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!

Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Trooper Andrew C. Baldridge, 25 Ohio State Highway Patrol February 4, 2010 - Trooper Andrew Baldridge was killed in an automobile accident while responding to assist a deputy sheriff. His training officer, who was riding with him, sustained…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Mirandizing A Terrorist: What’s The Problem?

"As soon as I can figure out how to ignite my 'package' I'm blowing up this airplane and everyone on it. Merry Christmas, America." That was Umar Abdulmutallab's desire on Christmas Day, 2009. Luckily, all this terrorist managed to accomplish…
Heather Leonard

Lawyer Talk with Attorney Heather Leonard

Heather Leonard practices law in both the federal and state courts in the State of Alabama. She has handled numerous appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. While her practices focuses on the area of labor…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Castle: Suicide Squeeze – A Review (of the police procedure)

Well, another episode has passed and it was business as usual inside the halls of BCPD (Beckett Castle Police Department), and that business, of course, was murder. As usual, the victim was discovered in some sort of quirky position.…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

In The Dark…For Three Days!

Due to the particularly harsh storm that passed through our area last Friday, we, along with 25,000 other residents of our little county near Mayberry, were without power until last night. We were also out of water for quite a while. And, no…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Lieutenant Eric Lewis Shuhandle, 42 Gilbert Arizona Police Department Lieutenant Eric Shuhandle was shot and killed on January 28, 2010, as he approached a vehicle he'd stopped while on patrol. Lt. Schuhandle is survived by his two daughters,…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Castle: The Double Down – A Review (of the police procedure)

*This week's show was a repeat of an earlier broadcast. Let's just skip the preliminary fluff and get down to business. After watching this episode I'm in no mood for making nice. The title of this week's episode is Double Down. Perhaps…
Last Week In England With Paul Beecroft

Paul Beecroft: Extract From The Diary Of A Coroner’s Officer

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 traveled all…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

  Chief of Police Carl Worley, 57 Ross Township Ohio Police Department Chief Carl Worley suffered a fatal heart attack on January 26, 2010, while assisting in the pursuit of a robbery suspect in Butler County near Hamilton, Ohio.…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Pistol Cleaning and Safeties

There's been much ado about safeties on pistols, and I'm often asked which have them and which don't? Is it safe to carry a pistol with the safety off? And, we've already addressed the question, "Do police officers carry their pistols with…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

The Eyes Have It: Surveillance Tools For Your Favorite Detective

To get the job done with maximum efficiency and safety, carpenters and plumbers always use the right tool for the task at hand. Police officers should do the same. Here are a few to make the job just a bit easier. The covert bullet camera…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Castle: The Third Man – A Review (of the police procedure)

Once again, due to various emails and blog comments, I'm compelled to point out that my Castle reviews have been strictly about the police procedure used in the show. Nothing more, nothing less. I am not a TV or film critic. Honestly,…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

The Day I Killed The Bank Robber – A True Story

Ever wonder what it's like to kill someone? Well, I don't have that worry. Been there, done that. And I've lived with the dead guy's soul scrabbling around inside my head ever since. Once you've pulled the trigger sending the bullets…
A Walk With Photographer Sunday Kaminski

A Walk With Photographer Sunday Kaminski

  *     *     * Important Notice To Readers Of The Graveyard Shift! I've just learned that the email address, lofland32@msn.com, the address associated with this site and my website, has…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Captain Chad Reed, 33 Dixie County Florida Sheriffs Office On January 14, 2010, Captain Chad Reed was shot and killed during a shootout with a suspect wanted in connection with the murder of two elderly women. Captain Reed is survived…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

A Round In the Chamber?

The question, "Do cops keep a round in the chamber," has been making its "rounds" through the writing groups this week. Several people have written me saying they've heard both yes and no answers. And now they've asked me to confirm the…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Robert B. Parker

My reasons for reading have diminished by one. Robert B. Parker 1932-2010
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Castle: Sucker Punch – A Review

My mother always told us to remain silent if we had nothing good to say about someone, and she, God rest her sweet soul, made a point of practicing what she preached. Therefore, I'm quite sure there were several of my and my brother's trouble-making…