Hands Up and Hands On

My debut thriller, NEARLY GONE, is still six months from release. Now the real work begins... writing the sequel. Book 2 presents some unique challenges, as my protagonist, Nearly Boswell, accepts an internship in her local forensic science lab and ends up knee-deep in a series of bizarre murders. This book is taking me in some new directions, and my process so far has been steeped in research -- everything from forensics to criminal investigations to the visitation policies of our nation's most secure maximum security prisons.

In recent weeks, I've enjoyed some amazing hands-on, behind-the-scenes research opportunities, with the goal of making Nearly's next mystery as thrilling (and believable) as it can be!

Tour of the Northern VA Forensics Lab

In August, I toured the Virginia Department of Forensic Science Northern Lab in Manassas, VA, the exact lab where Nearly will become an intern in book 2. I was unable to take photos inside the building, but I had a chance to talk with firearms and tool mark experts, see inside a Latent Fingerprint Lab, peep through the glass windows of DNA and Toxicology Labs, and understand the chain of custody from the time evidence is collected, to the time it leaves the lab. Tours of the attached Medical Examiner's Facility (and autopsy suite) are no longer permitted, but I did get a much better understanding of how the M.E. and forensic examiners work together, and in what circumstances their work overlaps. The big takeaway lesson of the day was that evidence collection, body examination and retrieval, evidence processing, and the rules for retaining and/or disposing of evidence after an investigation are handled differently from state to state.


Writers' Police Academy

It was another stellar year at the Writers' Police Academy in Guildford County, North Carolina, and this year, we had a sensational turnout from the kidlit community!

CJ Omololu did hard time in the Jail Search class

This year's classes included: Building Searches, Blood Interpretation, Footwear Impressions, Fingerprinting, Use of DNA Evidence in the Courtroom, Criminal Drug Interdiction, Prostitution, Human Trafficking, Murder Typology, Fire Scene Investigation, Undercover Cops, Threat Assessments of Pre-Incident Mass-Shooters, Cold Cases, Chiefs vs Sheriffs, Gunfights, DWI/Texting While Driving, Criminal Investigation & Sexual Assault, Gangs, Underwater Recovery, Code Blue, Interview and Interrogation, Forensic Identification, How Criminals Get Their Guns, Secrets Behind The Secret Service, Women In Law Enforcement, SWAT Operations, Handcuffing Techniques, Killing With Microorganisms, and Crime Scene Lighting, Police Tools & Equipment, Jail Searches, and more...

Hands-on and live demonstrations included K-9 Demos, Vehicle Extrications, Hazardous Devices Bomb Detonation Demo, Fire Arms Training Simulations, Driving Simulations, and Felony Traffic Stop Demonstrations.

Guest speakers included NY Times Bestseller Lisa Gardner, world-renowned DNA expert Dan Krane, and forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs, author of the series that inspired the hit TV show, Bones.

Fingerprinting Class

Live Nighttime Demonstration of a Felony Traffic Stop

Live Hazardous Devices Bomb Detonation Demonstration

Presentations and signings by Lisa Gardner & Kathy Reichs
(pictured left to right, Elle Cosimano with Lisa Gardner)

Live EMS Crime Scene Response Demonstration 

Fire Scene Investigation Demonstration

Anywhere can be a crime scene -- even the WPA Banquet!
(pictured left to right, Kate Bassett and Shelli Johannes-Wells)

Ride-Along with Guilford County Sheriff's Office

Elle rides-along with Deputy Rodney Walker

Four hours in the passenger seat of a patrol car, even on a slow night, was an eye-opener! Deputy Walker answered all my questions, from procedural and technical inquiries to the more personal/emotional aspects of his job. In that brief span of time, we visited a trailer park to fulfill an outstanding arrest warrant, issued a traffic citation, responded to a report of a domestic dispute, clocked radar, visited the field office, and provided support to another deputy on patrol. Deputy Walker also gave me a stern lecture on not taking on unknown (and potentially dangerous) individuals as hotel roommates. After seeing the photo from the Banquet (above), I guess I can understand why.


