshop.
The entire event is wheelchair friendly. Service dogs are welcome, too. BUT…please keep in mind that police canines will be on site and they sometimes do not mingle well…
Please, no animals other than service dogs. No exceptions.
4. Can I take photos?
Absolutely. However, some of the police officers on the grounds may be working somewhere in an undercover capacity, therefore, having their image plastered across the internet could prove to be dangerous for them and their families. So please ask before taking any pictures or videos. Everyone is aware that cameras will be on hand so there shouldn’t be any problems. But the WPA is held at a working police academy and there will be on-going classes while you’re there.
5. May I bring my personal weapon?
NO! Absolutely no firearms, pepperspray, Tasers, handcuffs, knives, etc. No weapons of any kind. Please leave them at home. If you need protection I think it’ll be fairly easy to find a police officer within arm’s reach.
Bringing a weapon to the WPA grounds will result in immediate dismissal from the event. No refunds.
(Law enforcement officers, please contact Lee Lofland or Jerry Cooper regarding weapons policies).
6. Are meals provided?
Breakfast is included with your Embassy Suites hotel reservation.
Lunches are not provided by the WPA. However, the local EMS will have sandwiches, chips, and drinks available for a very small donation to their organization. The lunch breaks are brief and the academy is not near any type of restaurant.
You will be on your own for dinner on Friday night. There will be assorted fruits, cheeses, and other goodies available at the reception. (Menu is still a work in progress).
The Saturday night banquet is optional, but you’ll miss a great time if you don’t attend.
7. Can I bring my small children to the event?
We love kids. We really do. But there is no daycare facility on the grounds, and children may not attend the workshops. Some of the material is simply not suitable for children. And, since this is an actual police/fire/EMS academy, there are many, many dangers for children.
Young adults 16 and above may attend as registered WPA recruits.
8. May I bring a guest to the banquet?
Sure. In fact, we welcome banquet guests. All we ask is that you include the appropriate dollar amount on your registration form and then send us a note including your guest’s name. Your banquet tickets will be waiting for you when you arrive.
9. May I bring copies of my books to sell at the event?
Sorry, but the only books that may be sold at the event are those offered for sale by Barnes and Noble at their official event bookstore. And the only books that will be available are those of the WPA faculty and keynote speaker. There may be a few nonfiction titles available that relate to police and forensics. Remember, this is not a writers conference, so take off your marketing hat and enjoy yourself!
10. How are the lucky people chosen for the ride-a-long’s with sheriff’s deputies?
Ride-a-long’s will be chosen by lottery drawing. Everyone who registered before the early bird cut-off date of June 15, 2011 will be eligible. One entry per person.
Winners will ride on patrol, at night (6-10pm) with a Guilford County Sheriff’s deputy. You may transfer your winning ticket to another WPA recruit if you choose to do so.
11. Are there prisoners in the jail that we’ll be visiting?
Yes. The jail houses inmates who’ve committed crimes ranging from misdemeanors to murder. You’ll be escorted by law enforcement, so you’ll be perfectly safe. Please listen to and follow the deputies’ instructions.
12. Will we actually be using real police tools and equipment?
Yes, everything you’ll see at the WPA is real. This is not a watered-down citizens police academy. We want you to see, touch, smell, and experience what it’s like to be a police officer, even if it’s only for three days. I promise you an adrenaline rush before the weekend is over!
13. Will I have time to see and do everything?
Absolutely not. Think of this event as Disneyland For Writers. There is far too much to see and do in one weekend. You’ll need to study the schedule and pick and choose the workshops that interest you the most. We do try to offer each workshop/class/session at least twice. Still, it would be impossible to do it all. We will, however, arrange it so that everyone is able to attend Dr. Ramsland’s Friday presentation.
We are in the process of nailing down the final schedule and hope to have it online and ready to go by June 12, 2011. Please bear with us. It is a scheduling nightmare trying to line up active-duty law enforcement officers and fire and EMS personnel from a few dozen agencies. Not to mention the rotating shifts, vacations, court, sudden call-outs, emergency situations, etc. And we have dozens of large vehicles, equipment, etc. that we have to get into place at the proper times.
The WPA schedule could change at any moment due to any of the above situations.
14. The WPA hotel (Embassy Suites) is filling rapidly. Reserve your rooms now! Remember to ask for the Writers’ Police Academy special rate.
