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!

2008-2

2008: A Photographic Visit With Friends and Family

  One really bright ray of sunshine in what was a pretty dismal year was all the wonderful friends who stopped by The Graveyard Shift. May 2009 be kind to you all. Thanks to each of you. Chris Grabenstein My brother (the…
2008-2

2008: A Photo Review

  I'd like to take this time to thank to all the police and forensics experts who make this site possible. Without their time, effort, and dedication there would be no Graveyard Shift, and the world would be a very scary place to live.…

Evidence Collection and Preservation

  Paper evidence bags are best used for containing "wet" evidence, such as bed linens, pillows, rugs, and other items saturated with body fluids. Plastic bags act as mini incubators which allows bacteria to grow, and the presence of…
Plum Island

Weekend Road Trip: Christmas Day at Plum Island

  Plum Island, Ma. is an hour's drive north of Boston and it's one of our favorite places to kayak. As you can see from the photos, both the Merrimac and Parker River were covered with ice. Merrimac River Frozen Merrimac…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Deputy Jeremy Keith Carter, 22 Evangeline Louisiana Parrish Sheriffs Department On December 19, 2008, Deputy Carter collapsed and died during a foot pursuit of a fleeing suspect. He is survived by his one-year-old daughter. Deputy William…
Language of Crooks, Thugs and Gangsters

Cops, Crooks, and Eggnog

  Happy Holidays to all of you from The Graveyard Shift! See you again on December 26, 2008. Please take a moment to remember the police officers who are working tonight and tomorrow to keep us safe and sound so that we may enjoy…
Tasers: Are they killers?

Tasers: Are They Killers?

  Tasers were designed for use as an alternative to deadly force, and as a means of self-defense for officers. The use of these "non-lethal" weapons has been the focus of many investigations and news stories. Can these brightly colored…
snow-street

Snow, Snow, and Another 200 Word Contest!

  Due to the rather large amount of snowfall we received in Boston I didn't have the time or energy (after shoveling and snow blowing since late Friday night to stay ahead of the storm) to write a new police-type blog for today. Instead,…
Body by the yard

200 Word Story Contest: Body By The Yard

The Graveyard Shift is pleased to announce our second 200 word short story contest. The rules are simple. Write a story about the photograph above using no more than 200 words, including the title (Use your own title). All stories must be polished…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

Captain Tom Tennant, 51 Woodburn Oregon Police Department Captain Tennant was killed on December 12, 2008, when a bomb detonated while he was examining the device.  Captain Tennant, a 28 year veteran police officer, is survived by his…
Back by popular demand: Jonathan Hayes

Jonathan Hayes – Notes On Forensic Medicine: Smell

Jonathan Hayes (www.jonathanhayes.com) is a senior forensic pathologist in the New York City Medical Examiner's Office, and author of PRECIOUS BLOOD (Harper 2007) and A HARD DEATH (Harper, 2009). Notes on Forensic Medicine: Smell by Jonathan…
Laura Fleury

A&E Television VP Laura Fleury: Crime 360

LAURA FLEURY Vice President, Non-Fiction and Alternative Programming A&E/BIO Channel/Crime & Investigation Network Laura Fleury is Vice President of Non-Fiction and Alternative Programming at A&E Network. In this position, she…

What Does A Sheriff Do?

  The duties of a county (or city) sheriff differ a bit than those of a police chief. In fact, not all sheriffs are responsible for street-type law enforcement, such as patrol. Remember, this may vary somewhat from one jurisdiction to…

Perps, Vics, and Juvies, Oh My!

  Police jargon (since I'm in Boston, that's pronounced "jahgon") is like an accent. It varies across the country. I urge you writers to do a little homework before you inject dialogue in your books that doesn't ring true. A quick phone…

Weekend Road Trip: Crime 360

  The entire first season of Crime 360 will be available for the first time on DVD on Tuesday December, 16, 2008. Crime 360 is part of A&E TV's line up of police/forensic reality television, such as The First 48 and Cold Case Files. Anyone…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

  Officer Timothy Abernethy, 43 Houston Police Department   Officer Abernethy was shot and killed on December 7, 2008, by a suspect who'd fled on foot after a traffic stop. During the pursuit Officer Abernethy rounded…
Jan Brogan

Jan Brogan: Researching Cyberspace

Jan Brogan has been a journalist for twenty years. She is a former staff writer at The Providence Journal-Bulletin in Rhode Island and The Worcester Telegram and Gazette in Massachusetts and has worked as a correspondent for The Boston Globe.…

High-Tech Officer Safety

  There's nothing worse than not being able to see around the next corner, knowing there's an armed suspect there and it's your job to go in and and get him. Police officers and soldiers around the world are faced with this terrifying…