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!

Evidence Collection: Paper, Plastic, or … ?

There's more to evidence collection than merely bagging and tagging bloody clothing and spent bullet casings. Crime scene techs are highly trained, skilled members of police agencies and forensic laboratories who more often than not provide…
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Stuff it in Your Underwear, and Other Details to Add Sizzle to Your Tale

Sometimes it's the tiniest detail that makes a setting pop, zing, and sizzle. They're the little things that cause readers to sit up and take notice. They evoke emotion and stir memories of real life experiences. They're the things that make…
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5 Things To Avoid When Writing About Cops

If your goal is realistic police procedure inserted between scenes of suspended disbelief, well, there are a few things you should avoid, much like you’d steer clear of walking through gang turf while wearing a neon green “Gang-Bangers’…

The Twelve Days of Quarantine

To the tune of, well, you know ...   On the first day of quarantine my true love sent to me A partridge and some gravy.   On the second day of quarantine my true love sent to me Two bags of beans And a par-tr-i-dge…

Homicide Investigations: Dos and Don’ts

"To Protect and Preserve." Those are the words that should be on the mind of every officer who responds to the scene of a homicide. First responders have an immense responsibility. Not only do they have to assess the situation in a hurry---the…

Stop and Frisk – A Legal Practice, Yes or No?

Stop and Frisk has once again worked its way into the news by way of politics, with a former presidential candidate apologizing for the use of the practice in a city where he once served as mayor. Those stops, he once vehemently argued, were…

Seizing the Dope and Then Setting It On FIRE!

Some crime scenes, such as labs used for manufacturing methamphetamine, contain hazardous materials---flammable and toxic chemicals and fumes. When searching those dangerous crime scenes investigators must wear protective gear and clothing.…

An Ax Murder and the Q-Tips: A True Story From My Files

Working as a sheriff's deputy in the patrol division often presents a few unique challenges as opposed to patrolling city streets, such as having lots of miles to cover when responding to various emergencies. Other issues faced by law enforcement…
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Writing Small Town Police Departments: Are You Ill? Do You Have the Following Symptoms?

Since the topic today is "small town departments" and the officers who work there ... well, hold on to your hats because I'm about to make an earth shattering announcement! Ready? Here goes. Sure you're ready? Are you sitting down? Have…

Shop With Cops For All Your Household Needs: Part Two

Police officers require certain tools and equipment to carry out their day-to-day duties, such as the obvious—patrol vehicles, uniforms, badges, bullet resistant vests, and firearms. But there are other things that make their jobs go more…
Courtroom Security

Courtroom Security: The Hidden Side of The Criminal Trial

You've all seen the deputies and other officers who guard courtrooms. Yes, they're highly visible and they're there to protect everyone from harm. However, courtroom security is far more than just watching prisoners inside the actual room where…

Creating Believable Villains: A Tasty Recipe

Villains. They're the bad guys of our stories who are devoted to wickedness. They have specific goals and will stop at nothing to reach them. Are you as driven to write them as compelling characters? Before we dive into the dark, murky…
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The Golden Donut Short Story Contest, and the Book

Each year, the Writers' Police Academy hosts a wildly popular hands-on training event for writers, readers, fans, and anyone else with an interest in police procedure and the forensics used to solve crimes. If you've attended you know the…
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People Are Strange: The Book, and a Short Story Contest

The Writers’ Police Academy is pleased and excited to announce the coming release of our second anthology, “People Are Strange: Tales From the Graveyard Shift.” We’re equally excited to announce that THREE lucky writers could see…

Helpful Tips: MurderCon Registration Opens Sunday February 23, 2020 at Noon EST

MurderCon registration opens Sunday, February 23, 2020, at noon EST. Therefore, to help the process go smoothly, I thought I'd post a few tips and helpful information. Please hover your cursor above the bottom left of the graphic below,…
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MurderCon Registration opens SUNDAY, 2-23-2020!

The day to signup to attend MurderCon is now only three short days away! For those of you who aren't familiar with the wildly popular event, MurderCon is the ultimate hands-on training event where attendees---writers, readers, fans, law…
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From U-Boat to Yankee 9ers and Zip Guns: More Cop Speak

You've all heard police officers chattering away on their police radios, on news reports, and while arresting Ray Buck Jenkins, the town drunk. And when they do they use their own special form of communication, the sometimes brain-jarring language…
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Police Scanners: Legal or Not?

I recently saw a couple of questions about police scanners posted to the wonderful Q&A site crimescenewriter. The questions there were some I've seen often enough that I thought I'd also share and respond to them here as well.   The…