The rules were simple. Write a complete story based on the photo we provided. The trick? The story had to be exactly 200 words. Not 201. Not 199.

The Golden Donut contest attracts writers from all across the world, and to place in the top ten is a true accomplishment.

Here are the top nine 2014 runners-up, in no particular order.

Congratulations to you all!

 

The Second Trailer – Meg E Dobson

The team swept the area for bombs—nothing, and I’m up next. My protection gear chaffs. Baby powder never works here. Welcome to New Orleans.

When the camera scope reveals nadda through the FEMA trailer’s door, I ease it open. Creak, but no blast. Rivers of sweat flow from my neck and into my boots. The stink reminds me of Desert Storm, where I learned my trade. Go Army.

Inside, there’s no obvious bomb, and manikin bodies are piled in a corner. I hate manikins. Body part by body part, I check and move on. Check and move. Check. Move. Inside a plastic stomach cavity, I spot the glint of red and yellow wire connected to the C4 and the tiny cell phone glow. Setting to work, I forget the chaffing, the sweat, and the stink.

When I emerge, the squad leader lifts the stop watch in triumph and everyone cheers. Expecting free beer, I strip my sweaty gear. The trailer two down from this one explodes. I roll into the dirt.

That’s when the laser light blooms crimson on my chest. Check the perimeter. With my job, it’s going to be someone else’s screw up?

—————————————————-

The Mannequin Murders – Susanna Nash

Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy hurried into Dummies for Windows and found the officer in charge.

Sergeant Oak told McCarthy, “Need your expertise.” He eyed Bergen. “Think you can help?”

“Maybe. I’m no dummy.

The three strolled past workers standing rigidly, smiles painted on their faces, then entered an office with a tightly closed safe, two stolid employees, and the victims.

“Narrowed it down to these two.” Oak pointed. “Mr. Pine claims he never left the loading dock. Mr. Wooden says he was gluing on wigs.”

Bergen snifffed a shiny spot on the body in the front corner. “Wet glue.”

“Wooden is the killer,” McCarthy snapped.

“Desperate for dough?” Bergen noted Wooden’s jagged cuffs. “Caught trying to rob the safe?”

“Yeah. The manager surprised me. I twisted his legs, but he wouldn’t give me the combination. Then those kids stumbled in.”

“Look at their angelic faces. How could you?”

“Yeah, look at ’em. I could tell they were gonna sing.”

“And him?” Bergen pointed at the body in the back of the room.

 Wooden woodenly replied, “Tried to nail me. Had to disarm him.”

 Oak cuffed Wooden and thanked McCarthy, who said, “A hollow victory.”

—————————————————-

EXIT PLAN – Vy Kava

I pushed the buzzer and the voice box next to the door crackled.

“What do you want?

I was to say today’s date-September 11.

The door opened. Harsh florescent light illuminated a warehouse crammed with steel shelves filled with mannequins in various stages of completion. A burly man approached.

“I wired the 100,000 yesterday.” I said.

“We got it….How tall are you?”

“Six feet.”

“Follow me.” He grabbed a gurney and began sifting  thru the shelves dragging two handless arms, a torso and two legs.

I followed him to his workbench. He attached the body parts with a screw gun. From a box he pulled two lifelike silicon hands with arthritic fingers and attached them to the arms.

“Give me your rings.”

“What.”

“Your rings.”

I reluctantly turned them over.

He brought over a mannequin’s head that looked just like me- the eyebrows, the crooked nose and the scar over my right eye. Next came the clothes – a black suit, shirt and tie.

“You think it will fool them?” I asked.

“It is all arranged with the funeral home in Florida…. Good luck.” He shook my hand.

My next stop was breakfast at the Twin Towers.

—————————————————-

The Wait – David Swords

Karl moved slowly as he straightened the fourth floor attic of Steinman’s Department Store.  In the fifteen years he had been Steinman’s janitor, this was his least favorite job.  Dirty and dark.  Dark because of the oil lamp he had to use for lighting.

