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!

Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering the Fallen

  Lieutenant Robert Curry, 39 Gulfport Mississippi Police Department   On August 14, 2008, Lieutenant Curry was killed in an automobile accident when a vehicle turned in front of his police department motorcycle. Lt.…
Police: Unusual Tools of the Trade

Police: Unusual Tools of the Trade

  There are lots of tricks of the trade to make police work go a little easier. Here's a few of those unusual little gadgets.   Handcuff key with built-in light source. Anyone who has tried to unlock a pair of cuffs in the…
Lisa St. James

Lisa St. James: What A Girl Will Do To Earn A Living

Lisa St. James resides in Columbus, Ohio with her husband. She currently works as a Background Check Coordinator. Working hard to complete her first manuscript, she spends her free time serving as Vice-President for the Columbus, Ohio chapter…

Undercover Officers: Where Do They Hide Their Weapons?

  Undercover officers and detectives sometimes have to be quite creative when it comes to finding places to conceal their weapons. To help with this problem, many police supply companies have turned everyday items into some pretty unique…
Yvonne Mason

Yvonne Mason: Bounty Hunting in the Big Apple

  Bounty Hunting in The Big Apple "New York, New York", this was one of the best classic songs known. New York is also one of the most well known states for the mob and crime. That being said, Hunters are in great demand in the "Big…
Castle Hill

Weekend Road Trip: Castle Hill and Crane Beach

  Ipswitch, Massachusetts is home to a sprawling 2100 acre estate known as Castle Hill (est. 1634). The property is the former summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Crane, Jr. (Crane Brass and Bell Foundry). The estate consists of a fifty-nine…
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Rembering the Fallen

  Detective Sandra Joyce Bullock, 59 Bushnell Florida Police Department   On Tuesday, August 5, 2008, Detective Bullock was killed when her police vehicle was struck head-on by a motorist who pulled into her lane while…
Expandable Batons

Expandable Batons: ASP

  Expandable batons are composed of a hollow outer shaft and two or three inner telescoping shafts. The tip of the smallest shaft is solid which increases the user's striking power. The most recognizable name in expandable batons is…
Alison Gaylin

Alison Gaylin: Fatal Obsession

  An entertainment journalist for fifteen years, Alison Gaylin is the Edgar nominated author of HIDE YOUR EYES, its sequel YOU KILL ME, TRASHED and the upcoming HEARTLESS (due out in September.) TRASHED - which focuses on a reluctant…
Sirchie fingerprint labratories

What’s New in Fingerprinting?

  This Mini Light Brush features a built in high intensity LED—(BLUE) light that illuminates any surface when developing latent fingerprints using fluorescent powders. These fiberglass brushes are particularly useful for dusting…
Yvonne Mason

Yvonne Mason: New Jersey Bail-Jumpers

  Finding those Pesky Bail Jumpers in New Jersey As promised I have started on the quest all of you asked for, the Bounty Jumping Laws in the Garden State of New Jersey.   In 2000 the New Jersey legislature proposed a new…
San Jose

Weekend Road Trip: Christmas Day in San Jose, California

  The downtown snow is plastic and the temperatures hover in the upper sixties, but that doesn't stop Christmas Day from showing up right on time in San Jose, California.
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

  Officer Aldo Rossi, 42 Port Dickinson New York Police Department   On July 27, 2008, Officer Rossi was assisting a motorist when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a drunk driver. He succumbed to his injuries later…
Sgt Moulin

Sgt. Josh Moulin: Computer Forensics and Child Exploitation

  Computer Forensics and Child Exploitation - From the Case Files of the Southern Oregon High-Tech Crimes Task Force Occasionally I will write about a case that I have investigated within our task force to provide some real life examples…
Chris Grabenstein

Chris Grabenstein: Forensics, Fire, and Wall Bangers

  Chris Grabenstein did improvisational comedy (with Bruce Willis) in New York before James Patterson hired him at the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency. His Anthony Award-winning debut TILT A WHIRL (A John Ceepak mystery) was…
Yvonne Mason

Yvonne Mason: Bounty Hunting in Hawaii

Bounty Hunting in Hawaii I know that all of you out there are wondering how Dog the Bounty Hunter is able to do his job. So, I did a bit of research on Bounty Hunting laws in Hawaii. Apparently there are very few restrictions for the great…
Virginia Beach Fishing

Weekend Road Trip: Virginia Beach Tuna Fishing

  This weekend we're fishing for tuna off the coast of Virginia Beach with Brian Lofland and a few of his friends.
Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen

  Deputy Sheriff Anthony Forgione, 33 Okaloosa County Florida Sheriffs Office Deputy Forgione was shot and killed by a suspect who had escaped custody during a mental health evaluation. Forgione leaves behind a wife and…