Embassy Suites Hotel Greensboro-Airport
204 Centreport Drive, Greensboro, NC 27409 (336) 668-4535
* The Writers’ Police Academy and the event hotel are conveniently located near the Piedmont Triad Airport. Use Airport Code “GSO”.
Writers contact me all the time asking why it’s sometimes so difficult for police to find the bodies of murder victims. Well, I have an easy answer for those questions, but I think I’ll show you instead. So put on your hiking shoes and take a walk with me through a few of nature’s built-in hiding spots. Don’t forget to have a peek at the gorgeous scenery as you pass by. Some of it is absolutely breathtaking. By the way, these are images taken during a couple of our “let’s just park here and see what we see” hiking trips. I think you’ll see why it sometimes takes a while to find the dearly departed.
Yes, that’s Mt. St. Helens in the distance.
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He’s Back!
NYPD Detective Marco Conelli is joining the 2011 Writers’ Police Academy to present Going Undercover To Solve Your Crime. You won’t want to miss this one!
http://www.writerspoliceacademy.com/
*The early bird registration rate has been extended thanks to a request by Sisters In Crime.
Big news coming soon!
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…
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Exciting News! Attention All Writers’ Police Academy Attendees!
Bill Lanning
Police academy instructor and crime scene expert, Professor Bill Lanning, will be conducting a workshop on outdoor crime scenes. WPA recruits will experience a rare opportunity…to see and photograph all of the aspects of a shallow grave burial of a murder victim. Yes, you’ll actually find the evidence, see the insects, and smell death. So don’t forget to bring your digital cameras! We will also have a session on working the crime scene as a forensic photographer. We’re looking forward to seeing you in September!
Have you registered yet?
Not everyone received an invitation to the Royal Wedding. But our friend, Coroner’s Investigator Paul Beecroft, and a group of his neighborhood friends found a way to celebrate the day anyway—a street party in Twyford, Berkshire, England!
Getting ready.
Seems as if everyone had a good time except poor Dax.
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Have you registered for the Writers’ Police Academy?
http://www.writerspoliceacademy.com/
The world is in turmoil. War, politics, soaring gas and food prices, and devastating weather continue to consume the headlines and our minds. So I invite you to take a moment to relax. Daydream a bit. Visit places where the only hustle-bustle you’ll see are the thousands of fiddler crabs darting across the marsh mud. Or go to the beach and watch the pelicans glide gracefully overhead. Listen to the waves hit the sand, leaving behind sizzling sea foam and the occasional piece of odd-shaped driftwood.
But where can you go to see both the marsh and the beach? Well, hop in the car. Let’s take a drive out to Tybee Island, Ga. It’s one of the closest places to paradise this side of…well, paradise.
The combined scents of marsh mud and tangy, raw oysters. A screeching gull. Wind rushing through the palms. Waves lapping at the sandy shoreline. Buoys undulating in the changing currents. Tiny crabs, thousands of them, scurrying over the earth in unison, like an ever-moving tide. It’s where the quiet is loud. Where time is not important. And life, well, life is good. This is Bluffton.
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Want to see and use real-life CSI tools and equipment? Curious about fingerprinting? Serial killers? Want to shoot guns? Drive a police car? See the inside of a real jail? How about riding with a real deputy on patrol? Does that sound exciting? Then you’ll certainly want to attend the 2011 Writers’ Police Academy.
You don’t have to be a writer to enjoy this fantastic event! It’s open to all.
And there’s fun for everyone from age 16 to 100!
Have you reserved your spot for the 2011 Writers’ Police Academy?
Ride-a-longs with sheriff’s deputies, jail tours, firearms and driver training are only a part of the fun!
Train with the pros.
Sign up now at:
http://www.writerspoliceacademy.com/
Space is limited!
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Want to drive a patrol car, or an ambulance? Ever wanted to pepperspray someone? Are you curious about cyber crimes? Bioterrorism? Serial killers? Want to see and use real-life CSI tools and equipment? What’s it like to be in a gun battle? Then you’ll certainly want to attend the Writers’ Police Academy.
Have you reserved your spot for the 2011 Writers’ Police Academy?
Ride-a-longs with sheriff’s deputies, jail tours, firearms and driver training are only a part of the fun!
Train with the pros.
Sign up now at:
http://www.writerspoliceacademy.com/
Space is limited!
