We promised a HOT one this year and man did we ever deliver! You, a rookie firefighter, will climb aboard a real fire truck to take a ride that’ll satisfy that “burning” desire you have to learn all things firefighting.

Along your exciting journey to the scene there’ll be, of course, plenty of fire, smoke, sirens, flashing lights and…firefighters!

 

Fire Fundamentals: This interactive workshop begins with a ride in a fire truck heading to a fire (a real fire) and ends with a hands-on session with equipment inside the fire station. Experience the sights, sounds, and smells associated with firefighting.

*     *     *

*Remember, the WPA completely sold out last year in just 6 short hours and we anticipate a similar response this year. Therefore, waiting to register could result in missing out on THE most exciting writer event of the year. We strongly urge you to register the moment the registration link goes live.

Registration opens at precisely 11 a.m., February 14, 2015. For details please visit the Writers’ Police Academy website.

Writers’ Police Academy

 

Thursday

3:00 – 5:30

Registration/Check-in

5:30 – 5:50

Ride-Along and Jail Tour Orientation – Hotel (room TBA)

6:00

Ride-Along with on-duty patrol officers – Limited number of available slots filled by lottery. Sign-ups during online registration only. All participants must submit to a background check.

Jail Tours – Limited number of available slots filled by lottery. Sign-ups during online registration only. Participants may be required to submit to a background check.

Dinner – On your own.

The Radisson features a few very nice restaurants, and there are several restaurants and pubs within easy walking distance from the hotel. Many are within sight of the front doors.

7:00 – 8:00

Orientation – Hotel

 

8:30 p.m.

3D Crime Scene Mapping – The future of CSI is real and in use today! ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre – Hotel

 

Friday

NOTE: All workshop descriptions are listed at the end of the schedule.

 

8:00 – 8:45

Announcements ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre/Staff – Village

8:45 – 9:05

Late registration – PSTA Lobby

9:00 – ongoing

Milo – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. Requires extra fee. $35

Driving Simulator – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. Requires extra fee. $25

Traffic Stops – Ongoing. Friday only. Walk up any time.

 

9:15 – 10:30

Espionage, Cons and the Anatomy of Betrayal ~ NYPD Detective Marco Conelli

Romance Behind the Badge ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

Small Things Considered ~ Dr. Denene Lofland

Fingerprinting ~ Staff

Crime Lab ~ Wisconsin Crime Lab Staff

Fire Fundamentals ~ Staff

Skid Pad – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 3 shooters per 20 minutes. 1st come/1st served. ~ Staff

Firing Range (Pistol) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. $25 All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

EMS Experience ~ Staff

 

10:45 – Noon

An Insider’s View to the World of Women in Law Enforcement ~ Robin Burcell

Police Gunfighting ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

From Crime Scene to Autopsy ~ Deputy Coroner Les James

Bangs and Booms 101 ~ John Gilstrap

Crime Lab ~ Wisconsin Crime Lab Staff

Fingerprinting ~ Staff

Skid Pad – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 3 shooters per 20 minutes. ~ Staff

Firing Range (Pistol) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

EMS Experience ~ Staff

 

Noon – 12:45

Lunch

 

1:00 – 2:15

Kids Who Kill and Why ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

Handcuffing and Arrest Techniques ~ Staff

An Insider’s View to the World of Women in Law Enforcement ~ Robin Burcell

Bangs and Booms 101 ~ John Gilstrap

From Crime Scene to Autopsy ~ Deputy Coroner Les James

Interview and Interrogation ~ Lt. David Swords

Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT Maneuver) – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Burning Building Search/Rescue ~ Staff

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 3 shooters per 20 minutes.  ~ Staff

Firing Range (Pistol) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

 

2:30 – 3:45

Handcuffing and Arrest Techniques ~ Staff

Police Gunfighting ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

Bloodstain Pattern Investigations and Techniques ~ Staff

Alternate Light Sources ~ Staff

Arson Investigations ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre

Interview and Interrogation ~ Lt. David Swords

Tactics for Handling the Unruly Plane Passenger – Sign-ups at online registration only. 1st come/1st served.Limited to 25 participants at each session. ~ Staff

Drug Identification ~ Joe Keil

Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT Maneuver) – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 3 shooters per 20 minutes. 1st come/1st served. ~ Staff

