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Home / Insurance / Zalma's insurance fraud letter – May 15, 2019
Zalma's insurance fraud letter – May 15, 2019
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Braccia, a Pennsylvania physician who co-owned a small network of drug abuse rehabilitation centers, was guilty of signing orders for nearly $ 10 million in unnecessary urine and allergy tests, prosecutors said.
He is also one of 11 people facing state fees following a Pennsylvania statewide grand jury investigation of fraudulent healthcare billing. That investigation is ongoing. In total, Independence Blue Cross was billed for over $ 33 million and paid more than $ 4 million for unnecessary work, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
Braccia was a doctor for three departments of drug abuse in Philadelphia called the Liberation Way, records show. According to the records, Braccia signed blank forms for drug testing schemes that were distributed by other non-medical staff.
He often did not evaluate the patients and did not visit any of the three facilities at all court records show.
Liberation Way owners also gave employees cash incentives to ensure that each patient submitted as many samples as their insurance would cover. The Liberation Way actually billed the insurance companies to "unreasonable" amounts, court records said, and the tests were sent to Florida laboratories that kicked back some of the payments to the owners.
The Liberation Way is also allegedly driven a cycle of addiction "treatment" as illegally targeted patients to live in company-owned, unlicensed "sober homes" to increase the amount of treatment time for which it could pay insurers. Patients who returned would return treatment to a higher level of care, resulting in Liberation Way billing for even higher levels of replacement so patients were cycled through treatment as many times as possible, up to eight times.
Court records showed Braccia has already made a payment of $ 1
.2 million in punishment.
A sentence date has not been published.
A New Jersey physician, Ramesh Sarvaiya, was guilty of last month's federal court for its role in the system.
Patient Recruiter Judged for Role in $ 1.6 Million Kickback Scheme
Yamilet Diaz, 50, Hialeah, Florida, was sentenced by US District Judge James I. Cohn in the Southern District of Florida. After a four-day trial in February 2019, which Judge Cohn presided, Diaz was convicted of a number of conspiracies to fight the United States and to have health interruptions and four bills to get health care interruptions.
Diaz, a South Florida Patient Recruiter, was sentenced to 87 months in prison on May 8, 2019 for her role in a system involving about $ 1.6 million in Medicare claims for home care services provided through the payment of backbacks.
According to evidence presented at trial and judicial, from approximately February 2012 to August 2013, Diaz received refunds to refer Medicare recipients to five South Florida home health agencies to serve as patients. The evidence showed that Diaz and her co-conspirators caused Medicare to make over $ 1.6 million in payments to the home health agency based on household service requirements for the recipients recruited by Diaz. The evidence further confirmed that Diaz personally benefited from the fraud and received at least $ 710,000.
Te Kaganovich, 47, and Ramazi Mitaishvili, 58, a married couple , both in Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to a number of medical fraud and a number of conspiracies to avert the IRS's legal functions before US judge Steven M. Gold of the Eastern District of New York. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 18, 2019, before the US district director Margo K. Brodie in the eastern part of New York.
The two New York diagnostic test plant owners pleaded guilty May 8, 2019 for their roles in one more
The respondents were co-owners of several diagnostic testing facilities in Brooklyn, including Sophisticated Imaging Inc., East Coast Diagnostics Inc., East Shore Diagnostics Inc., East West Management Inc. and East West Diagnostics Inc. RM Global Health Inc. As part of its guilty grounds, Kaganovich and Mitaishvili acknowledged that they had implemented a system in which they provided fraudulent health claims for diagnostic testing services.
The defendants admitted that they paid about $ 18.5 million in backbacks for referral of beneficiaries who submitted to diagnostic testing and other alleged medical services. Kaganovich and Mitaishvili incorrectly reported to the IRS that the illegal repayment payments were legitimate business expenses, which meant that the relevant tax rates underestimated corporate income and claimed deductions, they further acknowledged.
Nigerian guilty of role in $ 8.3 Millode Medicare Fraud Scheme
Ayodeji Temitayo Fatunmbi, 47, guilty of a number of conspiracy to commit fraud and a bill of conspiracy to commit money laundering before US District Judge Christina A. Snyder in the Central District of California. Fatunmbi was extradited from Nigeria to the Central District of California in October 2018 on charges in a May 2013 prosecution. Sentencing has been planned for August 19, 2019 before judge Snyder.
The Nigerian man committed guilty on May 8, 2019 for his role in a sustainable medical equipment system that fraudulently billed more than $ 8 million to Medicare for DME It was not medically necessary.
As part of his guilty repentance, Fatunmbi admitted that he and others paid cash shocks to patient recruits and doctors for fraudulent prescriptions for DME, such as power wheelchairs that Medicare recipients did not need. Fatunmbi and co-conspirators caused Lutemi Medical Supply (Lutemi), a DME subsidiary he collaborated to hand in about $ 8.3 million to Medicare, resulting in over $ 3.5 million being paid by the company. Fatunmbi further admitted that he was responsible for $ 2,090,434 in fraudulent and fraudulent medical unnecessary DME claims and that Medicare paid Lutemi to a total of $ 1,076,893. To support this system, Fatunmbi and a co-owner wrote checks from Lutemi's bank account to Lutemi employees and others and Fatunmbi instructed that this money would be returned to him to pay the illegal cash to patient recruits and doctors, he admitted. Fatummbi really directed others at Lutemi to engage in these transactions to hide the nature and source of the revenue from the consumption of health fraud. As part of his appeal agreement, Fatunmbi concluded that he would pay a refund to Medicare in the amount of 1,076,893.
Fatunmbi was accused along with Olufunke Ibiyemi Fadojutimi, 47, Carson, California and Maritza Elizabeth Velasquez, 44, Las Vegas, Nevada . Velasquez pleaded guilty on July 24, 2013 to a number of conspiracy to commit anti-fraud and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment and repayment amounting to $ 4,411,428. Fadojutimi found guilty of a jury trial on July 31, 2014 by a number of conspiracy to commit fraud, seven counts of fraud and one count on money laundering and sentenced to four years' imprisonment and repayment in the amount of $ 4,372,466. Fadojutimi, in his judgment, held liability for the entire amount of over $ 8 million in intended losses due to the fraud at Lutemi.
This article and all blog posts on this site, digest and summarize cases published by the courts of the various states and the United States. The court decisions have been modified from the court's actual language, simplified to read and convey the author's views in each individual case.
