Cheryl Yeko: A Pre-WPA Explosion!

Cheryl Yeko: A pre-WPA explosion

 

Typically, when Writers’ Police Academy staff members blow the doors off a structure, well, they stay off, and the ensuing damage is practically, if not totally, irreversible.

However, a more subdued explosion has already occurred. The spark that set it off ignited a few months ago when the first suspicious package arrived at the Wisconsin residence of Cheryl Yeko, the hard-working writer who volunteered to head up the silent auction at this year’s Writers’ Police Academy.

This (poor Cheryl and friends) is the story of what happened. I don’t know all the gory details, but here’s what I know so far. By the way, I understand ALL of the damage and destruction was caused by writers from all over the world. Yes, this IS your fault! Here goes…

First came one package, then two, then three, and then….BOOM!

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And they continued to arrive until Cheryl’s once neat and tidy home became filled with signed books, paintings, baskets, and tons of other really cool things.

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So Cheryl and quickly went to work, attempting to contain as much of the suspicious “material” as she possibly could.

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Of course, it takes a team to conquer such a task, so Sue and Susan joined the dangerous assignment of assembling baskets for the…fantastic WPA silent auction! Yes, these fine woman are all volunteers who took on the difficult job of handling the WPA silent auction. Oh, you really thought…

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Anyway, also helping out were Cheryl’s mom and sister-in law Diane. Of course, we can’t forget the husbands’ contributions to the effort. Sue’s husband held down to the fort and babysat for their cat while she drove all the way to from Illinois to Wisconsin, several times, to spend many hours at Cheryl’s house assembling baskets. Susan’s husband took on the job of loading the baskets (over one-hundred with more to be delivered) and transporting them from Cheryl’s home to the police academy, another long road trip.

In the end, though, everything came together nicely, and…

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…no one was injured during the making of WPA auction baskets. Best of all, the three committee members are still friends.

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When you meet these wonderful women at the WPA, please thank them for all their hard work. I know I deeply appreciate all they and their families have done for us.

Oh yeah, back to the explosion. This is the aftermath, as Cheryl called it, of the event to be forever known as the 2015 WPA Auction Item Apocalypse.

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*Cheryl’s husband, Patrick, by the way, had the job of bringing in all those packages as they arrived. He also cleaned up the post-apocalyptic mess and hauled it away.

Again, thank you all for your help. Now it’s up to each of the WPA attendees to make their hard work a true success. So please, please, please support the effort and BUY every single item!!!

So…BRING CASH! LOTS OF CASH!

For more on Cheryl, Sue, and Susan’s basket-assembling adventure, please visit Cheryl’s blog, Cheryl Yeko, Where Love Always Wins.

*WPA profits benefit the scholarship fund at our host academy/college.

See you in one week!

 

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Writers’ Police Academy Schedule of Events

WPA Schedule of events

 

We are now only two weeks away from the most exciting event in the country for writers, the Writers’ Police Academy. Can you believe it’s almost here already?

August 20th marks the opening for the 7th annual extravaganza also known as the WPA, and this is the largest event we’ve ever produced. I know, I say that every year, but it’s absolutely true each time I say it!

Our brand new location and fabulous training facility—Fox Valley Technical College’s Public Safety Training Center—is one of the top, premier training academies in the entire country. Even the FBI sends agents there to train. The 75 acre, $35 million place is absolutely mind-blowing.

Here’s a peek at the grounds. Yes, that’s a full-size 727 jet and we will be using it during our training sessions!

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– 75 acres of indoor and outdoor tactical training space filled with innovative props and simulation experiences to enhance training in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, forensic science, and wildland fire.

– A 30+ foot ‘ant hill’ for confined space drills.

– A 6-story burn tower for fire training and four firearms ranges for police training, including one that is 300 yards.

– River City, a simulated training village with a motel, homes, and convenience store, provides scenarios that simultaneously involve police, firefighters, and emergency medical service personnel.

– Everything from emergency response training to other related crisis scenarios will be taking place on a Boeing 727 aircraft.

– Three large train cars, dispersed in various positions, present a derailment that requires specialized, multi-disciplinary responders.

– Other areas include a spacious fire apparatus training bay, an expanded Emergency Vehicle Operator Course, a water rescue pond, and much more.

And, to answer the question many of you have asked, YES there will be actual firefighters there teaching workshops.

Now, here’s a copy of the 2015 WPA schedule of events. Workshop descriptions and details are at the bottom of this page. For all other details please visit the WPA website. www.writerspoliceacademy.com

*Due to unexpected cancellations we do have a couple of slots available!

Thursday

4:00 – 6:00

Registration/Check-in

5:30 – 5:50

Ride-Along and Jail Tour Orientation – Hotel (room TBA)

6:00

Ride-Along with on-duty patrol officers – Limited number of available slots filled by lottery. Sign-ups during online registration only. All participants must submit to a background check.

Jail Tours – Limited number of available slots filled by lottery. Sign-ups during online registration only. Participants may be required to submit to a background check.

Dinner – On your own.

The Radisson features a few very nice restaurants, and there are several restaurants and pubs within easy walking distance from the hotel. Many are within sight of the front doors.

7:00 – 8:00

Orientation – Hotel

 

8:30 p.m.