Firing Range (Pistol) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

 

4:00 – 5:15

Arson Investigations ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre

Alternate Light Sources ~ Staff

Bloodstain Pattern Investigations and Techniques ~ Staff

Simunitions: Advanced Door-Breaches/Building Searches – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. Requires extra fee. $25 ~ Staff

Robbery v. Burglary ~ Lt. David Swords

Drug Identification ~ Joe Keil

Burning Building Search/Rescue ~ Staff

Tactics for Handling the Unruly Plane Passenger – Sign-ups at online registration only. 1st come/1st served.Limited to 25 participants at each session. ~ Staff

The Mindset of Cops ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

Kids Who Kill and Why ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

 

5:30

Buses depart for hotel

5:45 – 7:00

Dinner – On Your Own

7:00 – 7:30

Cash bar

7:30 – 8:30

Reception

 

9:00 p.m.

When a Traffic Stop Goes Horribly Wrong ~ Joe LeFevre, all law enforcement staff, K-9 (Lawrence Street and Jones Park behind Radisson Hotel).

 

Saturday

8:00 – 8:45

Announcements ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre/Staff  – Village

9:00 – ongoing

Milo – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. Requires extra fee. $35

Driving Simulator – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. Requires extra fee. $25

 

9:15 – 10:30

Forensic Art and Witness Recall ~ Robin Burcell

Small Things Considered ~ Dr. Denene Lofland

Fighting Words: Martial Arts for Writers ~ Howard Lewis

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 3 shooters per 20 minutes. 1st come/1st served. ~ Staff

Firing Range (Rifle) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. $25 All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

Computer-Aided Dispatch Systems ~ Staff

The Mindset of Cops ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

Robbery v. Burglary ~ Lt. David Swords

 

10:45 – Noon

Fighting Words: Martial Arts for Writers ~ Howard Lewis

Introduction to Firearms ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

SWAT Experience ~ Law Enforcement

Forensic Art and Witness Recall ~ Robin Burcell

Computer-Aided Dispatch Systems ~ Staff

Overview of Forensic Psychology ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

K-9 ~ Staff

Crime Scene Photography ~ Staff

Concealed Carry ~ Staff instructor with John Gilstrap

Firing Range (Rifle) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

 

Noon – 12:45

Lunch

 

1:00 – 2:10

Booking/Processing ~ Staff

SWAT Experience ~ Law Enforcement

Overview of Forensic Psychology ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT Maneuver) – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Espionage, Cons and the Anatomy of Betrayal ~ NYPD Detective Marco Conelli

Building Searches/Door Breaching – Sign-ups during online registration only. 3 shooters per 20 minutes. 1st come/1st served. ~ Staff

Computer Aided Dispatch Systems ~ Staff

Crime Scene Photography ~ Staff

JAWS ~ Staff

Gals with Guns ~ Staff

Firing Range (Rifle) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

 

2:20 – 3:30

Booking/Processing ~ Staff

Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT Maneuver) – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Firing Range (Rifle) – Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check. ~ Staff

Computer-Aided Dispatch Systems ~ Staff

K-9 ~ Staff

Introduction to Firearms ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

JAWS ~ Staff

Crime Scene Photography ~ Staff

Gals with Guns ~ Staff

Romance Behind the Badge ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

Simunitions: Advanced Door-Breaches/Building – Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. Requires extra fee. $25 ~ Staff

 

3:45

Buses Depart For Hotel

4:15 – 5:30

How to “Get It Right” – The benefits of research and how to make them work for the writer. ~ Allison Brennan – Hotel Salons C and D

 

6:30 – 7:00

Cash Bar and Silent Auction

 

7:00 – 8:30

Banquet, awards, silent auction, and announcements. You must present your ticket to enter the banquet room.

 

8:30

An Evening with Karin Slaughter

*Book signings with featured guests and presenters immediately after the conclusion of banquet activities.

 

Sunday

10:00 – Noon

Debriefing Panel – All Available Instructors

The debriefing panel has often been described as the best session of the entire event. It’s where you have the opportunity to address the panel of experts, asking questions pertaining to your work in progress, about police officers, detectives, sheriffs, police chiefs, crooks, thugs, thieves, and well, pretty much anything related to the world of cops and robbers.