Over the past 51 years, Barry Zalma has put his life on insurance, insurance claims and the need to defeat insurance fraud. He has created the following library of books and other materials to enable insurers and their claims to become insurance managers.
A Guide to Liability Compensation
This compact booklet on adaptation of claims is designed to gives the new adjustment a basic foundation in what which is needed to become a competent and effective insurance adjuster. It is also available as an update for the experienced adjuster.
The responsibility force teacher quickly learns that there is little difficulty with an applicant (the person claiming bodily injury or property damage against an insured person) if the claim is paid as required. The insured may be unhappy if the claimant's claim is paid as presented because most people do not think they were doing anything wrong or fearing an increase in the premiums for subsequent policy.
The adjuster must be prepared to anoint the insured's feelings, explain why in the law and the policy it was appropriate to pay the creditor and that the settlement is in the best interest of both the insured and the insurer the representative represents.
The adjuster knows and must be prepared to explain to an insured that if a claim is opposed or denied, the plaintiff will be unhappy, will likely be judged. If not settled immediately, the plaintiff's lawyers will claim the insured over the coal to prove that the insured is responsible for the damage. The disputes take time, effort and money to determine the extent of the damage and who is responsible for the damage. Failure to settle immediately may cost the insured his or her reputation and will surely cost the insurer much more than the claim could have been resolved if it had been resolved before the plaintiff retained a lawyer.
Available as a Kindle book


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NINA CLARKE
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How many times haven't you gotten the question "Who was born first?". It is one of the most common twin questions we get. Well, now you can answer the question before asked with this awesome twin #1 t-shirt. This comfy t-shirt in Black with a petite Twin #1 logo is a great addition to any twin's wardrobe.
Twins: @emmanuelesnault and @olivier_esnault,@wander_twins and @jammbh and @jaydinkingbh.


"Anyone with a phone now has the power to broadcast to anyone in the world. When you interact live, you feel connected in a more personal way." - Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO, Facebook.
I have to admit, when the idea of the IPO streaming live online was first raised, I was a little apprehensive.
As a manager of the IPO's social media accounts, I'm no stranger to sharing content and publicly responding to difficult questions. But this was something new, something different…this was live. I'd have no control over anything and that's my worst nightmare!
what platform would we use and would the technology work?
could we capture an online audience's attention for 10-15mins?
would we be ridiculed for trying something new?
how would we manage the risks involved in live broadcasting?
At 11am on Tuesday 19 July 2016, the IPO made its very first Facebook Live broadcast.
If you don't know what Facebook Live is, it's simply a live video streamed through a Facebook status. With just a few taps, you can instantly share live video on your Facebook page and viewers can like, share or comment, all in real time.
Regular blogger and Business Outreach team member Gary Townley took to the floor to present our first session on IP's deadly sins. His plan was to highlight the common mistakes businesses make when dipping their toes into IP for the first time.
Business Outreach Manager, Gary Townley.
I'm sure I speak for the whole team when I say that pressing the 'live' button was one of the most nerve-wracking thing's we've ever done! But that momentary fear was relieved as soon as the camera started rolling.
Due to the earlier mentioned risks, we decided to keep promotion of the broadcast to a minimum. Under no illusions that we'd get ground-breaking viewing figures, just one viewer would have made it worthwhile. You can imagine our delight when we doubled that target within the first few seconds!
Gary's flawless delivery and the support of the IPO's friends, partners and staff made all my early worries seem insignificant.
As a first attempt, it's not just about how well we did. What we've learnt and how we use this to improve future activities (online or otherwise) is more important.
One of the biggest benefits is that we can reach a wide and varied audience. We had viewers from all over the UK (including Brighton, Derby and London) representing a variety of different industries and sectors. One person alone couldn't normally achieve that on a Tuesday morning.
What's more, it's relatively cheap to do. If hosted in-house and promoted via existing channels, a live session can be cost free. All it takes is a few hours of your time.
Looking forward, what possibilities does live broadcasting hold? Could this 15 minute experiment be a small glimpse into the future of IPO outreach work?
One exciting idea is to host joint broadcasts with our partners. We often work with Companies House or UKTI to deliver workshops and exhibit at events. Imagine having all these experts together, streaming live into your home/office and answering your questions.
If you missed the live broadcast, or just fancy watching it again, you can still watch the video on our Facebook page.
To keep up the momentum, we'll be hosting our next session on Wednesday 24 August 2016 at 3pm. Emma Richards will be talking 'IP for Business' and showcasing the resources available to help you identify and protect your IP assets.
If you liked, loathed or laughed at our first attempt, we want to hear about it. And if you've got any suggestions for future sessions, let us know at socialmedia@ipo.gov.uk.
Whose name is it anyway?


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Guangzhou Ballet: Goddess of the Luo River & Carmina Burana
You could say the Guangzhou Ballet's very existence is a case of East meets West. For the program of Western-style ballet presented by the Chinese company this weekend at the David H Koch Theater, it was a case of West meets East and East meets West yet again. Canadian choreographer Peter Quanz's adaptation of Chinese composer Du Mingxin's violin concerto Goddess of Luo River and Chinese-American choreographer Jiang Qi's transformation of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana (which was based on the bawdy song of poems of medieval monks) into something contemporary and Chinese proves the universality of music and dance. They also provided quite a striking program that showcased the artistry and athleticism of the Guangzhou Ballet of China in their New York City debut, made possible by the China Arts and Entertainment Group.
The original Goddess of Luo River written by poet Cao Zhi chronicled the tragic romance between said goddess and a mortal man. However, Quanz and the Guangzhou company reinterpret it as a much more upbeat affair. Of course, there is still plenty of dramatic pairings of the prima and secondary leads. In fact, even the small "chorus" section gets plenty of impressive choreography to show off their chops, which is true of Burana as well.
Thoughout Goddess, the leads practically seem to bounce off the stage, almost like they have springs in the soles of their feet. That high energy level definitely makes it an attention-grabbing ice-breaker. Plus, Anne Armit's striking backdrop, evoking the look and texture of Chinese scroll painting, provides the sort of class and sophistication you would hope for from an afternoon at the ballet.