3D Crime Scene Mapping – The future of CSI is real and in use today! ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre – Hotel

 

Friday

8:00 – 8:45

Announcements ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre/Staff – Village

8:45 – 9:05

Late registration – PSTA Lobby

9:00 – ongoing

Milo (firearms training simulator)- Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served.

Driving Simulator – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. Requires extra fee.

Traffic Stops – Ongoing. Friday only. Walk up any time.

 

9:15 – 10:30

Espionage, Cons and the Anatomy of Betrayal ~ NYPD Detective Marco Conelli

Romance Behind the Badge ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

Small Things Considered ~ Dr. Denene Lofland

Fingerprinting 101 ~ Staff

Crime Lab ~ Wisconsin Crime Lab Staff

Fire Fundamentals ~ Staff

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Skid Pad – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 3 shooters per 20 minutes. 1st come/1st served. ~ Staff

Firing Range (Pistol) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

EMS Experience ~ Staff

Patrol: The Backbone of Law Enforcement ~ Mike Black

Basics of uniformed patrol and the issues faced by police officers in today’s society. This session addresses the functions and responsibilities of uniformed officers working the street, including tactics for de-escalating incidents to the use of deadly force. An examination of incidents such as the recent high-profile traffic stops gone wrong and the public perceptions of each. (Room PS157)

 

10:45 – Noon

An Insider’s View to the World of Women in Law Enforcement ~ Robin Burcell

Police Gunfighting ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

From Crime Scene to Autopsy ~ Deputy Coroner Les James

Bangs and Booms 101 ~ John Gilstrap

Crime Lab ~ Wisconsin Crime Lab Staff

Fingerprinting 101 ~ Staff

Skid Pad – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 3 shooters per 20 minutes. ~ Staff

Firing Range (Pistol) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

EMS Experience ~ Staff

Patrol: The Backbone of Law Enforcement ~ Mike Black

Basics of uniformed patrol and the issues faced by police officers in today’s society. This session addresses the functions and responsibilities of uniformed officers working the street, including tactics for de-escalating incidents to the use of deadly force. An examination of incidents such as the recent high-profile traffic stops gone wrong and the public perceptions of each. (PS157)

 

Noon – 12:45

Lunch

 

1:00 – 2:15

How To Write a Killer Fiction Query
Learn to craft a compelling query that introduces your work and entices a literary agent to ask for more. Come away with a list of things to avoid, and a list of things to include. Opportunities for Q&A, of course. Bring your own query if you want it used as a class example (not required). Room PS101 A&B

Kids Who Kill and Why ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

Handcuffing and Arrest Techniques ~ Staff

An Insider’s View to the World of Women in Law Enforcement ~ Robin Burcell

Bangs and Booms 101 ~ John Gilstrap

From Crime Scene to Autopsy ~ Deputy Coroner Les James

Interview and Interrogation ~ Lt. David Swords

Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT Maneuver) – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Burning Building Search/Rescue ~ Staff

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 3 shooters per 20 minutes.  ~ Staff

Firing Range (Pistol) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

 

2:30 – 3:45

Handcuffing and Arrest Techniques ~ Staff

Police Gunfighting ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

Bloodstain Pattern Investigations and Techniques ~ Staff

Alternate Light Sources ~ Staff

Arson Investigations ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre

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Interview and Interrogation ~ Lt. David Swords

Tactics for Handling the Unruly Plane Passenger – Sign-ups at online registration only. 1st come/1st served.Limited to 25 participants at each session. ~ Staff

Drug Identification ~ Joe Keil

Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT Maneuver) – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 3 shooters per 20 minutes. 1st come/1st served. ~ Staff

Firing Range (Pistol) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

 

4:00 – 5:15

Arson Investigations ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre

Alternate Light Sources ~ Staff

Bloodstain Pattern Investigations and Techniques ~ Staff

Simunitions: Advanced Door-Breaches/Building Searches – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. ~ Staff

Robbery v. Burglary ~ Lt. David Swords

Drug Identification ~ Joe Keil

Burning Building Search/Rescue ~ Staff

Tactics for Handling the Unruly Plane Passenger – Sign-ups at online registration only. 1st come/1st served.Limited to 25 participants at each session. ~ Staff

The Mindset of Cops ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

Kids Who Kill and Why ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

 

5:30

Buses depart for hotel

5:45 – 7:00

Dinner – On Your Own

7:00 – 7:30

Cash bar

7:30 – 8:30

Reception

 

9:00 p.m.

When a Traffic Stop Goes Horribly Wrong ~ Joe LeFevre, all law enforcement staff, K-9.

 

Saturday

8:00 – 8:45

Announcements ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre/Staff  – Village

9:00 – ongoing

Milo – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served.

Driving Simulator – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served.

 

9:15 – 10:30

Forensic Art and Witness Recall ~ Robin Burcell

Small Things Considered ~ Dr. Denene Lofland

Fighting Words: Martial Arts for Writers ~ Howard Lewis

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 3 shooters per 20 minutes. 1st come/1st served. ~ Staff

Firing Range (Rifle) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

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Crime Scene Photography ~ Staff

The Mindset of Cops ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

Robbery v. Burglary ~ Lt. David Swords

The CSI Effect: Real vs. Reel ~ Mike Black

Workshop covers the approach and procedures for responding to a crime scene, taking attendees through the steps necessary to assess and safeguard the scene. This session also deals with procedures for processing the scenes and how real life situations are often misrepresented in books, television, and movies, and how these fictitious depictions often can taint the jury pool. Actual evidence that might be found at crime scenes will be present in the classroom.