You’ll definitely want to bring your sense of humor and a tissue or two. You’ll need both.

 

Workshop Descriptions

Alternate Light Sources ~ Staff

An Insider’s View to the World of Women in Law Enforcement ~ Robin Burcell

Arson Investigations ~ Dr. Joe LeFevre

Bangs and Booms 101: Interactive session to teach the basics of projectile ballistics, explosives, and how they do damage to people and things. ~ John Gilstrap

Bloodstain Pattern Investigations and Techniques ~ Staff

Building Searches/Door Breaching: In this heart-thumping workshop you and your fellow SWAT team members are called in to service a search warrant at a residence. Your mission is to locate and apprehend the armed robber who’s barricaded himself inside. Be prepared for whatever could happen and, well, it probably will. So expect the unexpected. Good luck!  ~ Staff (3 shooters per 20 minutes – 9 per hour)

Burning Building Search/Rescue: A burning building has filled with smoke and it’s up to you to enter and search for and save trapped or unconscious victims. Hands-on experience faced by firefighters every day. No actual fire and simulated smoke, but the experience is extremely realistic! ~ Staff

Computer-Aided Dispatch Systems: While seated at an actual dispatch terminal, you’ll check the database for a suspect’s criminal history and other vital records. Dispatchers will receive print-outs and issue tickets. ~ Staff

Concealed Carry: When cops and concealed carry citizens interact. How the objectives and tactics vary between civilians and LEOs. ~ Staff instructor with John Gilstrap

Crime Lab: How long do DNA results take? What does a Forensic Scientist do? Staff from the Wisconsin Crime Lab talk about their job and answer your questions.

Crime Scene Photography: Photograph crime scenes and crime scene evidence. Bring your cameras and your best investigative skills for this extremely realistic session. ~ Staff

Driving Simulator: You get the emergency call and respond in your patrol vehicle. This is definitely not a Sunday drive to Grandma’s house!

Drug Identification: Recognizing the signs of drug use and abuse and the paraphernalia related with various drugs. Discussion of current drug trends. ~ Joe Keil

EMS Experience: Learn about real EMS work using actual tools while inside an ambulance. Hands-on with many simple skills, and some people will get the thrill of delivering a baby via our human patient simulator. ~ Staff

Espionage, Cons and the Anatomy of Betrayal ~ NYPD Detective Marco Conelli

Fighting Words: Martial Arts for Writers: Demonstrations by a master and tips on writing scenes that don’t drive martial arts experts to the edge of insanity. ~ Howard Lewis

Fingerprinting: Lifting prints from a variety of surfaces, including those most difficult—wet, textured, and sticky areas such as duct tape. ~ Staff

Fire Fundamentals: This interactive workshop begins with a ride in a fire truck heading to a fire (a real fire) and ends with a hands-on session with equipment inside the fire station . Experience the sights, sounds, and smells associated with firefighting. ~ Staff

Firing Range (Pistol): Following a brief lesson on handgun safety and the 4 step process of the draw, participants will test their marksmanship on a real indoor police academy shooting range. Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check.

Firing Range (Rifle): Following a brief safety lesson and fundamental of rifle fire (AR-15), participants will test their marksmanship on a real indoor police academy shooting range. Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. 6 shooters per session. Requires extra fee. All participants must submit to a background check.  ~ Staff

Forensic Art and Witness Recall: How investigators reach inside someone’s head to see what the witness sees. Have you ever wondered why so many people can see the same incident, and yet have a completely different description of what happened or who they saw? Sketch artists have to learn the art of interviewing in order to get the clearest picture of a suspect from a witness’s description. Witness memory is fragile and easily swayed. Examples from real cases, and demonstration of techniques will be used in this course. ~ Robin Burcell

From Crime Scene to Autopsy ~ Deputy Coroner Les James

Gals With Guns: Concealed Carry For Women – How to carry. How not to carry. Where to carry. And how to draw. ~ Staff

Handcuffing and Arrest Techniques ~ Staff

Interview and Interrogation: Learn tactics and techniques used by investigators, and the mistakes often made by writers. ~ Lt. David Swords

JAWS: Hands-on session using the emergency lifesaving tool. ~ Staff

K-9: Narcotics searches and suspect apprehension. See the dogs doing what they do best and learn why they do it. ~ Staff

Kids Who Kill and Why ~ Dr. Katherine Ramsland

Milo: Shoot/don’t shoot interactive training. Extremely realistic. Will you make the right decisions?This session is hands-down one of the most popular workshops of the WPA. Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. Requires extra fee.