While Goddess ran for about a concerto-long half-hour, the three-part Carmina Burana lasts well over an hour. Based on the secular songs composed by 11th and 12th Century Bavarian monks on subjects they should not have known very much about, including boozing, carousing, love-making, and war-fighting, Carmina Barana inspired Orff's cantata. You might not know it by title, but you will recognize the "O Fortuna" intro and reprise, which is often used in films whenever they need a really thunderous piece of music
The Guangzhou company and Jiang use the star-crossed romance of Helena and Bolanzifaluo as a through-line, but it is not really a narrative-driven piece. Instead, it is more a collection of impressionistic vignettes that illustrate love, loss, and the power of nature. Indeed, there is a good deal of striking moon and sun imagery.
Just as in Goddess, the Guangzhou company dazzles. Arguably, Carmina Burana is a better vehicle for traditional ballet grace, rather than the demanding physicality of Goddess. Regardless, everyone on stage gets their share of lifts and releases, so it is fair to say the entire company distinguish themselves with their individual talents. Yet, it is arguably the second lead (in the floral tunic) who most wows and charms the audience.
The choreography is dramatic, the production is classically handsome, and the dancers are like finely tuned instruments. It is everything people go to the ballet for, yet it is also a refreshingly different program than the five or six old standards that get re-staged season after season after season. The Guangzhou company and their choreographers, Quanz and Jiang, deserve credit for giving patrons something new, but in a way that feels both exotic and welcoming. The Guangzhou Ballet's production of Goddess of Luo River and Carmina Burana is highly recommended for refined and adventurous patrons as their tour continues, following their NYC debut engagement, at the David H Koch Theater, on the Lincoln Center Plaza.
Labels: Carmina Burana, David H. Koch Theater, Guangzhou Ballet


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There's no Time Like Winter
Explore YDH through the eyes of Blogger Christopher James Mitchell
January 2, 2019 in Art Lovers, Family Fun, Foodie Fanatics
When winter arrives, I have a tendency to take out my warmer clothing from under the bed, and quickly replace it with my ambition and will to leave the apartment.
During winter, you've got full license to stay home for a couple of months, and play the role of hibernating bear, but what if I told you there was another way? What if I told you that the best part of winter is leaving your proverbial bear den, and getting out? I want to emphatically announce to the world that I found a happy middle ground here in Ontario – a way to hibernate in style!
Bri, my lovely wife, and I took it upon ourselves to prove that winter is anything but boring, and offers plenty of excuses to wear your Sunday best. We both grew up in Toronto, so the idea was to test our theory outside of our hometown, but in a region that wasn't much of a drive away. We wanted a place where we could wake up on Saturday and think, "I want to do something different today," and get in the car in go. Enter the diverse and intriguing region of York Durham Headwaters, Ontario's road trip destination.
For our first stop, we set the coordinates to historic downtown Port Perry, a picturesque town by any standards. We wanted to spend some time at META4 Gallery, one of Ontario's premier destinations for original art and fine craftsmanship. META4 has an incredible array of workshops, and I wanted to take part in a workshop for an art form that I knew precisely nothing about. That's when we discovered Johnathan Wager's Woodworking class at META4.
Once we got started it became clear that Johnathan was a careful teacher, but even talked about the therapeutic value of something like woodworking. These days, entertainment relies on bright colours, fast moving screens, and booms and bangs, but there's something sacred about spending time with yourself in an endeavour like woodworking. Johnathan sums it up well when noting that," at first most people are scared, nervous, or unsure but after getting settled in they quickly realize they are making progress and the room begins to lighten up and the time flies."
Before we started, I was sure I'd be awful at it, but, dare I say, I was actually decent at it. Bri, having considerably more patience than I, fared well, and we walked out with a cooking spoon and slotted spoon that we now use regularly. Everytime we cook with them, we're reminded that we're a couple that likes to do something different, and knows how to have fun together. To me, that's well worth the cost of the class – and woodworking was just the start of our adventure.
Located in Mono, Ontario in the Hills of Headwaters is Adamo Estate Winery, a small-batch boutique winery that has over 23,000 vines and is focused squarely on producing wine the right way. The owner, Mario Adamo, began pondering in later life whether he could make wine in this region after spending much of his life in Canada. In some ways, it reminded him of his hometown of Calabria, Italy, though he knew the weather was rather different, especially in winter. He remain undeterred, and the first vines were planted in 2012, with the winery opening in 2016. Let it be known that Adamo Estate Winery is now an award winning winery.
Bri and I did the full tour of Adamo, as well as taking part in the tasting. Markian, our guide for the tour, told stories of the family and winery with incredible passion, and Bri and I only felt too happy to be along for the ride. Wine wise, I especially loved the peppery finish of the Petit Verdot, while Bri was more partial to their Cabernet Blend. We also stayed after our tour and indulged in a charcuterie board from the second floor, and concluded it was an ideal place to hibernate in style.
Woodworking and wine were a brilliant start, but there was more work to be done.
Sometimes, when the weather is miserable out, and you can barely shovel your walkway, it's nice to be transported to another world, and that's where Theatre Orangeville comes in. Bri and I saw a performance of Lunenberg, about the coming and goings of a small town in Nova Scotia, and it was just brilliant. Outside, snow could be teeming from the sky, but you'd never know while you're in there, and there's something magical about that.
I spoke at length with the artistic director for Theatre Orangeville, David Nairn, a man who has been at the helm of this theatre for nearly 20 years. He has contagious energy, decisive conviction, and is owed a lot of credit for the blossoming of this theatre. He summed things up well when noting, "there is no community in the country that is more beautiful or creative, per capita…and, as for this theatre, you just couldn't imagine the community without it"
When that last leaf falls off that final stubborn tree in our neighbourhood, we have a tendency to bow our head in resignation, and immediately start dreaming of spring. The experience I had in York Durham Headwaters proved to me that winter is actually the perfect opportunity for you to do all the things you've been putting off. You can take off those pyjamas, put on a dashing dress and brave the cold for a moment on the way to a touch of dinner and theatre. Or, perhaps, you can visit a suave winery, and stay to appreciate the views of a wintry vineyard.
In York Durham Headwaters, winter can actually be the most romantic season. This winter, Bri and I shared smiles in the theatre, wine in the vineyard, laughs during woodworking, and memories to last a lifetime.
Written by: Christopher James Mitchell
– Christopher Mitchell is a Toronto-based freelance writer and blogger, and you can follow him on Twitter,Instagram, or Facebook.
Bri's Article on Hibernating in Style
Top Indoor Activities to Shake out the Cabin Fever
Learn to fly, climb, flip, and soar!