 

10:45 – Noon

Fighting Words: Martial Arts for Writers ~ Howard Lewis

Introduction to Firearms ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

SWAT Experience ~ Law Enforcement

Forensic Art and Witness Recall ~ Robin Burcell

Advanced Fingerprinting (difficult, textured, and wet surfaces) ~ Staff

Overview of Forensic Psychology ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

K-9 ~ Staff

Crime Scene Photography ~ Staff

Concealed Carry ~ Staff instructor with John Gilstrap

Firing Range (Rifle) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

 

Noon – 12:45

Lunch

 

1:00 – 2:10

How To Write a Killer Fiction Query ~ Janet Reid (Query Shark)
Learn to craft a compelling query that introduces your work and entices a literary agent to ask for more. Come away with a list of things to avoid, and a list of things to include. Opportunities for Q&A, of course. Bring your own query if you want it used as a class example (not required). Room PS101 A&B

Booking/Processing ~ Staff

SWAT Experience ~ Law Enforcement

Overview of Forensic Psychology ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT Maneuver) – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Espionage, Cons and the Anatomy of Betrayal ~ NYPD Detective Marco Conelli

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 3 shooters per 20 minutes. 1st come/1st served. ~ Staff

Advanced Fingerprinting (difficult, textured, and wet surfaces)

Crime Scene Photography ~ Staff

JAWS ~ Staff

Gals with Guns ~ Staff

Firing Range (Rifle) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

 

2:20 – 3:30

Booking/Processing ~ Staff

Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT Maneuver) – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Firing Range (Rifle) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

Bloodstain Pattern Investigations and Techniques ~ Staff

K-9 ~ Staff

Introduction to Firearms ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

JAWS ~ Staff

Crime Scene Photography ~ Staff

Gals with Guns ~ Staff

Romance Behind the Badge ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

Simunitions: Advanced Door-Breaches/Building – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. ~ Staff

The CSI Effect: Real vs. Reel ~ Mike Black

Workshop covers the approach and procedures for responding to a crime scene, taking attendees through the steps necessary to assess and safeguard the scene. This session also deals with procedures for processing the scenes and how real life situations are often misrepresented in books, television, and movies, and how these fictitious depictions often can taint the jury pool. Actual evidence that might be found at crime scenes will be present in the classroom.

 

3:45

Buses Depart For Hotel

4:15 – 5:30

How to “Get It Right” – The benefits of research and how to make them work for the writer. ~ Allison Brennan – Hotel Salons C and D

 

6:30 – 7:00

Cash Bar and Silent Auction

 

7:00 – 8:30

Banquet, awards, silent auction, and announcements. You must present your ticket to enter the banquet room.

 

8:30

An Evening with Karin Slaughter

*Book signings with featured guests and presenters immediately after the conclusion of banquet activities.

 

Sunday

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.

Workshop Descriptions

Alternate Light Sources ~ Staff

An Insider’s View to the World of Women in Law Enforcement ~ Robin Burcell

Arson Investigations ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre

Bangs and Booms 101: Interactive session to teach the basics of projectile ballistics, explosives, and how they do damage to people and things. ~ John Gilstrap

Bloodstain Pattern Investigations and Techniques ~ Staff

Building Searches/Door Breaching: In this heart-thumping workshop you and your fellow SWAT team members are called in to service a search warrant at a residence. Your mission is to locate and apprehend the armed robber who’s barricaded himself inside. Be prepared for whatever could happen and, well, it probably will. So expect the unexpected. Good luck!  ~ Staff (3 shooters per 20 minutes – 9 per hour)

Burning Building Search/Rescue: A burning building has filled with smoke and it’s up to you to enter and search for and save trapped or unconscious victims. Hands-on experience faced by firefighters every day. No actual fire and simulated smoke, but the experience is extremely realistic! ~ Staff

Computer-Aided Dispatch Systems: While seated at an actual dispatch terminal, you’ll check the database for a suspect’s criminal history and other vital records. Dispatchers will receive print-outs and issue tickets. ~ Staff

Concealed Carry: When cops and concealed carry citizens interact. How the objectives and tactics vary between civilians and LEOs. ~ Staff instructor with John Gilstrap

Crime Lab: How long do DNA results take? What does a Forensic Scientist do? Staff from the Wisconsin Crime Lab talk about their job and answer your questions.

Crime Scene Photography: Photograph crime scenes and crime scene evidence. Bring your cameras and your best investigative skills for this extremely realistic session. ~ Staff

Driving Simulator: You get the emergency call and respond in your patrol vehicle. This is definitely not a Sunday drive to Grandma’s house!