The lamp threw eerie shadows around the room as Karl moved boxes and clothing racks.  Just as he thought he was getting a handle on the mess, he gasped as the light fell in the corner and revealed a pile of mannequins thrown together.  Mannequins stacked one on top of the other, like cordwood.  Men, women and children.  All unclothed.  All different, yet all the same.

Karl felt uneasy at the sight.  As he turned to get back to work, he heard a sound behind him and saw movement in the shadows.  He turned to see a mannequin rising from the floor.  Then another, and  another.  All pointing at him.  Gaunt faces and ragged clothes, all pointing at Karl.

As he stumbled back and knocked the lamp over, he knew.  As the flames engulfed the clothes of Karl Mueller, the former Auschwitz guard knew, they had finally come for him.

He had been waiting.

—————————————————-

Out-Take – Toni Goodyear

I stare at the dummies, the young woman and boy I imagine as my own — my pretty mother, killed by “bad brakes” four months ago, and my older brother, dead with her. Soon they’ll be clothed and put into a car to burst into flames against a Hollywood mountain. Their job is to remain silent as their limbs rip and their faces melt.

Boom, I say, but no one moves.

Under my breath I tell them what’s been planned next, this time for me. My father and his friends say I have ripened. I am fourteen year old scotch, ready for tasting.

“Where’s your dad?” the studio pyrotech asks.

“Don’t know. He said meet him here.”

He frowns, and signals the Cadillac be brought around.

Last night, my father stumbling drunk, needing my help to prep the car, easily tipped into the big, dark trunk. Then the knife from his tool box, killer cold in my hand.

Before bed, I filled my brother’s mouth with blast powder from the pyro kit so he won’t be noiseless as he dies again.

Boom, we’ll scream together, as family fire lights up the sky.

—————————————————

Etched in Red – Kate Cleary

Jackie Shaffer hated cleaning out the storage units of customers who didn’t pay their bills. Frankly, it gave her the creeps.  Jackie checked the unit’s number, snipped off the lock with bolt cutters, and pulled up the door. Okay this was weird. Front and center was a bizarre collection of life-size plastic dolls. Lifting one up she saw a set of initials etched in red on the doll’s feet.  Another doll had similar red markings.

Adjacent to the macabre dolls, plastic storage bins rose to the ceiling. Grabbing a step stool in the unit Jackie pulled a container down and bent down to open it. Inside was the photo of a young girl, a butterfly necklace, a piece of coated wire that appeared to be covered in dried blood, and a plastic doll with feet initialed AJ.

A cold chill ran up Jackie’s spine. Her breathing became labored as she examined another container confirming her worst fears. Time to get out of here. Jackie turned to leave and heard a grunt as a slick cord wrapped tightly around her neck.

Later the man sat on the stool whistling while etching a red JS on the doll’s feet.

—————————————————-

Reminders – Darlene Jacobs

The detectives investigating Heather Graham’s death thought the unclothed mannequin of a young child sitting atop her bed odd.   And everyone was puzzled as to why a pretty, popular girl like Heather would throw herself out her third floor sorority house window.   But I knew.

It was the day after the end of rush week.  Last night pledge mom Heather had made the terrible mistake of bringing back the long forbidden practice of hazing.  She and her sorority sisters gleefully poured liquor down the pledges throats, imposed paddling should they have had the audacity to throw up, and forced the girls to expose themselves to the neighboring fraternity for ranking, all in the name of sisterhood.

Everyone had long forgotten why those naked mannequins in the attic remained.  My future in the fashion world was cut short over 25 years ago in this very sorority house.  My death from alcohol poisoning had forced an end to hazing.

No one should ever again have to go through the fatal bullying that I did.  Perhaps the detectives would finally connect the fact that mannequins were appearing on each of the seniors beds as the body count grew.  They’d finally remember.

—————————————————-

Survivors – Cathy Neumueller

The door creaked on arthritic hinges.  “I’m sure this room has been checked a dozen times.  This is a waste of time,” said Adam.

“We’re almost out of food,” said Eve.  The two human survivors slowly entered the clutter filled but surprisingly dust free room.  It was almost like someone was living here but it had been obvious from the stuck door that no one had entered the room in a long time.