Thrilling Winter Activities for Adventure Seekers
Break free of your comfort zone – and work up a sweat too!
Winter: It Warms the Soul
Explore YDH through the eyes of Blogger Briana Mitchell
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Home » News / Analysis » Everything You Need to Know about Quantum Computing
Everything You Need to Know about Quantum Computing
March 27, 2018 by Editorial Team Leave a Comment
As our demand for powerful processors rises, our need for a solution outside classical computing mounts. Quantum computing could help solve some of the more complex problems plaguing us. With quantum computers, we could map complex climate systems, solve impossibly complex encryption puzzles, and simulate advanced chemical processes. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
As a result, there is an international race to arrive at a scalable, commercial quantum computer. Researchers all over the world are working diligently to find the perfect material to harness the power of a quantum bit, or qubit.
How does a quantum bit differ from a normal bit? In a classical computer, bits have discrete states. These bits are either 0 or 1. A pulse of energy, either in the form of 0 — which is not the same as a complete lack of electrical impulse — or a 1, is sent through transistors. These strings of zeroes and ones are simply instructions to the hardware. A string of these commands make up a byte. A string of bytes make up kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes and so on and so forth.
The software your computer uses is equipped to translate the commands supplied by a stream of bits. So, when a programmer creates a program in C++ or Java, for example, the words and phrases and mathematical equations she uses can all be reduced to zeroes and ones.
As you have probably already surmised, for the most part, a bit can be either one or the other. 1 or 0. There are two choices — no more. This is why coding in ones and zeroes is often referred to as binary code, and where the name bit, which stands for binary digit, comes from.
In quantum mechanics, there is something called superposition. Many are familiar with the famous Schrödinger's Cat thought experiment, in which an unseen cat is both alive and dead at the same time. In our everyday physical world, this idea does not make too much sense. A cat is either alive or dead. In other words, organic life is binary. Classical physics and classical computers follow this logic. They live in a binary world.
Qubits, however, are not bound to binary. Qubits can be either 0 or 1, or a combination of those states. This is the principle of superposition at work.
A qubit can be thought of like an imaginary sphere," writes Abigail Beall for Wired. "Whereas a classical bit can be in two states – at either of the two poles of the sphere – a qubit can be any point on the sphere."
What's so intriguing about qubits is their interactions with each other. In quantum computing, the sum is much larger than its individual parts. "Every time I add a quantum bit to a quantum computer, I double the computational power," explains Michelle Simmons, the lead quantum researcher at the University of New South Wales, in a recent talk. "It's predicted that… a 30-qubit computer… will be more powerful than the world's most powerful supercomputer." These quantum computers would be powerful enough to run sophisticated AI programs that could disrupt finance, medicine, and engineering industries.
To put this 30-qubit figure in context, IBM is, at present, leading the charge with a 16-qubit chip. "IBM Q has successfully built and tested two of its most powerful universal quantum computing processors to date," IBM boasts. "16 qubits for public use and a 17-qubit prototype commercial processor."
IBM, Microsoft, and Google are making these qubit chips by submerging superconductors in subzero temperatures. Simmons and her team are simply imprinting atoms in silicon. Other researchers have taken a more rigorous approach. They applied the theory of time crystals, an idea proposed in 2012 by Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek, to build their quantum technologies.
The University of Maryland and Harvard University synthesized time crystals in their own research labs, using disparate approaches. In University of Maryland's system, they use an ion trap system to form patterns in time. Harvard exploited flaws in diamonds, a spatial crystal, to synthesize a discrete time crystal of their own.
What could these sci-fi-sounding time crystals be used for? "Time crystals," Wilczek said in a recent presentation to university students, "are just what the doctor ordered for this technology." Indeed, quantum computers are sensitive and require a very precise global clock, a potential use for the new type of matter. Further, time crystals could be used for information tasks and quantum memory.
Qubits, superconductors, and time crystals. As far-flung as the future of quantum computing may appear to be, it is likely closer than you think. We need more computationally complex machines to power our most pressing problems. Quantum computers could lead us to some very compelling solutions.
Josh Althauser is an entrepreneur with a background in design and M&A. He's also a developer, open source advocate, and designer. You may connect with him on Twitter.
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The doors of Pearisburg theater open again
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posted by Michael Zoldessy on June 25, 2008 at 7:45 am
PEARISBURG, VA — While the future is still unclear for the Pearis Theater, it opened up for the first time in a while to showcase a local production of "The Three Musketeers".
After a period of silence, the halls of the Pearis Theater are ringing with the sounds of music and laughter once again.
The theater, built in 1939, is still for sale, but a recent agreement has its doors reopened.
Get the full story in the Roanoke Times.
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Pearis Theater


Flat Hand Files are designed for safe filing of internal corners and where metal must be removed rapidly. One edge is uncut or "safe" for filing one surface without damaging an adjoining one. They are double cut on both sides and one edge, and parallel in width. Similar to Flat Taper Files but taper in thickness and have one safe edge.... 5/01/2012 · As mentioned, a drill press with some end mills and cross-feed table will take you far. Add a hacksaw, jeweler's saw (with lots of blades for both), tap and die set, some fresh double-cut and single-cut files and you will be able to accomplish a lot.
22/03/2006 · works yes, but wear gloves, (more so if you go with snips) the cut edge will be sharp and trying to draw the file down it like that could produce some very nasty cuts if you where to slip, and the edge can be made VERY sharp if your file happens to be on a slight angle, and sheet metal snips will produce a serrated edge on the sheet and will... DXFforCNC offers dxf files contain cut ready designs for cnc machines like laser and plasma cutters and we also offer Custom quote designs. All our designs can be used as cnc arts for internal and external home decor and garden arts.
After hacksawing away the waste, unthread the nut to restore the thread shape at the cut end. Then use a file or grinder to slightly bevel the end. Then use a file or grinder to slightly bevel the... Step 5: Once you have cut the sheet metal into your desired shape, file down any of the edges that you wish to be smoother. You can achieve this by placing the file at the cut line and scraping off the imperfections using a firm but measured motion.
of metal. Nicholson files are great for general work on iron, steel etc. Rectangular in cross section and taper slightly towards point in width. 200mm/8" Flat Second Cut File Special hardening process to ensure that teeth remain sharper for longer. Precision cut teeth ensure fast material removal... Once you locate someone who provides CNC cutting services; e-mail them the .dxf file of your image. The image of my kids I show in this Instructable was cut from a 24" x 36" sheet of .090" aluminum.