Drug Identification: Recognizing the signs of drug use and abuse and the paraphernalia related with various drugs. Discussion of current drug trends. ~ Joe Keil

EMS Experience: Learn about real EMS work using actual tools while inside an ambulance. Hands-on with many simple skills, and some people will get the thrill of delivering a baby via our human patient simulator. ~ Staff

Espionage, Cons and the Anatomy of Betrayal ~ NYPD Detective Marco Conelli

Fighting Words: Martial Arts for Writers: Demonstrations by a master and tips on writing scenes that don’t drive martial arts experts to the edge of insanity. ~ Howard Lewis

Fingerprinting: Lifting prints from a variety of surfaces, including those most difficult—wet, textured, and sticky areas such as duct tape. ~ Staff

Fire Fundamentals: This interactive workshop begins with a ride in a fire truck heading to a fire (a real fire) and ends with a hands-on session with equipment inside the fire station . Experience the sights, sounds, and smells associated with firefighting. ~ Staff

Firing Range (Pistol): Following a brief lesson on handgun safety and the 4 step process of the draw, participants will test their marksmanship on a real indoor police academy shooting range. Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check.

Firing Range (Rifle): Following a brief safety lesson and fundamental of rifle fire (AR-15), participants will test their marksmanship on a real indoor police academy shooting range. Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check.  ~ Staff

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

From Crime Scene to Autopsy ~ Deputy Coroner Les James

Gals With Guns: Concealed Carry For Women – How to carry. How not to carry. Where to carry. And how to draw. ~ Staff

Handcuffing and Arrest Techniques ~ Staff

Interview and Interrogation: Learn tactics and techniques used by investigators, and the mistakes often made by writers. ~ Lt. David Swords

JAWS: Hands-on session using the emergency lifesaving tool. ~ Staff

K-9: Narcotics searches and suspect apprehension. See the dogs doing what they do best and learn why they do it. ~ Staff

Kids Who Kill and Why ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

Milo: Shoot/don’t shoot interactive training. Extremely realistic. Will you make the right decisions?This session is hands-down one of the most popular workshops of the WPA. Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. Requires extra fee.

Police Gunfighting ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT Maneuver):  Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Robbery v. Burglary ~ Lt. David Swords

Romance Behind the Badge: Examining the love tendencies of law enforcement officers. From scandalous infidelity to office romance and the sparks ignited while answering calls. We will rip the sheets off the mattress and expose the inside world of love in the cop world.  ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche (AKA “The Love Doctor”)

Simunitions ~ Advanced Door-Breaches/Building Searches: SWAT team members will suit up in protective gear and then conduct their search for the armed robber. SWAT members and bad guys will be armed with Simunition (similar to paintball). Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. Requires extra fee. ~ Staff

Skid Pad: Fishtailing around a corner during a high-speed chase. Teetering on the edge of losing total control of your car. Sound exciting? Well, if you’re up for it, so are we. Climb inside one of our patrol cars and hang on for the ride of a lifetime. This is actual police training. Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Small Things Considered: An up-close look at microscopic creatures and how they can be used to commit murder.~ Dr. Denene Lofland

SWAT Experience: See, touch, and try on actual SWAT team gear. Tour SWAT vehicles, and learn SWAT operations from the experts. ~ Law Enforcement

Tactics for Handling the Unruly Plane Passenger: You’ve boarded the plane, buckled in, and made sure your tray table is locked in the upright position. Suddenly the passenger in 12B does the unthinkable and it’s up to you, the responding police officer, to control the situation. Yes, we have a full-size Boeing 727 passenger jet onsite! ~ Staff

The Mindset of Cops: Examine the psychological mindset of cops. What are their cultural backgrounds, their psychological tendencies, and what draws officers to a career in law enforcement. Take a look at the camaraderie of the Thin Blue Line and the caustic nature of the career. ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

Traffic Stops: Side-by-side role playing with PSTA police recruits as they conduct practical exercises. Walk up anytime to participate. This is actual police academy training in real time. Have your questions answered while interacting with police recruits.

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Only Two Days Left To Win a Free Writers’ Police Academy Registration!

Winner of 2015 Golden Donut

 

Only two days left to enter the Golden Donut 200-Word Short Story Contest.

Contest winner receives the coveted Golden Donut Award AND free registration to the 2016 Writers’ Police Academy!

The rules are simple—write a story about the photograph above using exactly 200 words.

http://www.writerspoliceacademy.com/short-story-contest/

~

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The 2015 contest judge is Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants and At the Water’s Edge.

~

Last year, the contest winner was announced by Michael Cudlitz, star of Southland, Band of Brothers, and The Walking Dead. Here’s Michael…

~

PRACTICE

by

Rick McMahan

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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.”

~

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Rick McMahan

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TBT: 7 Years of Writers’ Police Academy Memories

It's coming! 2016 WPA

 

The annual Writers’ Police Academy is now in its seventh year, and the memories we’ve created together are nothing short of wonderful.

Each year we strive to top the last, which is an extremely difficult challenge, but we always come through. The 2015 event is absolutely over-the-moon exciting! Believe me, we’ve pulled out all the stops.

The 2015 WPA is THE most action-packed, thrilling event we’ve ever produced, and due to a couple of recent cancellations we now have a few openings. So please hurry and sign up before those are gone. You do NOT want to miss this one of a kind event. There is nothing else like the WPA on the planet! Not even close.

