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!

Writers' Police Academy

Writers Police Academy: It’s Going To Be A Blast!

  There's still time to register for the Writers Police Academy held on April 17-18, in Hamilton, Ohio (near Cincinnati). This is going to be a fantastic event. Where else could you rub elbows with top authors, publishers, and…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

What’s New In Evidence Detection?

The world of crime-solving evolves every day. New multi-million-dollar products, technology, and break-through discoveries make catching the bad guys a little easier. But, sometimes it's the small things - the cheap stuff - that brings a…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Richard Castle: Hell Hath No Fury

This week's episode, Hell Hath No Fury, starts off with a scene featuring Medical Examiner Lanie Parrish, played by Tamala Jones, who consistently dishes out terrible forensic information along with excruciatingly bad acting.  She'd have…
Thomas B. Sawyer

Thomas B. Sawyer: Writing for Murder She Wrote

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 or…
Drugs: What They're Called On The Street

Officer Robert Powell: I Can Screw You Over

  NFL player Ryan Moats stopped for a red light, but proceeded through after he'd determined it was safe to do so. What was his hurry? His beloved mother-in-law, Jo, was in the hospital, just seconds away from death. Moats and his…
Jason ODell

Weekend Road Trip: Jason Odell Is For The Birds

  I shot these photos in three different locations: 1) St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine FL 2) Venice Rookery, Venice, FL 3) Ft. Desoto State Beach, St. Petersburg, FL The St. Augustine Alligator Farm is a fantastic…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Corrections Officer Mark Parker, 44 Orange County Florida Sheriffs Office Officer Mark Parker died on March 19, 2009, from gunshot wounds sustained on January 10, 1984. On that day, a suspect entered a courthouse with the intention of…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Disaster Equipment

Special circumstances call for special tools. Here's a few used by police and rescue personnel.   Street Thunder megaphone capable of delivering clear voice at distances of up to 900 feet. This particular megaphone is also equipped…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Richard Castle: Hedge Fund Homeboys

  This week's episode of Castle, Hedge Fund Homeboys, was a mix of good and bad police procedure. But the show still delivered a fair bit of entertainment, if you could bear watching a medical examiner who's character is so awful she'd…
Rebekah Aidukaitis

Rebekah Aidukaitis: An Atypical Police Tour

As a corporate wife, Rebekah Aidukaitis has seen much of the country. Using this to her advantage, she now writes romantic suspense, romantic comedy and family humor, deftly incorporating setting and socio-economic backdrops to compliment each…
International Festival of Falconry at the Englefield Estate, England

Weekend Road Trip: Paul Beecroft at the Archives of Falconry

  Paul Beecroft is employed by the Thames Valley England Police as a Coroner's Officer. Just over two weeks ago I left the UK and travelled to Boise, Idaho and spent 4 days at the Archives of Falconry. For those of you that are…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

  Deputy Sheriff Chad Mechels, 33 Turner County South Dakota Sheriffs Office   Deputy Chad Mechels was shot and killed on March 15, 2009, while checking on the well-being of a citizen. When the deputy approached the residence,…
flashing blue lights

Police Lights: Can You See Me Now?

  Single beacon lights were first put into use on police vehicles in the early 1940s. The first strobe light was devised in 1931 to study moving objects. Strobes were first used on police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances in the early…
Murderers Escape Arizona Prison: How'd They Do It?

Federal Bureau of Prisons: The BOP

  People who commit federal crimes, such as terrorism or treason, are tried and sentenced in federal courts by federal judges. And, normally, anyone arrested by a federal law enforcement officer (FBI, ATF, DEA, etc.) is tried in federal…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Castle: Don’t Leave Town?

Last night's episiode of Castle, Nanny McDead, was a convoluted journey through police procedure. Was it all proper? No. Did the inaccuracy prevent the show from delivering? Again, no. It was a fun ride. But for the sake of our mystery writing…
Dr. Katherine Ramsland: Inside the Archives of Rome's Crime History

Dr. Katherine Ramsland: The Forensic Resource You Need to See

  Katherine Ramsland, Ph.D. 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 forthcoming…
Peaceful

Weekend Road Trip: Peaceful

 
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

  FBI Special Agent Paul M. Sorce, 44 Department of Justice - FBI   Agent Paul Sorce was killed in an on-duty automobile accident on March 9, 2009. Lieutenant Stuart J. Alexander, 47 Corpus Christi Texas Police Department   On…