5/01/2012 · As mentioned, a drill press with some end mills and cross-feed table will take you far. Add a hacksaw, jeweler's saw (with lots of blades for both), tap and die set, some fresh double-cut and single-cut files and you will be able to accomplish a lot.
Metal hanging file folder holders allow you to convert any drawer metal or wood to accept hanging files. Can be custom cut to your filing needs. Can be custom cut to your filing needs. Our custom cut file bars and file bar stock are designed to be cut to length per application.


Yes! It's finally time to get back out and garden again. Garden lovers, this is our moment. We know that there's nothing quite like a warm spring day out in the yard when the seeds are sprouting and the air is sweet with blossoms blowing in the breeze. And no matter how many years pass by, each new spring brings with it the hope and optimism of a new garden.
I'm happy to see so many new gardeners taking up the trowel each year. And speaking of trowels, I'm also excited about spring gardening gear newness! Below are some of my favorite earth-friendly gardening must-haves. All are great both for beginners digging in for the first time and experts with decades of growing experience.
1. Tulip Trowel. This trowel is beautiful and functional. It's terrific for breaking up dirt and transplanting. Made from FSC-certified ash hardwood and tempered boron steel, the creator, DeWit, guarantees it for a lifetime.
2. Foldable Rubber Garden Boots. Made using rubber from recycled tires, these waterproof boots take some of the dirty work out of gardening for you. Originally designed for rice farmers, they feature a soft, flexible upper and flat sole for all-day comfort. I love that when not in use, each boot folds over for compact storage.
3. Worker's Apron. Every gardener needs a great apron—and this is one of my favorites! Made from soft, durable, and sustainable linen with multiple compartments for all your gardening essentials, this lovely apron is the perfect size for spending a spring day out in the garden.
4. Sentei Pruning Shears. Also made to last a lifetime, these handcrafted iron shears are helpful for pruning hard-to-reach places. These are especially essential for ikebana arranging and bonsai gardening.
5. Handcrafted Trug Garden Basket. These handcrafted myrtlewood trugs are beautiful! They're also a highly functional, strong, yet lightweight way to collect flowers, herbs, fruits, and veggies from your garden. I also love that these are made by hand in Oregon by a former shipbuilder.
Bonus: These Buttery Soft Goatskin Gloves are a must!


The project focuses on the design of innovative distributed systems for the collection and the transmission of environmental data –and commands back- to a second-generation control room, the subsequent data aggregation and analysis for designing dynamic risk maps in alpine environments subject to hydrogeological risks.
The MIARIA project aims at developing an integrated monitoring approach for real time monitoring of alpine scenarios subject to hydrogeological risks. The project addresses the development of a robust, distributed monitoring infrastructure highly reusable in diversified application scenarios with a high resolution in space and time. Moreover, the project focuses on the design of a new generation control room, where state-of-the-art ICT technologies support risk assessment and emergency management activities.
A distributed infrastructure for environmental monitoring able both to acquire data from the environment and to receive parameters (new codes and commands) from the control room.
Advanced communication mechanisms that allow sensing units for autonomously creating and organizing the hybrid/wireless sensor networks.
Advanced techniques at the unit and network level that allow sensing units for locally detecting events by exploiting cooperative mechanisms.
Adaptive energy harvesting mechanisms for scavenging energy from the environment for optimally conveying solar energy into rechargeable batteries even in not optimal weather conditions.
New generation control rooms will be designed by analyzing the cognitive and organizational aspects characterizing complex multi-actor decision-making processes, taking advantage of cutting-edge ICT tools.
The project has important applications in the risk monitoring area as rock falls and land slides are frequently occurring phenomena in alpine valleys and are characterized by their suddenness and difficulty of prediction. The lack of clearly noticeable forerunners and the devastating impact of rockfalls and landslides insisting over human settlements as well as transport routes, make novel monitoring solutions of extreme importance to improve emergency management strategies.
Technologies developed for monitoring the rock collapse can be, in principle, utilised effectively for monitoring a civil infrastructure.


text:
I'm Just Saying, Police Procedure
Working the Graveyard Shift: Feral Dogs, Mannequins, and Lula Mae
It's four in the morning and fatigue is tugging hard on your eyelids. It's a subtle move, like grasping the string on one of your grandmother's window shades, slowly pulling it down. The move, so gracefully executed by the Sand Man, is such that you hardly notice it.
Thinking about your family asleep in their warm beds, you turn onto a side street trying and hoping to find a place to pull over. Five minutes. That's all you need.
Shouldn't have spent those three hours today playing with the kids when you could've been sleeping. Still, that's the only time you could spare. Otherwise you'd never see them while they're awake.
And, someone had to mow the lawn this afternoon, right? And repair the washer and fix the flat on the wife's car. Oh yeah, tomorrow is the day you're supposed to speak about police officers to your third-grader's class. It won't take long, two or three hours at the most. Of course, there's the lunch in the cafeteria with your kid. Sigh …
Sleep. You need sleep
Your headlights wash over the back of the alley as feral dogs and cats scramble out of the dumpster that sits like an old and tired dinosaur behind Lula Mae's Bakery. The knot of hungry animals scatter loaves of two-day-old bread in their haste to escape the human intruder who dared to meddle with their nocturnal feeding.
A mutt with three legs and matted fur hobbles behind a rusty air conditioning unit, dragging a long, dirty paper bag half-filled with crumbled bagels that spill and leave a trail of stale nuggets in its wake. Tendrils of steam rise slowly from storm drains; ghostly, sinewy figures melting into the black sky. A train whistle moans in the distance.
The night air is damp with fog, dew, and city sweat that reeks of gasoline and sour garbage. Mannequins stare out from tombs of storefront glass, waiting for daylight to take away the flashing neon lights that reflect from their plaster skin.
You park at the rear of the alley, stopping next to a stack of flattened cardboard boxes, their labels reflecting someone's life for the week—chicken, lettuce, disposable diapers, and cheap wine.
Four more hours. If you could only make it for four more hours …
Suddenly, a voice spews from the speaker behind your head, "Shots fired. Respond to 1313 Mockingbird Lane. Back up is en route."
"10-4. I'm 10-8. ETA … four minutes."
And goes and goes and goes …
Were Dead Ringers Saved by the Bell?
