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!

Southland: Butch and Sundance

And The Winner Is???

We have a winner! Last week we asked you to send us your questions for Michael Cudlitz, star of TNT's gritty police drama, Southland. All the entries were quite good, which made the panel's decision very difficult, so we're pleased to say…
Last Week In England With Paul Beecroft

Weekend Road Trip: The Cotswolds, England

  My friend, Paul Beecroft, has spent a good deal of his life in law enforcement, in England. He's worked Foot Patrol, Area Car, Instant Response Car and also as a Police Motorcyclist. He's currently a coroner's investigator and has…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

The Graveyard Shift extends its condolences to the families of each of these brave police officers. Sergeant Ira G. Essoe Sr., 69 Orange County Sheriff's Department February 4, 2010 - Sgt. Ira G. Essoe, Sr. succumbed to complications…
Southland: Butch and Sundance

Glo-Gloves: Let Me See Your Hands

Working traffic accidents at night has always been a safety problem. For whatever reason---fatigue, driving while impaired, talking on cell phones, rubbernecking, etc.---drivers often fail to see officers standing in the roadway when they're…
Southland: Butch and Sundance

Southland: The Runner – A Review

This week things settle down a bit as we join Detective Adams doing what detectives do during the course of their day---investigate crimes. An investigator's day is a busy one, but not normally as frantic as the 8 to 12-hour shifts worked by…
Southland: Butch and Sundance

Castle: Tick, Tick, Tick – A Review of the Police Procedure

Tonight's episode is the first of a two-parter, and I have to admit I'm thankful the network broke this particular show into segments. Why? Because there's no way I could stomach this all in one sitting. The writers definitely went for over…
Southland: Butch and Sundance

Officer Down! But Why?

Officer down! Two simple words with a huge meaning -- life or death. When searching for a topic for today's blog I stumbled across a series of troubling headlines, many involving the shooting of police officers by a thug with a gun who…

Weekend Road Trip: The Fishin’ Hole

A drive down a dirt road overgrown with tall weeds, honeysuckle, and goldenrod revealed an old water and rust-stained dam, a deserted factory engulfed in vines, and a secret fishing spot. In all the quiet it was easy to imagine smoke billowing…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Officer Thomas Patton II, 30 Cleveland Heights Ohio Police Department March 13, 2010 - Officer Thomas Patton II suffered a fatal heart attack while in a foot pursuit of a criminal suspect. He leaves behind his four-month-old daughter…
Southland: Butch and Sundance

Takin’ Care of Business

Cops absorb a lot on information during the months they spend in the training academy. Then, when they finally do hit the streets, they're required to ride with a training officer who crams even more information into their brains. But there's…
Southland: U-Boat

Southland: U-Boat – A Review

There's not a more exciting day for a rookie than the day when they're finally allowed to set out on their own. They gladly allow their training officers to nudge them from their nests, sending them out to meet the day, wide-eyed and anxious…
Southland: Butch and Sundance

Castle: A Rose For Everafter – A Review of the Police Procedure

Several years ago, in the late 90's, Alyssa Milano and I exchanged emails for a while - nearly every evening, actually. I really don't remember how we first connected, and I seriously doubt she even remembers the discussions, but I certainly…
Southland: Butch and Sundance

Police News: It’s Tough Out There

Rhinebeck, N.Y. - Police responded to a possible overdose and domestic violence call where they found a man behaving irrationally. Officers say the man became combative when they attempted to remove him from the residence, so they used a…
Capitola California

Weekend Road Trip: Capitola

The sun is shining here in the outskirts of Mayberry. And, it's also nice and warm. Birds are chirping, plants are budding, and I actually think I saw a butterfly fluttering in the back yard. Now I'm ready to pack up the SUV and head out on…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Officer Christopher Arby Upton, 37 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations March 10, 2010 - While on routine patrol, a man hunting for coyotes mistook Officer Upton for game and shot…
Steven D. Rogers

Stephen D. Rogers on "Shot To Death"

Stephen D. Rogers is the author of SHOT TO DEATH (ISBN 978-0982589908) and more than six hundred stories and poems. He's the head writer at Crime Scene (where viewers solve interactive mysteries) and a popular writing instructor. For more…
Southland: Butch and Sundance

Southland: Butch and Sundance – A Review of the Police Procedure

Last week's episode of Southland hit the ground running, and things were no different this time around. Butch and Sundance, the title of last night's show, was written by television veteran, Mitchell Burgess. You might remember Burgess from…
Southland: Butch and Sundance

Castle: The Mistress Always Spanks Twice – A Review of the Police Procedure

The Mistress Always Spanks Twice, tonight's episode of Castle, was written by San Jose, Ca. native, Kate Sargeant. Since I'm also a former resident of the Silicon Valley, I'll try to play nice. But that may prove to be a bit difficult when revisiting…