Want to conduct research for your own story, and not sure where to start? Nervous about contacting your local forensic lab or requesting a ride-along with your local sheriff's office? Want to know more about WPA? Point and shoot your questions about finding hands-on research opportunities here!

STOP! CITIZENS' POLICE!

On March 15th, registration opens for the Writer’s Police Academy. This three day hands-on workshop is instructed by actual police, investigators, crime lab specialists, corrections officers, undercover detectives, forensic experts, K9 handlers, firearm instructors, and first responders. If you write crime fiction, I can’t recommend this program highly enough. You can read more about it here, and you can register here.

But the WPA isn’t the only place to learn about police procedure. The answers you need to become a more informed writer (or more critical reader) are right in your own backyard, at your local Citizens’ Police Academy.

The concept for a Citizens’ Police Academy was born in the UK in the 1970s, beginning as a night school for regular citizens with an interest in learning about police procedure. The concept made its way to the US almost a decade later, and became the first Citizens’ Police Academy in Orlando, FL in 1985, with the goal of reducing crime through a stronger citizen commitment to the police department. The program was an instant success, and Citizens’ Police Academies were adopted throughout the country. 

You can find local police departments with nearby academies on this national list of Citizens’ Police Academy members. Then type “citizens police academy” + the name of the county/city of your nearest CPA program in your favorite search engine. Most police departments have a page dedicated to their CPA program, if one is offered.

What happens at CPA?  Most Citizens’ Police Academies offer a wide range of classes, including: Patrol Operations, Special Investigations (ie: V.I.C.E., Narcotics, Gangs), Jail Tours, Domestic Violence, Animal Control, Firearms Safety, Basic Criminal Law, Crime Analysis, Crime Prevention, Forensics, K-9 Demonstrations, DUI & SET Units, SWAT Team, Bomb Squad, Professional Standards, Criminal Investigations, and even Ride-Along Programs. Programs generally require 30-40 hours of classroom time, spread between one and twelve weeks, and may offer more than one session per year. At the conclusion of the program, most departments offer a graduation ceremony, and some even offer alumni groups. Best of all, most of these programs are free of charge!

So what are you waiting for? Will we see you at the Writer’s Police Academy in September? No? Then get thee to your local Citizens’ Police Academy and report back! We’d love to feature you on our blog and read about your experience!

Special Report: Writers Police Academy!

We're interrupting our regular programming here at Sleuths, Spies & Alibis to bring you a special report from the mystery/thriller writing trenches! Ever wonder how mystery and thriller writers nail the details when dealing with crime, police procedures, and special investigations? Authors Megan Miranda (author of Fracture and the forthcoming Hysteria, Bloomsbury/Walker) and Elle Cosimano (author of Nearly Gone, coming 2014 from Kathy Dawson Books/Penguin) recently attended the Writers Police Academy in North Carolina to find out for themselves.

For the record, our own sleuth Laura Ellen was there too, but since she's busy getting ready for her imminent book launch, we're letting our guest posters tell you all about this fantastic conference!

SPECIAL REPORT FROM MEGAN MIRANDA & ELLE COSIMANO: 

“What’s the best way to get away with murder, officer?”

Smile so you don’t freak him out. Wait, the smile is totally freaking him out. Look serious. Wait, that’s a bad idea. Crap, too late.

Hey, remember that time your critique partner put you in cuffs and you got to play with Luminol and then you learned how to storm a building, SWAT style?

And then you came home with the answers to every inappropriate question in your manuscript (see above), and also ideas for four more stories, and a steady ache in your side from laughing all weekend? Or maybe that ache was from when the instructor challenged you to slip your cuffs . . . 

Yeah. Me too.

Wait, we should probably back up a second . . . 