Police Gunfighting ~ ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan

Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT Maneuver):  Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Robbery v. Burglary ~ Lt. David Swords

Romance Behind the Badge: Examining the love tendencies of law enforcement officers. From scandalous infidelity to office romance and the sparks ignited while answering calls. We will rip the sheets off the mattress and expose the inside world of love in the cop world.  ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche (AKA “The Love Doctor”)

Simunitions ~ Advanced Door-Breaches/Building Searches: SWAT team members will suit up in protective gear and then conduct their search for the armed robber. SWAT members and bad guys will be armed with Simunition (similar to paintball). Sign-ups during online registration only. 1st come/1st served. Requires extra fee. ~ Staff

Skid Pad: Fishtailing around a corner during a high-speed chase. Teetering on the edge of losing total control of your car. Sound exciting? Well, if you’re up for it, so are we. Climb inside one of our patrol cars and hang on for the ride of a lifetime. This is actual police training. Sign-ups during online registration only. Participation by lottery. 3 participants per ride. ~ Staff.

Small Things Considered: An up-close look at microscopic creatures and how they can be used to commit murder.~ Dr. Denene Lofland

SWAT Experience: See, touch, and try on actual SWAT team gear. Tour SWAT vehicles, and learn SWAT operations from the experts. ~ Law Enforcement

Tactics for Handling the Unruly Plane Passenger: You’ve boarded the plane, buckled in, and made sure your tray table is locked in the upright position. Suddenly the passenger in 12B does the unthinkable and it’s up to you, the responding police officer, to control the situation. Yes, we have a full-size Boeing 727 passenger jet onsite! ~ Staff

The Mindset of Cops: Examine the psychological mindset of cops. What are their cultural backgrounds, their psychological tendencies, and what draws officers to a career in law enforcement. Take a look at the camaraderie of the Thin Blue Line and the caustic nature of the career. ~ Secret Service Special Agent Mike Roche

Traffic Stops: Side-by-side role playing with PSTA police recruits as they conduct practical exercises. Walk up anytime to participate. This is actual police academy training in real time. Have your questions answered while interacting with police recruits.

 *     *     *

Registration for the 2015 Writers’ Police Academy opens February 14, 2015 at 11 a.m. EST. The event is open to everyone at this time. You do not have to be a writer to enjoy this event!

*     *     *

A Message From Sisters In Crime

Are you a WPA Virgin?

Sisters in Crime looking for Writers’ Police Academy Virgins! You know who you are!

Sisters in Crime, a major sponsor of WPA, is pleased to announce a new 7-day-long first crack for SinC members who are WPA newbies.

Did you miss Writers Police Academy in 2011 through 2014? Then, starting on 14 Feb, you can register for $220, a saving of $155.

There are 225 discounted places available. Act quickly to snag one.

If you have attended before, you can register at the full price as soon as registration opens, or wait until after 21 Feb when any of the 225 SinC places remaining will be available at the discounted rate to returning SinC members.

*     *     *

A Message From The Writers’ Police Academy

*Remember, the WPA completely sold out last year in just 6 short hours and we anticipate a similar response this year. Therefore, waiting to register could result in missing out on THE most exciting writer event of the year. We strongly urge you to register the moment the registration link goes live.

Sisters in Crime is offering to make their member discount retroactive, providing available slots remain after the 7-day first-timer registration period. Again, we strongly urge you to register the moment the registration link goes live.

 

Hello and welcome to the Fox Valley Technical College Public Safety Training Center (PSTC). Hopefully this blog post will entice you to come to the next Writers Police Academy and get to hear me say that in person. Until then let me give you a little history and virtual tour of this amazing facility.

The PSTC is located just outside Appleton, WI. It is a stand-alone campus that is part of Fox Valley Technical College. Here in Wisconsin the counties are divided up into 16 districts. Each district has a tax supported technical college. The majors at the technical college range from Agribusiness, Nursing, Manufacturing Apprenticeships, Culinary Arts, and yes, Criminal Justice.