Eve startled at the sight of the figures sitting amidst the junk.  At first she thought that they were people.  She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed to see that they weren’t real.  It had been a long time since they’d seen anyone else alive.

After the humans had left and the door was creaked closed the armless man said, “They’re gone kids.  You can open your eyes.”  He wasn’t sure how much time had passed but it still amazed him how humans could have been so stupid to destroy their environment.  He figured that there were only a few left now that the human society had collapsed.  “And they used to call us dummies,” he chuckled.

—————————————————-

(H)Armless Man – Christine Hammar

The (H)Armless Man

Cleaning father’s drawers, I find a photograph of two sitting childlike dolls. They look like my half-siblings, Derek and Dinah, only dead. Their mouths are open, eyes shut, faces stony. Dinah’s arm is raised as if she is about to comfort Derek.
They drowned when they were seven. An accident, everyone said.
Close to them in the shade sits an armless doll, a grown man, staring at nothing with cold, empty eyes. He reminds me of our father who fought in Libya in 2011 and lost his arms.

The photograph scares the heck out of me. I wonder why father had kept it.

As I look at the photograph for the last time, I see Derek’s and Dinah’s eyes open. They smile and nod.
A picture forms inside the photograph. Father with Derek and Dinah playing in the lake. Then another: father smiling and holding them under the water. Then another: father smiling while toweling himself dry.
”We thought you should know,” Derek’s voice says quietly.
”It was no accident,” Dinah’s voice whispers.
The pictures fade and the dolls are there again.
Crying, I tear up the photograph.

Lucky thing father died two weeks ago.

*     *     *

And, once again, the winning story.

Practice – Rick McMahan

One

Jill strode down the darkened hall, her hollow footfalls in sync with the words drifting to her.

Two.

The training room door was open, a weak light escaping.

Three.

Every CPR mannequin was strewn across the floor like he had tried each one before settling on the smallest.

Breathe.

Kneeling, Ray was pushing on the dummy’s chest. His t-shirt was soaked through with sweat.

“Partner,” she said.

He looked up at her, but she knew he was looking through her at the memory. Dispatch sent them to a nice neighborhood with manicured yards and kids playing. A worried employer called when a female employee never showed for work. Jill found the woman’s body on the bed. A baby was never mentioned. Ray found one floating in the tub.

“Roll call’s in ten, partner.”

More than sweat glistened on his face. Standing, he turned away to pull on his uniform shirt.

Post-partum depression. A fancy word for a mother drowning her kid before suiciding herself.  It took Jill and three EMTs to pull Ray away from the baby’s blue lips.

“Next time if I try harder, Maybe I can save him.” Ray’s voice tight. “I was just practicing.”

 

Smiles, cheers, and hoorays were abundant yesterday when the doors finally opened for the 2014 Writers’ Police Academy.

This morning, attendees witnessed how the experts handle a mass casualty—a drunk driver plowing through a crowd at a farmers market.

WPA recruits then spent the rest of their day shooting, driving, handcuffing, investigating a murder, learning undercover ops, searching buildings for bad guys, and a ton of other exciting sessions.

Then, after enjoying a fabulous reception sponsored by Sisters in Crime National, everyone headed outside to end the night with a rendezvous with a dead body.

Using a new inflatable light source, WPA instructors demonstrated how to illuminate a nighttime crime scene.

You know, you run into all kinds of people at murder scenes.

Yes, that’s THE Lisa Gardner with our murder victim du jour.

More tomorrow…

 

Here is the 2014 Writers’ Police Academy Meggitt (Firearms Simulation Training) schedule. Please be early for your session. Once the door closes you will not be allowed inside. If you miss your scheduled shooting time you will not be permitted to make it up. There are no extra slots.

You must present your WPA name tag/ID to enter the session, and you are not permitted to exchange time slots with anyone for any reason.

Please make note of your three shooting partners. Their lives are in your hands…

Whew, that’s a lot of may not’s and no’s. So what can you do?? HAVE FUN!!

*Spectators are welcome.

 

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

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. 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

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. 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.