But today, on Throwback Thursday, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on a few moments we’ve shared over the years. You know, those quiet and lazy times when the crickets are chirping, gentle breezes caress, and soft and soothing…gun blasts, police sirens, and laughter, lots of laughter are heard just outside your window.

Here’s how we roll…

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*Images by a variety of photographers, including Patti Phillips, Julie Goyette, Quay Williams, and Molly Weston. I apologize if I’ve neglected to mention anyone. Thanks to you all!

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A Recipe From the Writers’ Police Academy: Sweet Potato Biscuits

A recipe from the WPA

 

Okay, folks, the weekend’s here so it’s time to step outside the crime scene tape, put away the fingerprint powders and brushes, and relax. And what better way to kick back than to whip up something good in the kitchen? So here’s one of my favorites—sweet potato biscuits. As Sheriff Andy Taylor would say, “They’re some kinda’ goo…ood!”

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients

– 2 cups warm, mashed, boiled sweet potatoes

– 1/2 cup melted butter

– 2 tsp. baking powder

– 3 cups sifted flour

– 3/4 cup sugar

– 1 tsp. salt

The Process

Pre-heat oven to 425.

Sift flour and baking powder. Mix warm sweet potatoes with sugar, salt, and butter. Add flour to potato mixture and mix thoroughly.

Roll on slightly-floured bread board until approximately 1/2 inch thick.

Cut with biscuit cutter (or inverted juice glass, water glass, etc.) and place on baking sheet.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until nicely browned and done. Brush melted butter across the tops and watch them disappear.

Makes approximately 2 1/2 to 3 dozen mouth-watering biscuits.

Enjoy!

*   *   *

Now, a little Writer’s Police Academy business.

We Need Your Books!

Yes, it’s that time of the year when I start begging (bugging) everyone for signed books and other goodies for the Writers’ Police Academy’s raffle/silent auction.

In the past, we’ve received items such as cell phones, oil paintings, quilts, basket material, signed TV scripts, and much, much more.

Proceeds from the auction are combined with overall profits which are then donated to our host college/academy. Starting this year those funds go to the Writers’ Police Academy Scholarship Fund. The fund is to provide financial aid for students of criminal justice (degree), and law enforcement, firefighting, and EMS certification programs.

So far, thanks to your generosity, we’ve given over $60,000!

So I thank each of you for your support. The raffle/auction is a huge hit each year.

So won’t you please help us help the people who see to it that writers “get it right.” After all, these are the same professionals who’ve dedicated their lives to helping and protecting others. A small contribution from us is the least we can do, right?

Please contact me at lofland32@msn.com if you can help out.

By the way, we’ve secured a few more slots for the Writers’ Police Academy. This is by far the largest and most exciting event we’ve ever put together. I hope to see all of you there. It’s an experience you’ll never forget.

This is not a watered down citizen’s police academy. It’s the real deal!

 

Again, please help if you can. Thanks so much.

We are also seeking sponsors. It’s great PR for you and your work!

*Contact me at lofland32@msn.com

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Cops As Romance Cover Models: You Asked For It!

Cops as romance cover models

What do you get when these guys, Rick McMahan and Mike Roche, are on the same program? Easy answer. Nothing but trouble! Well, trouble and over the top practical joking.

Last year at the Writers’ Police Academy, ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan (above left) decided to pull all the stops and go for the gold. With a little help from bestselling author Lori Foster, Rick “uncovered” the secret lives of a few WPA instructors/cops.

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Yes, during the Saturday night banquet, in front of everyone, Rick had the nerve to “bare” his friends’ hidden “treasures.”

Who knew…

Former Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche was named The Love Doctor.

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Since Mike’s WPA appearance, his modeling skills have been in high demand.

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But Rick didn’t stop with Mike Roche. Oh, nooooo….

Next was the always-hot Captain “Honeybuns” Shepherd.

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Not to be outdone, Rick decided to display his own six pack to the banquet crowd.

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Of course, my friend Rick didn’t forget me, The Big Kahuna, in his twisted plan.

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Rick, I do hope you realize that someday, somehow, the “big one” is headed in your direction…

 

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New Home of the Writers’ Police Academy: A Video Tour

 

Are you ready for a weekend research adventure filled with the most fun and over-the-top excitement you could possibly stand? Yes? Well, the 2015 Writers’ Police Academy is the place for you!

Planes, trains and car chases. Shooting, handcuffing, murder investigations, fingerprinting, driving a police car, and firefighting are just a small portion of the hands-on workshops available this year. And, we’re in a brand new, premier law enforcement facility, one where even the FBI sends agents for training.

Sure, the WPA sells out quickly, within hours after registration opens. However, this year we were able to add more space and workshops to our already incredible lineup. So…we are pleased to announce that we now have more spots available. But you’ll need to hurry and sign up before they, too, are gone.

To give you an idea of what’s in store for WPA attendees, here’s a brief video tour of our new home, the Public Safety Training Center in Appleton, Wi. And yes, what you see in the video is a small sample of what’s available to WPA attendees!

See you in August!

*The WPA is designed to accommodate everyone. You can do as much or as little as you like. The learning experience is the same.

*Don’t forget to send in your entry for the Golden Donut Short Story Contest!

We are extremely pleased to announce that Sara Gruen is the 2015 contest judge! This is an incredible opportunity to have your work read by one of the top authors of our time.