A few weekends ago, we had the pleasure of attending the Writers Police Academy. Which is… wait for it… a police academy. For writers. Basically, it’s an opportunity to see and learn first-hand. And it’s also an opportunity to ask all those hypothetical what-if questions that might otherwise land you a) in someone’s spam folder, or b) on a watch list.

Oh, and also, it’s ridiculously fun.

Here are some of the classes we attended, and the crazy what-if questions these generous law enforcement professionals indulged for the sake of our art.

Really. It’s for the art. We promise.

Question:  “Hypothetically, what would you do if you got a tip that there was something, er, body-sized and, um, body-shaped hidden in a lake?”

Answer: “Deep questions require even deeper answers.”

Underwater Recovery Class

Question:  “What if the blood at a possible crime scene wasn’t really blood at all? What if it was beet juice or chocolate pudding or ketchup?”

Answer:  *snaps on latex gloves, hands over plastic vial and a bloody cloth* “There’s a test for that.”

Presumptive Blood Testing and Blood Spatter Analysis

Question:  “Is it possible to slip a pair of handcuffs?”

Answer:  “Here. Put these on your critique partner and let’s find out.”

Handcuffing Techniques

Question:  “If I was locked in a jail cell, where could I hide a weapon?”

Answer:  *passes out Scavenger Hunt Checklist and more latex gloves*  “I’ve hidden twenty items of contraband in this empty cell. Let’s see how many you can find.”

Jail Searches

Question:  “The detective in my story finds a body in the woods. What does he do next?”

Answer:  “He tapes off a perimeter and restricts the rabid fans and paparazzi from the scene, because Marcia Clark and Lee Child can’t be distracted while they’re working!”

Shallow Graves

Question:  “What if my bad guy is heavily armed and holed up inside a building. What does my hero do?”

Answer:  “Break into teams. Suit up.  Let’s go.” (For the record, one should not giggle while hypothetically searching a building, or one might end up with a hypothetical weapon pointed at one’s hypothetical head.)

Building Searches

Question:  “What does your average undercover cop look like?”

Answer:  You have to go to WPA to find out. We could show you this guy’s picture, but then we’d have to kill you.  And we don’t want to. If you haven’t already figured it out, covering up a crime scene is really hard to do!

Anatomy of an Undercover Cop (Photo redacted)

Question:  “What happens if a suspect doesn’t cooperate with the cops?”

Answer:  “Sign this waiver and follow me. Don’t worry about all that legalese in the second paragraph.  You probably won’t get killed.  Just don’t touch the dog or his handler. Don’t stand in front of the sniper rifle. Don’t step off the curb. And don’t draw a weapon. You didn’t bring a weapon, did you?”

Live Demonstrations

Question:  “Ooooh!”  *giggles and rubs hands*  “We get to play with Luminol?”

Answer:  *rolls eyes and passes the spray bottle*

Presumptive Blood Testing and Blood Spatter Analysis

Question:  “What happens when EMS arrives at the scene?”

Answer:  “Ever intubated anyone before?  Would you like to learn?”

EMS Demonstrations

Question:  “My heroine is trapped in a car. How long will it take to get her out?”

Answer: “This is the kind of question we can really sink our jaws into.”

(Side note: one of us may or may not have added a firefighter to her current cast of characters after this)

Jaws of Life Demonstration

We feel educated. We feel inspired. We feel ready to put our characters into horrifying situations. We feel ready to get said characters out of said horrifying situations.

And we’re ready for round two.

Will we see you there next year? Hope so! We'll be the ones holding the Glocks. 

ELLE COSIMANO is the author of the YA thrillers Nearly Gone and Nearly Lost, coming 2014 and 2015 from Kathy Dawson Books/Penguin. You can stalk her at her website, Facebook, and Twitter (@ElleCosimano).

MEGAN MIRANDA is the author of the YA thrillers Fracture (published in 2012, Bloomsbury/Walker) and Hysteria (coming 2/5/13, Bloomsbury/Walker). You can stalk her at her website, Facebook, and Twitter (@MeganLMiranda). 

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