It's believed by some that the graveyard shift (not this blog) got its name from people who accidentally buried their loved ones while they were still alive. Thinking their dearly departed had gone on to their reward, these folks unknowingly fitted a barely breathing, unconscious or comatose Uncle Bill or Grandma with a new outfit and a spiffy pine box.
Then they buried them in the local cemetery where night workers claimed to sometimes hear the dead screaming for help from below the ground. When they dug up the suspicious coffins, they sometimes discovered scrapes and scratches on the insides of casket lids, an indication that perhaps the people inside had tried to claw their way out before finally succumbing to a lack of oxygen.
To remedy the situation, caskets were fitted with a bell, and a long string that reached from the surface to the inside of the buried coffin. This enabled the "dead" person to ring the bell should he awaken after his burial. Workers could then quickly rescue the living dead.
It's debatable as to the validity of this tale, but it makes for an interesting story, especially for police officers who have cemeteries to patrol in their precincts.
Is Working Graveyard Shift Hazardous to Your Health?
Working the midnight shift is difficult for anyone. In fact, Circadian Technologies, Lexington, Massachusetts consultancy firm, conducted a study that showed companies operating a graveyard shift may be losing approximatel $206 billion dollars annually. Why? Because workers are simply not effective when working these late-night hours.
The study also showed a higher divorce rate among midnight shift workers, more gastrointestinal problems, higher stress related disorders, and a higher accident rate. The study also concluded that there's a much higher turnover rate among night-shift employees.
A Hutchinson Group (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) study reports that women who work the graveyard shift may have a greater risk of breast cancer. The results of this study were first introduced in a 2001 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Anyway, working the graveyard shift is a tough assignment no matter how you look at it. So tonight, when the clock strikes twelve, please take a moment to think about all the people across the country who are out there working hard to protect us and our property so that we may sleep safely. And, there are also the folks who work nightshift in factories, convenience stores, shipyards, hospitals, EMS services, firefighters, and many more.
October 18, 2019 /1 Comment/by Lee Lofland
https://i2.wp.com/www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Music-cop-copy.jpg?fit=465%2C349&ssl=1 349 465 Lee Lofland https://www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.png Lee Lofland2019-10-18 09:15:242019-10-18 12:52:09Working the Graveyard Shift: Feral Dogs, Mannequins, and Lula Mae
I'm Just Saying
Pigs in a Blanket and Other Short and Twisted Cop Tales
Pigs in a blanket.
Winter night, toasty and warm.
Hot cocoa, donuts.
Sirens and blue lights.
Miles of blacktop pass beneath.
Robber, on the run.
Canine, growls and snarls.
Teeth, pointed, sharp, menacing.
Bad guy, "I give up!"
Bang! Bang! "Shots fired!"
Man runs, cops chase, Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Help, officer down!"
Children, wife, sleeping
Shirt, vest, badge, gun, shiny shoes
Night shift is lonely
Working graveyard shift
Feral dogs, cats, stoplights, moon
Drunks, fights, gunshots, pain, and tears
Respond to bar fight
One drunk, two drunk, three drunk, four
Five drunks all to jail
Drug bust, homicide
Traffic stop, car crash, break-in
All in a night's work
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shootouts are scary
Little knife, big knife
Cut, slice, stab, and make us bleed
Yes, worse than gunshot
Grieving family
Loved one killed, shot by stranger
Evil surrounds us.
"Yes!" Five-O is here!"
Giggles, smiles, candy for all
Cops can be fun, too.
https://i0.wp.com/www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pig-in-blanket-copy.jpg?fit=465%2C349&ssl=1 349 465 Lee Lofland https://www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.png Lee Lofland2019-10-11 13:57:462019-10-11 13:57:46Pigs in a Blanket and Other Short and Twisted Cop Tales
Selling Alcohol for Profit: A Car Crash Waiting to Happen?
Do alcohol sales directly contribute to the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities? What about driving while under the influence of marijuana, be it medical or recreational use? Well, let's take a very brief look into some numbers from the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state that's responsible for all legal alcohol sales within its borders.
Alcohol-Related Fatalities in Virginia
In 2018, the Commonwealth of Virginia reported a 4% decrease in overall vehicle crashes. Fantastic, right? Well, not so fast. There was a 12% increase in alcohol-related fatalities, up from 248 in 2017 to 278. Virginia's DMV stats show this is the highest number of fatalities involving alcohol since 2010.
These stats (above) are alarming to say the least, but solving the puzzle as to why there's increase in alcohol-related vehicle deaths may not require the assistance of top mystery-solvers such as Sherlock Holmes or Jessica Fletcher. Instead, for facts that are plain as the nose on an elephant's face, we can simply turn our attention to a chirpy little article written for the Capital News Service by Pedro Coronado.
It is within this article that the reasons for such a sharp increase in alcohol-related car crash deaths become apparent.
Coronado says, "Cheers! ABC Stores See Increase in Sales."
In his celebratory piece, Coronado suggests that readers "raise a toast to the top-selling liquor store in Central Virginia in 2018, the ABC outlet at 10 N. Thompson St. in Richmond."
The ABC store at 10 N. Thompson St. (near Virginia Commonwealth University's campus) sold nearly $8 million in gross sales, and they had the highest profit margin in the state. Keep in mind that, in Virginia, the state operates all liquor stores, commonly known as ABC stores. ABC, of course, is the acronym for Alcoholic Beverage Control.
During the 2019 fiscal year, half of which includes at least part of the 12% increase in alcohol-related fatalities, Virginia ABC earned more than $1 billion, a revenue increase of about $72 million over sales in the previous year.
In 2019, the breakdown of income was about $197 million in store profits, $223 million in retail taxes, and $80 million in wine and beer taxes. As a result, ABC sent almost $500 million into the government's general fund, money that's then used to supplement education, health, transportation, public safety, etc. The rest was used for expenses such operating the individual stores, payroll, to the enforcement of ABC laws and regulations, etc.
Virginia ABC
Virginia ABC has four main sources of revenue.
state-imposed taxes on beer and wine sales
sales of distilled spirits at the agency's stores
license fees.
Virginia ABC operates approximately 375 stores throughout the Commonwealth, employing over 4,000 people.
Established in 1934, Virginia ABC has earned its keep by contributing a whopping $10.3 billion to the Commonwealth's General Fund. That, my friends, is a lot of alcohol sold and consumed.
ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement
Virginia's ABC Special agents work directly with licensed businesses to address non-compliance issues relating to alcohol sales, and they're tasked with reducing criminal activities involving alcohol.
ABC agents also initiate public safety investigations following incidents at licensed establishments, which often involves assisting and cooperating with local law enforcement agencies and officers. Agent duties often requires that they work in or assist with undercover operations
All Virginia ABC special agents are sworn and certified law enforcement officers, and they have statewide jurisdiction. ABC agents often work hand-in-and with local law enforcement officers in a variety of investigations. Although, when assisting local cops ABC agents typically act in a support capacity.
In addition, ABC agents may be found trekking through the countryside in search of liquor stills and illegal marijuana grow operations. I've personally worked with ABC agents while conducting numerous criminal investigations. I've also been involved in the searches for illegal stills. Yes, we found a few. We also stumbled across quite a few marijuana grow operations while seeking out illegal moonshine stills.
Marijuana-related Vehicle Fatalities
A study in the Journal of Law and Economics looked at traffic fatalities from 1990 to 2010, in 14 states and Washington D.C. Each of the states had previously enacted medical marijuana legalization .
The authors of the study found that, incredibly, traffic fatalities actually fell significantly by between 8% and 11% in the first year after the passage of medical marijuana laws. And they continued to fall for the next three years. The authors believe the explanation for the decrease is that medical marijuana may serve as a substitute for alcohol. (1)
Another study, this one lasting from 1985–2014, published results in the American Journal of Public Health. The study explored the same relationships—alcohol-related fatalities and crash fatalities relating to marijuana—but added the condition that dispensaries were in operation in each of the locations. Again, the study showed lower traffic fatality rates in those states with medical marijuana laws.
Actually, traffic fatalities decreased by 10.8% once medical marijuana became legal . However, the exceptions to the rule were two states (Rhode Island and Connecticut) who indicated an increase in fatalities. Still, overall the presence of operational marijuana dispensaries was associated with a decrease in accident fatalities. (3)
1 – Anderson, D. Mark et al. "Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption."The Journal of Law and Economics. Vol. 56 (2): 333-369. 2013. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/668812
2 -Santaella-Tenorio, Julian et al. "US Traffic Fatalities, 1985–2014, and Their Relationship to Medical Marijuana Laws." American Journal of Public Health. Vol 107 (2): 336–342. February 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5227945/
3 – The Journal of Law and Economics. Vol. 56 (2): 333-369. 2013. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/668812
September 24, 2019 /by Lee Lofland
https://i0.wp.com/www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/thumbnail_20190924_133128-copy.jpg?fit=465%2C262&ssl=1 262 465 Lee Lofland https://www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.png Lee Lofland2019-09-24 14:00:112019-09-24 14:00:11Selling Alcohol for Profit: A Car Crash Waiting to Happen?
Takin' Bacon: The Big Investigation – A True Story
This "tale" returns per a request I received from a writer. She said a friend had once heard me tell the story during a presentation at the New England Crime Bake several years ago and she wanted to hear it from me. Well, since it's rare that I present workshops at conferences these days I told her I'd tell the about the adventure here today. I know many of you have already heard it so please bear with me as I share it with those who haven't. I call this one Takin' Bacon, and it's a true story. Really, it is.
Takin' Bacon
Crime-solving is not always as easy as television would have us believe. Sometimes police officers really have to work hard to get to the bottom of a particularly complex case.
Cops use a variety of means to crack each of their cases, and one really unusual series of events comes to mind when I think about out-of-the-box methods I'd used during my career.
As most of you know, I was a police detective for many years, and part of my job was to solve major crimes, such as murder, rape, and robbery. Sure, I paid my dues early in my career by writing tickets and directing traffic, but my real passion was the puzzle-solving that's associated with tracking down murderers.
Before most detectives are allowed to investigate the more serious crimes, though, they're normally assigned to easier-to-solve, less intricate cases, such as bad checks and stolen tricycles.
One of my introductory cases was unusual to say the least. My boss, a gruff and tough-as-rusty-nails sheriff, dispatched me to get to the bottom of a rash of stolen hogs. No, not the cool and expensive motorcycles—real pigs, as in walking, oinking pork chops.
Someone was stealing live four- or five-hundred pound porkers directly from a farmer's hog farm, and they were taking at least one or two each weekend. The pigs (hundreds upon hundred of them) were kept in many buildings on the large farm, so my partner and I thought the best way to nab these guys was to wait inside one of the elaborate hog parlors until the criminals arrived to do their dirty deed. Our plan was simple; when the crooks entered the building we would jump up, turn on the lights, and nab the ham-rustlers in the act of felony pig-napping.
Friday finally arrived and just before dark we entered one of the hog shelters and sat down on a pair of overturned 5-gallon buckets—one apiece—where we waited for the crooks to show up. I quickly discovered that the combined stench of pig feces and urine and other foul goodies were absolutely overwhelming. I also learned that pigs are sneaky and extremely curious, and that they have very cold and very wet and gross noses. Not to mention the fact that the odor clings to your clothing and shoes and refuses to go away.
We'd been hanging out in the dark, surrounded by fat sows, for nearly two hours when we finally heard the creaky sound of rusty springs stretching as someone open a plywood door near the center of the building.
A bit of moonlight spilled inside and then disappeared as the door closed behind who or whomever had entered the pig parlor. My partner and I both drew our weapons and waited, allowing the thieves enough time to begin the act of stealing. We wanted to catch them with ham hocks in hand.
There was a period of time where we heard two voices, but they were muffled by the sound of low-pitched pig grunts and oinks. The men used a small flashlight to help find their way to the center of the area, a place that was packed with so many hogs that it sort of resembled a concert arena on a night when Taylor Swift or Beyonce' or Elton John performs. It was Pig-a-Palooza and Pigstock rolled into one.
We figured the bandits were being selective, choosing just the right pigs—this little pig or that little pig—that would fetch top dollar at the market.
Then and unexpectedly, a bright light flashed. Then another flash followed by another and another. I realized, detective material that I was, that the bad guys were taking pictures.
Confused by their actions, but anxious to catch the guys, we couldn't stand it any longer. So we hopped up, aimed our Beretta 9mms in the general direction of the thugs, and switched on the lights.