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Sara Gruen is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Water for Elephants, Ape House, Riding Lessons, and Flying Changes. Her works have been translated into forty-three languages, and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Water for Elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon, Rob Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz in 2011.

Sara’s latest book, At The Water’s Edge, is available in all the usual outlets.

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Writers’ Police Academy: My Mother Would Call It A Ministry

WPA my mother would call it a ministry

 

Cops are a unique breed. They dress differently. They speak differently. And they’re in a class all to themselves, a “Members Only” sort of group where those on the outside looking in simply don’t understand what it is that officers do and why they do it.

Unfortunately, law enforcement is a business that sometimes, to best protect us from harm, must do things out of public view. And that lack of understanding and wondering “what they’re up to” often leads to mistrust.

Some members of society reject any form of authority. Others distrust police officers because they’ve heard friends or family members say they don’t like cops. In some corners of cities, counties, and states, young children, even before they’re taught to read and write, are taught to hate the police. Then there are the bad apples of law enforcement who commit acts that go against the very meaning of their badge and oath.

Of course, compounding the trouble is the necessary evil called secrecy, an act that drives an even larger wedge between the general population and the police. Therefore, over time, police officers metaphorically circled their protective wagons in order to survive in a world populated by people who simply don’t like them, for whatever reason(s). And, unfortunately, the circling of those wagons transformed the wedge into a nearly impenetrable wall between citizens and the officers who’ve taken an oath to protect and serve them.

The wall is there. No doubt about it. But what many people, including police, don’t understand about the “wall” is that one of its cornerstones is fear—fear of abuse, fear of beatings, fear of racism, and even the fear of death. Yes, some people live their entire lives being deathly afraid of the police. And, believe it or not, the same fear of the same things is also experienced by many police officers. It’s a two-way street. Are those feelings justified? Sadly, in some cases—many cases—the answer is yes.

As a detective in charge of certain operations, I devoted much of my time attempting to tear down the invisible wall. I wanted people to know that police officers are human, and that we do good, and that we were there FOR them, not AGAINST them. And I still try to convey that message through this blog and through my writings. I also had the same goal in mind when starting the Writers’ Police Academy several years ago.

Well, I knew the instructors at the WPA were the best in the business at what they do, but when I received the letter below back in 2013 I also knew the event had achieved far more than merely helping writers “get it right.”

Finally, after all these years, there was a crack in the wall. And I want to say THANK YOU to everyone involved in the WPA for merely being you. It is because you’re who you are that someone took the time to let me know the WPA had a huge and emotional impact on their life.

Here’s the letter (I’ve omitted names and locations to protect the writer’s identity).

Dear Mr. Lofland:

It’s been almost a year since I attended the Writer’s Police Academy in September of 2012 and I am writing to share my experience during that weekend.

I learned about your Academy from a book on getting one’s book published (I don’t remember the title of the book) that I was skimming through in a Barnes and Noble store in early September of last year. Since I have no law enforcement background, I was looking for a way to verify that the information in the novel that I’ve been working on for some time is correct; that’s when I saw the piece on your Academy. I couldn’t believe it; especially since the Academy was being held in a few weeks. I quickly signed up and prepared to go along with my wife, my little daughter, and my mother-in-law.

The Writer’s Police Academy was a life-changing experience; but not in the way I imagined.

You see, I’ve never had a good relationship or opinion of the Police and I’ll explain why.

I was about 8 years old and it was a summer night in the mid 1970’s when suddenly I had a terrible cough just before going to bed. My mother is a praying woman and she taught us that when we’re sick God can heal us; so that night I asked her to pray for me. Quickly, the cough was gone and just before I dozed off into sleep I remember seeing the reflection of Police car lights on my bedroom wall.

The next day I awoke to find that my 16 year-old brother was missing. As my mother finished praying for me and I fell asleep, my mother saw the Police lights on the wall, too, and quickly ran to the window. Two policemen were surrounding my brother. What happened was that a car was stolen in my neighborhood and my brother was accused of being the person who stole the car.

My mother quickly ran downstairs and stood between my brother and the Police; the two men smelled of alcohol and their eyes were bloodshot. One Police officer pulled his weapon on my mother.

The owner of the car ran up to the officers and told them that his car was found by other officers and that my brother was innocent. One of the officers refused to let my brother go and wanted to take him in. My brother panicked and ran.

You see, we lived in the **** area of the **** and this was in the mid 70’s. Police abuse was rampant and crime and fires in the area were out of control. There was little trust in the Police from the community.

They shot at my brother as he ran down the park stairs and he was captured by other officers from three squad cars that suddenly appeared. They took him to the ******** and beat him to a pulp. My parents went to the precinct and were told he wasn’t there and had been released; it was a lie. Later on, the officers took him to an industrial area called *****, beat him some more and left him there in the middle of the night. My brother showed up at my house at 12 in the afternoon the next day.

Investigating officers reported that no such incident occurred and that one of the officers whom allegedly was present that night, whom my brother remembered his name and badge number, didn’t exist. An officer told my mother that she better get my brother out of the area or he would be killed by the police. She obliged.

