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

  Agent Jorge Sanchez-Santiago, 37 Puerto Rico Police Department Agent Jorge Sanchez-Santiago was shot and killed on August 16, 2009, while transporting a prisoner to the jail. During a struggle the prisoner took the officer's…
Cop Talk

The Faces Of Evil: An Interview With Dr. Michael Stone by Dr. Katherine Ramsland

Dr. Michael Stone, the host of Discovery's "Most Evil" is a professor of clinical psychiatry at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. The author of ten books, he has recently published "The Anatomy of Evil" with Prometheus. Known…
Wacky Police News

Police Rumors, Scoops, and Scandals

  Strike Three - Two Honolulu, Hawaii police officers were recently arrested in Las Vegas for possession of marijuana. The officers, Kevin Fujioka, a seasoned officer of 13 years, and Shayne Souza, a 20 year veteran, were in town for…
walking

Walking The Walk: Page 93 Of My Spiral Notebooks

  Sunday patrol. Country roads. Brown car. Shiny star. Spring breezes. FM radio. I Fought The Law But The Law Won. Radar Love. Born To Be Wild. Dark glasses. Mirrored. Short sleeves rolled up. Two tight turns. Biceps…

Killer Nashville: A Magical Event

  Sometimes an event is just so darn good it lingers on the palate for a long, long, time. - maybe forever. Last weekend's Killer Nashville writers conference was one of those events. There was a magical feeling in the air that began…

Weekend Road Trip: Killer Nashville

  The 4th annual Killer Nashville conference is underway. Here's a peek at some of the presenters and attendees.
Lt. David Swords: Precinct 7-11

Lt. David Swords: Precinct 7-11

  Lieutenant David Swords (ret.) is a thirty year veteran of the Springfield, Ohio Police Department. Nearly half of Lt. Swords’ police career was spent as an investigator, working on cases ranging from simple vandalisms to armed…
Inmate commissaries

Mr. X: How I Survived in Prison

  Mr. X is a former business professional who comitted a crime that landed him in federal prison. He's out now and has agreed to share his story with the readers of The Graveyard Shift. We'll do this in a series of interviews. GYS:…
Unexpected fire hazards

Hot Crimes of the Times

  Some crimes seem to come and go with the times. They're the in-thing at the moment, like bell bottom pants, platform shoes, and Sarah Palin. Eventually they all go away. (Calm down. It's just a joke. I'm sure former the former…
Crime Scene Investigation 2

Weekend Road Trip: Mayberry Days Are Coming!

  I couldn't be more excited! September is right around the corner and that means it's time for Mayberry Days in Mt. Airy, N.C., hometown of Andy Griffith. It's no secret that I'm a fan of the Andy Griffith Show and it's cast members.…
Wacky Police News

Police Rumors, Scoops, and Scandals

  Is Bark Worse Than His Bite? - Police in Three Rivers, Michigan have arrested a man for barking at a police dog. The suspect was charged with disorderly conduct and released on his own PR. HIBK - The Waterloo, Iowa Police Department…

Are Cop Killings Really On The Rise?

  I remember a time in the not so distant past when all we had to do was pull up next to an offender and tell him to get in the backseat. We didn't cuff everyone. Didn't have to. Back then, most citizens respected police officers and…
Please don't shoot my daddy

A Night Of Terror: Page 108 Of My Spiral Notebooks

"Help me! Please help me." "He's got my kids...And...Oh, God...He's got a gun! Hel..." BOOM! Silence. "All units. Hostage situation. 212 Shady Lane. Weapons involved. Shots fired." Three cars. High speed parade. Blue lights. Sirens. Sun…
Cop Talk

What To Do When You’re Attacked

  Thanks to Lt. David Swords for passing along these things to do in emergency situations. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in. 1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you…
Lisa Provost: The Body

Lisa Provost: Brushes With Domestic Violence

Born in August 1974, in Brooklyn, NY., Lisa Provost grew up in the Catskill and Adirondack mountains of upstate N.Y. where, from the time she was 12 - 16-years-old, she raised dairy goats. Lisa studied Biology at RIT in Rochester, N.Y. from…
A slow peaceful stroll

Weekend Road Trip: A Slow, Peaceful Stroll in the Country

  Worship 9:45 and 11:00 Chicken Pies $8.00 Homecoming  7:45
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Border Patrol Agent Robert Wimer Rosas, 30 U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection Agent Robert Rosas had been following a group of suspicious individuals on July 23, 2009, when gunfire erupted, killing him.…
Cop Talk

Cop Talk

  BOLO - Be on the lookout. (Replaces APB - All Points Bulletin). "We received a BOLO for a stolen Ford Pinto." "I exited my vehicle." - Cop talk for, "I got out of my car."   "I activated my emergency equipment." -…