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!

My Long and Winding Journey to the 2022 Writers’ Police Academy … and SpongeBob

The final two weeks of preparation for the annual Writers’ Police Academy passed by quickly, but eerily. I say it was eerie because there wasn’t a speck of trouble or problems. Well, other than presenters who backed out at the last minute.…

Writers’ Police Academy – Pre-Event Updates, Schedule Changes, and News

Okay, the really BIG NEWS first ... the REACHER PRIZE! Are you a fan of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels? Are you also a fan of the REACHER Amazon Prime television series? Yes? Have you ever wondered what it would be like…

Here’s How YOU Can Meet Jack Reacher!

Are you a fan of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels? Are you also a fan of the REACHER Amazon Prime television series? Yes? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to meet the real-life Jack Reacher, stunningly portrayed by Alan…

Tami Hoag Giveaway – Two Free Registrations to the 2022 Writers’ Police Academy!

Tami Hoag, the #1 international bestselling author of over thirty books, is GIVING AWAY two registrations ($515 value each) to the 2022 Writers’ Police Academy taking place on June 2-5 in Green Bay, WI. That’s right, she’s giving them…
Firearms Evidence
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Firearms Evidence: A Top Six “How-To” List

Many of the murders that occur in the U.S. involve a firearm of some type. How and what type of evidence recovered from those weapons can have a huge impact on the subsequent criminal trials. Proper evidence collection procedures ... well, they…
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Investigator G. Nome’s Fabulous Guide to Developing Fingerprints

Confused as to which fingerprinting medium is right for the task at hand? Well, Investigator G. Nome has assembled the ultimate guide for the heroes of your tall tales, and he recommends keeping it within easy reach. Heroes such as Harry…

2022 Edgar Allan Poe Award Winners!

"The Edgar Awards, or “Edgars,” as they are commonly known, are named after MWA’s patron saint Edgar Allan Poe and are presented to authors of distinguished work in various categories. MWA is the premier organization for mystery writers,…

Naked And Confused: Stupid Drivers

I've never been fond of working traffic details---running radar, crash investigations, issuing parking citations, standing in intersections during the pouring rain, wildly waving my arms and hands to send vehicles on their way, all while blasting…
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Writers’ Police Academy Online: April Tips, News, Upcoming Courses, and More!

Writers' Police Academy Online is officially open, with a brand new June 25, 2022 class, new website, new design, new server, and exciting new, user-friendly live/online and on-demand courses currently in development. Class formats are video,…

REACHER REVIEW (S1 X 03) Delayed Due to Website Move to New Server

The weekly REACHER Review has been delayed until next week because we're in the process of moving the Graveyard Shift to a new server. Also, the site is undergoing a much needed major overhaul which will appear in the near future. After 15…
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Murderers on the Block: James Ruppert and Timothy Bradford, the Minor Avenue Killers

Easter is nearly here and with its arrival I'm reminded of two horrific murder cases, one of which occurred on Easter Sunday. The other, nearly twenty years later in a house across the street from the first homicide scene. I've visited both…
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Postmortem Decomposition: How To Properly Rot Your Corpses

Putrefaction is the destruction of the soft tissue caused by two things, bacteria and enzymes. As bacteria and enzymes do their jobs, the body immediately begins to discolor, and it slowly transform into liquids and gases. The odd thing about…
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REACHER Review: Season 1 Episode 2 – “First Dance,” A Review of Police Procedure and Forensics

Before I begin I'd like to point out that REACHER the TV show, like the Jack Reacher books, contains quite a bit of over the top action. There's a fair amount of fighting and violence. That's what makes the Reacher legacy what it is. Reacher…
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REACHER Reviews: Welcome to Margrave – A Review of Police Procedure and Forensics, Part Two

When Jack Reacher stepped into our living room several days ago I knew I wanted needed to bring REACHER to this blog, and to you. There are many intricate details in the show that mirror real police officers and how they carry themselves. I'll…
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Exciting Offer From Writers’ Police Academy

Are you registered or plan to register to attend the 2022 Writers’ Police Academy? If so, you could receive an exciting offer from Writers' Police Academy - a $50 rebate and FREE registration to a special live Writers’ Police Academy Online…
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REACHER Reviews: Welcome to Margrave – A Review of Police Procedure and Forensics, Part One

Not since CASTLE and SOUTHLAND have I found a cop-type television series that stirred in me the desire to once again examine the police procedures and forensics used by TV officers ... until now. Well, there was BOSCH, which is a wonderful series,…
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Harriet Tubman: Spies, Spies, Everywhere You Look … Spies

With the current situation involving the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and with Russia’s cyberattacks on other countries, it should not be surprising to anyone that Russian spies live and work within the U.S. Elena Branson, also known as…

There’s a Head in the Bucket, Dear Taylor, a Head

On February 23, 2022, Officer Alex Wanish of the Green Bay, WI police department, responded to a rather grisly call after a woman called to report the discovery of her son's severed head in a plastic bucket. During their investigation, law…