Since then, my experiences with the Police haven’t been positive. There have been incidents in which I was treated well so I don’t want to over generalize but the bad has far outweighed the good. During the **** years, it was hell! I am of **** **** descent and although I am fair skinned, college educated and have worked all my life; I felt that I had a target on my back as I walked the streets or drove in the City. ….police brutality cases have only made me less trustful of the police. I have often wondered why I am even writing a novel related to the Police.

So, last year, when I went to your Academy, I was very uneasy. I was entering an actual Police Academy and was going to be surrounded by Police. I was nervous, apprehensive, and at times, felt like a hypocrite for even being there. But then the Academy started.

Friday morning began with a presentation on the Jaws of Life. The dedication and care for the public from the presenting officer just oozed out of him and impressed me. I then attended “Making a Lasting Impression” with Robert Skiff and David Pauly: I was blown away. The commitment from those two gentlemen to find the truth in order to protect the public blew me away. I slowly began to see that the Police weren’t necessarily out to get me but to protect me.

I then went to “Fingerprinting” and it was awesome. Next, I attended “Cold Cases and the Realities of Investigations” by David Pauly and Dr. Ramsland; this is where things really started to change. The openness of the presenters in sharing their knowledge was incredible. I could feel their passion and dedication to getting the truth and solving murders. More importantly, I could see and feel their humanity.

Friday evening after the Night Owl Presentation, I had to go to the Bar and gather myself. My head was spinning. Not only from the information I received in the classes but my emotions were everywhere. Then McMahan sat next to me in the bar and began to talk to me; my heart was racing and my palms were sweating. A law enforcement officer was sitting next to me and talking to me man-to-man. He is truly a gentleman. I found out he’s a dedicated dad and husband and I was humbled by his humility and integrity.

We were joined by David Pauly and Dr. Ramsland; they talked to me like I was a human being. You see, Mr. Lofland, in dealing with the Police in my past, I often felt less than human. David Pauly bought me a beer (please tell him I owe him one) and the four of us talked for a while. It was great. They are great people and their knowledge and dedication just blows me away.

Not long after that, Detective Conelli joined us and we had a brief talk; he was exhausted from his trip and needed rest. I couldn’t wait for his presentation on the following morning “Anatomy of an Undercover Cop”.

Saturday came and I was seated on the floor in Detective Conelli’s classroom (the room was full to capacity). He started out by showing a picture of “His Office” which was a building in the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. My heart stopped, I went cold, and I was almost brought to tears. I had been in many buildings like the one in the picture! He then showed us a picture of him while undercover. He had no weapons and was taking a huge risk in going into those buildings. It was during the Crack epidemic and I witnessed, firsthand, how it devastated neighborhoods.

Hearing Mr. Conelli talk transformed me. I began to see the other side of what it is to be a Police Officer. I began to see them as being on my side, for me, and not against me.

On Sunday, during the debriefing panel, I was struck by the Chief’s words and his assistant. I’m sorry but I don’t remember their names. They urged the writers present to write positively about the Police profession. They said it was very easy to portray cops in a negative light but we were witnesses that weekend to the goodness found among law enforcement professionals. I take that advice to heart.

On the plane on my way home I thought about my experience. I have a coworker whose brother is a **** Captain. I decided I would reach out to him in order to not only get information for my novel but most importantly, bury some painful experiences I had been carrying for many years. I realized that the experience with my brother had colored my view of Cops and I needed to change that.

Captain **** **** so happens to be the Captain of *** homicide. When we texted each other in order to set up a meeting, he told me he worked out of the ****! The same one in which my brother was abused. But the *** **** had since moved so I thought nothing of it. It turns out that the **** has indeed moved but the original building (in which my brother was abused) is used to house Captain **** and other administrative offices.

So, on a cold December night around 11pm I went to meet Captain ****. It was surreal walking into that building. I confessed my feelings about the Police to Captain **** and told him that if he felt uncomfortable with me that it was okay if he didn’t want to share and continue our meeting. He was very gracious and understanding. He confessed that the **** doesn’t have clean hands and didn’t have clean hands during those days in the 70’s in ***** but he shared his side of things.

I made peace with a lot of things that night, Mr. Lofland. It all started with your Academy and your gracious speakers. You have a very special thing going there. My mother would call it a ministry; something God-given.

My wish is that your Academy could be duplicated throughout the country and be used as a tool not only for writers but to bridge the gap between the Police and the communities in which they serve. I would like to see young people attend your Academies and receive healing just as I did.

I would also like to see you guys do a documentary on the Police. My vision is to have several Police recruits from several Police Academies from different parts of the country be followed from just before they enter the Police Academy to about five or more years into their careers. The documentary would show their everyday lives and their struggles and maturing process. I think the public would love it and gain a lot from such a program.

As for me, I don’t know if I will ever finish my novel or have it published. I am currently working on getting a Master’s of Social Work (MSW) so that I could work in the **** Schools helping kids in the inner city; kids much like me when I was younger. I can’t attend this year’s Academy because we can’t afford it and because of my studies.

However, I will forever be grateful to you and to Mr. McMahan, Mr. Skiff, Mr. Pauly, Det. Conelli, Dr. Ramsland, and all the others who were there last fall. I’m a better man for attending and am at peace now.

I am eternally grateful to you and to your partners. May you guys have the best Writers’ Police Academy yet and may God richly bless you and yours.

