The Graveyard Shift Blog

Since 2008, Lee Lofland has written over 2000 articles on his blog, The Graveyard Shift. Topics such as police procedure, forensics, criminal behavior, and what it’s like to be a cop has helped countless numbers of popular and aspiring writers.

His life’s mission – to remind writers that cordite is dead and gone. Just say no to cordite in your books!

It's our anniversary: If it ain't broke... don't break it, again

If It Ain’t Broke…Don’t Break It, Again!

  January 14 is a date I'll never forget. One year ago today, on our wedding anniversary, is the day Denene broke her leg. And boy did she ever do it right. Broken in three places. Surgery. Plates, pins, and screws. Lots of physical…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the families of these brave officers. Deputy Sheriff William Coleman, 50 Maricopa County Arizona Sheriff's Office January 8, 2012 - Deputy Bill Coleman was shot and killed after responding…
Torture, Or Justified Use Of Restraint And Force?

Torture, Or Justified Use Of Restraint And Force?

Nick Christie, a 62-year-old Florida tourist, is not confined in Gitmo. He's not in a secret CIA prison. He's not being held by terrorists. He was, however, at the time the photo above was taken, being tortured. At least that's what Christie's…
GPS vehicle tracking

GPS Vehicle Tracking: What’s On Your Bumper?

Have you noticed an increased police presence wherever you go? You know what I mean. No matter where you turn, park, or travel, there seems to be a police car at every corner. Make you nervous? Well, you should be, Mr. Serial Killer, because…
Castle: Til Death Do Us Part

Castle: ‘Til Death Do Us Part – A Review

Well, it wasn't the wedding diehard Castle fans have been hoping to see, but close...sort of. Yes, we almost saw Ryan marry Jenny, but didn't. Sure, we know it happened, right? Still, all we were allowed to see was a brief rear-view glimpse…
90 Minute DNA analysis

90 Minute DNA Analysis And…Mind Reading?

We've all heard the stories of DNA tests in criminal cases that take months before results are known to law enforcement officials. Needless to say, waiting for those results is akin to watching paint dry. However, at risk is a criminal who may…
Sandblasted

Sandblasted: The Answer Is Blowin’ In The Wind

How many roads must a man walk down, before they call him a man? How many seas must a white dove sail, before she sleeps in the sand? How many times must the cannon balls fly, before they're forever banned? The answer my…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the families of these brave officers. Special Agent Daniel Lee Knapp, 43 Federal Bureau of Investigation December 29, 2011 - Agent Daniel Knapp died while attempting to rescue a drowning…
10 Professors dealing drugs

10 Professors Who Were Caught Dealing Drugs

While the bulk of drug use and distribution that happens on college campuses is done by students and visitors to the school, faculty can sometimes play a role as well. Whether using, selling, or both, many professors have gotten caught up in…
Armored luxury cars

Armored Luxury Cars: For Your Hard-To-Buy-For Protagonists

We've all either read or written car-chase scenes where the lead is flying and the rounds are zinging and pinging off fenders and glass on both vehicles. In real life that would be a ridiculous notion, right? Well, not if your characters were…
We wore swim caps to celebrate the new year

A New World Record: The Largest Gathering Of People Wearing Swim Caps

The Guinness world record for the largest gathering of people wearing swim caps was set in July of 2011, in Japan. The number was 546. Well, yesterday, on New Years Day, we crushed that number. That's right (doing a little dance now) we toppled…
2011: A real knock-out punch

2011: A Real Knockout Punch!

2011 has been a year I'll never forget. Lot's of images, events, and memories that'll stick with me forever. I truly wish I could say the year has been a good one. But I can't, not at all. In fact it arrived with a knockout punch. Don't believe…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

  The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the families of these brave officers. Deputy Sheriff Matt Miller, 53 Seminole County Florida Sheriff's Office December 26, 2011 - Deputy Matt Miller was killed in a motorcycle…
Close-Contact Gunshot Wounds

Close-Contact Gunshot Wounds

  Shots fired from close range leave tell-tale marks called stippling, or tattooing. These marks are discolorations of the skin caused by burning gunpowder. Evidence of contact with hot gunpowder can be seen just above the "V" opening…
How to cool down

How To Cool Down The "HOT" Cop In Your Life

It's common knowledge that ALL cops are a 10 on the hotness scale---perfect bodies, superb intelligence, extremely charming...well, there's no end to just how hot cops are. Sometimes, though, to protect the innocent, that heat needs to be reduced…
After the trigger is pulled

After The Trigger Is Pulled: What Happens To The Bullets?

Experts are often asked about the kind and size of entrance and exit wounds produced by various ammunition. The rounds (bullets) in the photograph below are .45 caliber hollow-point bullets similar to the rounds fired from the Thompson sub-machine…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

  The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the families of these brave officers. Master Public Safety Officer Scotty Richardson, 33 Aiken South Carolina Department of Public Safety December 21, 2011 - Officer Scotty…
The 41st Police Academy Graduates: Another Officer In The Family

The 41st Police Academy Graduates: Another Officer In The Family

Graduation from a police academy is a moment in life that is forever ingrained into an officer's mind. The event marks the end of a grueling period of study and intense physical training. And, it's the beginning of an exciting and rewarding…