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!
If It Quacks Like a Duck Feed it Cheerios
I'm writing this blog from a lakeside RV campground in North Carolina, near where I snapped the above photograph. The campground is our short-term home until we find and purchase a new house. Unfortunately, I anticipate living here…
Police Rumors, Scandals, and Scoops
Officer Mark Minton, a North Carolina wildlife officer, will not face charges for fatally shooting a turkey hunter. The officer and the man were engaged in a confrontation when the officer fired the fatal round.
Clyde Coffey…
Thomas B. Sawyer: Take Six
Novelist, screenwriter, playwright Thomas B. Sawyer was Head Writer/Showrunner of the hit CBS series, Murder, She Wrote, for which he wrote 24 episodes. Tom has written 9 network TV pilots, 100 episodes, and has been Head Writer/Showrunner…
Ulrich Boser: The Gardner Heist
Ulrich Boser is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Smithsonian, among others. A former contributing editor for U.S. News & World Report, he is the founding editor of…
Dr. Katherine Ramsland: Inside the Archives of Rome’s Crime History
Dr. Katherine Ramsland has published 34 books and over 900 articles, and is the chair of Social Sciences at DeSales University, where she teaches about forensic psychology, profiling, serial murder, and forensic science. Her latest book is The…
Sheila Lowe: Did You Blink?
Sheila Lowe is a forensic handwriting expert with more forty years of experience in the field. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and is the author of several published books including Handwriting of the Famous &…
Weekend Road Trip: Lazy Days in North Carolina
Boston is officially a page in our book of memories. It's over. Done. No more snow to shovel. Hooray!
Hopefully we'll be in a new house, in a new city, soon. Until then, our temporary home here in North Carolina is quite peaceful.…
Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen
Assistant Chief Joey Cannon, 50
Plumerville Arkansas Police Department
On June 19, 2009, Assistant Chief Joey Cannon was shot to death while conducting a traffic stop. He was scheduled to retire in two weeks.
Officer Henry…
P.K. Dawning: Meth and Mayberry
P.K. Dawning is a fifth generation Southerner, and as such, takes great pride in writing Southern Fiction. However, regardless of genre, all of her stories employ elements of romance, mystery, and suspense. During her attendance at…
Sgt. Josh Moulin: Handling Digital Evidence
Sergeant Josh Moulin supervises the Central Point Police Department's Technical Services Bureau and is the Commander of the Southern Oregon High-Tech Crimes Task Force. He is one of approximately 470 Certified Forensic Computer Examiner's…
Exit Stage Left: I’m Outta Here!
The movers finshed loading our truck last night (well, it was actually this morning) at 4:30am. It was a grueling twoi days, but it's over. I've loaded the car and now I'm ready to begin the new adventure. We're headed to the land…
Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen
Officer Giovanni Gonzales, 23
Miami-Dade Police Department
Officer Giovanni Gonzales was killed in an automobile accident on June 16, 2009.
Trooper Jorge Dimas, 23
Wisconsin State Patrol
Trooper Jorge…
Ben Small: Right Gun, Wrong Barrel
An honors graduate from Indiana University and an experienced trial lawyer, Ben F. Small has over thirty years experience handling complex antitrust, litigation and other legal matters worldwide for Fortune 500 companies. A gun enthusiast…
Police In-Service Training
Police officers are required to maintain active certifications. They do so by attending mandatory in-service training along with elective courses held at various academies and agencies. Mandatory in-service training is required at…
Uniforms: When to Wear What?
Police officers wear a variety of clothing, and situation dictates what to wear and when they wear it. The officer in the image above is wearing a Class B uniform. Class B's are the outfits worn for general street duty. The material…
2009 Golden Pen Award Winner: Rebecca Williams
My fascination with reading and writing began with detective magazines, The Hardy Boys, and Poe. I even read Nancy Drew when Frank and Joe Hardy weren't available. In fact, I practically read everything I could get my hands on - Archie, Superman,…
Weekend Road Trip: Boston Is In My Rearview Mirror
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Denene and I are leaving Boston as of 6:00 this morning. We're moving to a warmer climate where I won't have to spend the entire winter shoveling and blowing snow. Last winter's…
Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen
Investigator Chadwick (Chad) Alan Carr, 31
Greene County Virginia Sheriffs Office
Investigator Chad Carr was killed on June 4, 2009, when his department vehicle collided with a tractor trailer. Investigator Carr was…