Thank you,

Name withheld

*Space is available for the 2015 Writers’ Police Academy! Sign up today to reserve your spot at this fantastic and exciting one-of-a-kind event!

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2015 Golden Donut Short Story Contest is OPEN!

Winner of 2015 Golden Donut

 

The Writers’ Police Academy is pleased to continue the Golden Donut short story contest in 2015. The rules are simple—write a story about the photograph above using exactly 200 words, including the title (each story must include an original title). The image in the photograph MUST be the main subject of the story. We will not provide clues as to the subject matter of the image, or where the shot was taken. That is for you and your imagination to decide. Remember, though, what you see in the image absolutely MUST be the MAIN subject of your tale.

*Again, the photo above absolutely MUST be the main focus of the story, not just a mere mention within the text.

All stories are to be polished and complete, meaning they must have a beginning, middle, and a twisted surprise ending. Again, all stories must be exactly 200 words. Not 201 or 199! So read the word count rules carefully. Over the years, we’ve seen some excellent tales disqualified due to an incorrect word count.

The Golden Donut contest is judged blindly, meaning each entry is assigned a number prior to sending it to the judges. Therefore, judges do not see the writers’ names.

All entries will be screened by a panel of readers who will select their twelve favorite stories and then forward their picks to the contest judge (To Be Announced). All decisions are final and may not be contested or appealed. After reviewing each of the entries, the judge will notify the Writers’ Police Academy of the winner’s name and story. While the winner will be announced at the WPA banquet, the winner need not be present to win. The contest is open to everyone, not just WPA attendees.

The contest winner receives the prestigious Golden Donut Award.

Submission Guidelines:

Please read carefully!

All submissions MUST be submitted electronically via email to 2015goldendonut@gmail.com. Write Golden Donut 2015 in the subject line.

Click the link below to complete the entry registration form and follow the posted instructions. Entry fee details are there as well.

Golden Donut Short Story Contest

Please include your story within the body of the email. Attachments will not be opened.

 Additionally, a twenty-five dollar ($25) entry fee must be submitted via Paypal BEFORE the entry is emailed.

Contest opens on Wednesday March 18, 2015 (Please do not send any entries before this date).

Submission Deadline: Midnight June 30, 2015 (the precise point in time between 11:59 pm 6-30 and 12:01 am 7-1).

– Any entry not meeting the exact 200 word requirement will be disqualified. You will not receive notice of disqualification. Please be sure your word count is accurate and that all words are counted.

– Hyphenated words, for the purpose of this contest, will be counted as two words, or three, etc., depending upon how many words make up the hyphenated phrase/word. Contractions will be counted as two words (it’s, don’t, etc.).

– Every single word will be counted as a word. This includes: “a,” “and,” and “the.” To be very clear…if it’s a word, count it. If it’s part of dialog and you think it may be a word, count it. If it’s a stand-alone letter or group of letters, count it as a word. If it’s a number, count it as a word. If the number would include a hyphen if written out as a word, then count it as a hyphenated word.

– Entries submitted after the June 30 deadline will NOT be judged.

– Any entry not meeting the exact 200 word requirement will be disqualified.

No refunds for any reason!

Again, all entry fees and stories must be received on or prior to June 30, 2015. No exceptions. There is normally a mountain of entries, therefore, it is a time-consuming process for the judges. We need time to process the entries and to have the award properly engraved and shipped to the WPA.

– Be sure to include your name, address, email address, telephone number(s), and title of your story in an opening paragraph above your story. Then, please include your story, headed by the title.

– There is a $25 entry fee, payable via Paypal. Entries received without the appropriate entry fee will be excluded from the contest. No refunds.

– Each author may submit up to three entries. Each entry must be accompanied by the corresponding entry fee ($25 per story).

– Each author can enter up to three stories. But each individual entry must be accompanied by its own $25 entry fee. (One entry = $25. Three entries = $75, etc.) You must indicate how many stories you plan to submit when you register.

– By submitting an entry to this contest authors agree to allow The Graveyard Shift/Lee Lofland, the Writers’ Police Academy, Sisters in Crime, and affiliates to publish/reprint the story as a part of The Graveyard Shift blog and/or as advertisement for the Writers’ Police Academy or Sisters in Crime, or in other publications and media, including, but not limited to, Writers’ Police Academy books, magazines, newspaper, blogs, ebooks, online outlets, etc. *Sisters in Crime is not a part of the Writers’ Police Academy.

*All rights to all work/short story shall remain the property of the author. The Writers’ Police Academy reserves the right to exclude or delete any entry without cause, reason, or explanation.

– ABSOLUTELY NO profanity or erotica.

Please send questions to Lee Lofland at lofland32@msn(dot)com

So there you have it. Now get busy and take us on a journey that’d scare the pants off Poe himself.

Good luck!

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Almost SOLD OUT!

 

The WPA is rapidly approaching the maximum number of registrants.

In fact, we’ve already reached last year’s original total number of participants.

So please hurry to sign up. Believe me, you do not want to miss this one.

We will not be able to add additional spots once these are gone!

Tell your friends. Tell the people in your writing groups.

Tell EVERYONE!

See you in Wisconsin…

Writers’ Police Academy

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