In addition to the Associate Degree programs the technical colleges are also the certifying bodies for a number of professional fields. We run the Police Academies, Fire Academies (for both paid and volunteer firefighters) and National Registry for EMT/Paramedics. It is the certifying of Police, Fire, EMS that is the core of what the PSTC was built for.

We built the PSTC with about $36 Million dollars that came from a public referendum. There have also been a number of large donations from businesses to help offset some construction costs. Believe it or not, the vote was 76% in favor of giving us the money. Seriously, when was the last time that many people voted to have their taxes raised?

The facility sits on 76 acres of land adjacent to the Appleton airport. The site boasts a 90,000 sq. foot classroom building. Inside are two shooting ranges, a forensic lab, jail-training center, two self-defense training rooms, a gym, a dispatch center, and multiple general classrooms. In addition the building has a fire apparatus bay that is capable of not only parking fire engines, but also having ladder trucks raise their ladder inside. We have some cold winters in Wisconsin so it is nice to training ladder work and rappelling inside.

Outside the classroom building is a mock village we call “River City.” Yes, that name is a little shout out to the Music Man. Currently, River City has two houses, a bank, a motel with lobby and bar, and a gas station. In the future we will be adding more buildings on some of the open green space. The buildings are outfitted with real furnishings like any home or business. We can and do simulate all kinds of emergency response calls to River City, meaning come August you might investigate a bank robbery at our bank, or a murder at the motel. The possibilities are practically endless.

Our Fire program has multiple specialty buildings outside the classroom building. The highlight of the fire props is the six-story burn tower. Our fire program also features a ladder training tower, a three-story structure to run many different ladder drills on. In addition to firefighting we teach technical rescue, so we have a mound of dirt containing over 400 linear feet of swear pipe for confined space rescue.

Everyone who gets a chance to meet me will learn that I was both a police officer and firefighter in my professional career. As a police department evidence technician with a fire service background I was quickly found myself as a fire investigator. So when building the PSTC because of my background I made them put in four arson pods. Basically a cinder block building that has four identical rooms in it to set fires in.

Also in the outdoor area is a set of four shooting ranges. We have two fifty-yard ranges, a 125-yard range and a 300-year sniper range.

Next to the outdoor shooting ranges is our driving track. The heart of the driving track is a 5-acre skills pad where we set up all the cone courses most people think of for driver training. Around the skills pad is a 5/8-mile loop that simulates a divided highway, banked interstate corner, and section of plain, straight city street. Oh, and I’d better not forget that no police driving track is complete without the famous skid pad—a section of asphalt that is pure flat with no aggregate in it that we wet down to make as slick as ice. Just the slightest turn of a steering wheel can cause a car to spin out of the skid pad.

Finally rounding out the outside area we have train derailment and an airplane. The train derailment can be used for a number of scenarios from hazardous material response to police crash investigations. Our plane is a 737 complete with a full passenger compartment. It is mostly used for EMS and Fire training but, while we have featured some Law Enforcement training on the plane, the guys in black suits with dark sunglasses said I couldn’t say anymore about that.

The last outdoor prop of note is the pond. The pond depth is maintained at a level between 20-30 feet, which mimics a number of lakes close to our campus. We’ve placed a car at the bottom of the pond and might be placing a second one later on. Here we can practice underwater CSI skills and also dive rescue. In addition, due to the rural nature of Wisconsin, many fires occur in areas without nearby fire hydrants. Therefore, fire departments need to draft water from local lakes, ponds, and rivers, and our pond provides the necessary training to do so.

Anyone who has been to our facility comments that photos and directions like this posting simply does not give it justice. I hope I have wet your appetite for the WPA in August and you will come see us for yourself. Until then I look forward to greeting you all!

*     *     *

 Joe LeFevre has worked as both a police officer and firefighter during his professional career. He has held positions as a police officer, patrol supervisor, field training officer, evidence technician, firefighter II, fire department engineer, and fire investigator. He is currently the Forensic Science program coordinator at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI.

Dr. LeFevre is also an author who’s published nonfiction in both book form and various magazines. He’s a contributing author for publications such as PoliceOne, and his first mystery is scheduled for release later in 2015.