I was shocked, to say the least, when I saw that one of the young men was standing directly behind a female pig—a sow, as they're properly addressed—with his pants down around his ankles and resting atop the goop on the slatted floor (the space between the slats is where pig most waste falls into a deep and smelly pit).
I was even more startled when I realized the man was actually having sex with a big, fat and dirty female pig, and his buddy was taking pictures of him while he did it.
They both stopped what they were doing, in mid-action, and looked toward us. Each man had the same deer-caught-in-the-headlights expression.
(Not the actual suspect)
(Not the actual victim)
We immediately placed the two crooks under arrest and took them to the sheriff's office for processing (that's "booking" to laypeople.) During my questioning of the guy who'd been caught with his pants down, the embarrassed animal lover confessed to stealing over one-hundred pigs from several different farms over the past few weeks, and that they'd taken their "booty" to hog markets and sold them for a nice profit.
At the end of his confession, the pig-stealer shook his head and asked how we found out they were going to be there that night. He added that they'd been extremely careful not to leave behind an evidence trail of any kind.
I smiled because the perfect answer crept forward from that goofy spot in my head. I looked at the guy and said, "How did we know you were coming? It's simple, the pig squealed on you."
He just shook his head slowly from side-to-side. After all, what could he have said to justify his little affair with Petunia?
I really should mention that the thief was married, and he wasn't practicing safe sex with his porcine partners, if you know what I mean. So, if you're ever having a bad day, just be really thankful that you're not married to this guy. Unless you don't mind that his idea of bringing home the bacon is just a bit "different" than that of normal folks.
By the way, I learned that the purpose of the pig pornography (each man photographed the other having sex with a pig) was insurance so that neither of the two men would tell on the other. If one were to snitch he'd face having the photograph sent to family members. What I didn't understand was why they felt the need to have a barnyard affair each time they stole a pig. Wouldn't one photo be enough?
And I truly hope, this being a holiday weekend and all, that you'll think of this curly little "tale" as you're tossing the pork chops on the grill…
https://i1.wp.com/www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/New-Picture-15.jpg?fit=327%2C184&ssl=1 184 327 Lee Lofland https://www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.png Lee Lofland2019-09-21 08:37:352019-09-21 13:43:16Takin' Bacon: The Big Investigation - A True Story
I'm Just Saying, Writers' Police Academy
A Powerful Message About the Writers' Police Academy: "My Mother Would Call It A Ministry; Something God-Given"
Cops are a unique breed. They dress differently. They speak differently. They're in a class all to themselves, and it's a "Members Only" sort of group where those on the outside looking in often don't understand what it is that officers do and why they do it.
Unfortunately, law enforcement is an operation that sometimes, to best protect us from harm, must do things out of public view. And that lack of understanding and wondering "what they're up to" often leads to mistrust.
Some members of society reject any form of authority. Others distrust police officers because they've heard friends or family members say they don't like cops. In some corners of cities, counties, and states, young children, even before they're taught to read and write, are taught to hate the police. Then there are the bad apples of law enforcement who commit acts that go against the very meaning of their badge and oath.
Of course, compounding the trouble is the necessary secrecy involving some aspects of law enforcement, acts that can drive even larger wedges between the general population and the police. Therefore, over time, police officers metaphorically circled their protective wagons in order to survive in a world populated by people who simply don't like them, for whatever reason(s). And, unfortunately, the circling of those wagons transformed the an already large wedge into a nearly impenetrable wall between citizens and the officers who've taken an oath to protect and serve them.
The wall is there. No doubt about it. But what many people don't understand about the "wall" is that one of its cornerstones is fear—fear of abuse, fear of beatings, fear of racism, and even fear death. Yes, some people live their entire lives being deathly afraid of the police. Are those feelings justified? Sadly, in some cases, the answer is yes. But in most instances the answer is a definite and resounding NO. But, those bad apples in the barrel ruin things for everyone on both sides of the badge.
As a detective in charge of certain operations, I devoted much of my time attempting to tear down the invisible wall. I wanted people to know that police officers are human, and that we do good, and that we were there FOR them, not AGAINST them. And I still try to convey that message through this blog and through my writing. I also had the same goal in mind when starting the Writers' Police Academy five years ago.
I knew the instructors at the WPA were the best in the business at what they do, but when I received the letter below, I also knew the event had achieved far more than helping writers "get it right."
Finally, after all these years, there was a crack in the wall. And I want to say THANK YOU to everyone involved in the WPA for merely being you. It is because you're who you are that someone took the time to let me know the WPA had a huge and emotional impact on their life. It's almost overwhelming to think that the WPA actually impacted someone this way means a lot to me.
So here's the letter (I've omitted names and locations to protect the writer's identity, and, please, if you think you recognize the author of the letter, keep the name to yourself). The incidents mentioned in the letter occurred in New York City, but this could be said about any location in the country. And, by the way, I deeply appreciate the courage it took for this person, the author of the message, to attend the WPA and then to follow up with such a raw and emotional letter.
Dear Mr. Lofland:
It's been almost a year since I attended the Writer's Police Academy in September of 201* and I am writing to share my experience during that weekend.
I learned about your Academy from a book on getting one's book published (I don't remember the title of the book) that I was skimming through in a Barnes and Noble store in early September of last year. Since I have no law enforcement background, I was looking for a way to verify that the information in the novel that I've been working on for some time is correct; that's when I saw the piece on your Academy. I couldn't believe it; especially since the Academy was being held in a few weeks. I quickly signed up and prepared to go along with my wife, my little daughter, and my mother-in-law.
The Writer's Police Academy was a life-changing experience; but not in the way I imagined.
You see, I've never had a good relationship or opinion of the Police and I'll explain why.
I was about 8 years old and it was a summer night in the mid 1970's when suddenly I had a terrible cough just before going to bed. My mother is a praying woman and she taught us that when we're sick God can heal us; so that night I asked her to pray for me. Quickly, the cough was gone and just before I dozed off into sleep I remember seeing the reflection of Police car lights on my bedroom wall.
The next day I awoke to find that my 16 year-old brother was missing. As my mother finished praying for me and I fell asleep, my mother saw the Police lights on the wall, too, and quickly ran to the window. Two policemen were surrounding my brother. What happened was that a car was stolen in my neighborhood and my brother was accused of being the person who stole the car.
My mother quickly ran downstairs and stood between my brother and the Police; the two men smelled of alcohol and their eyes were bloodshot. One Police officer pulled his weapon on my mother.
The owner of the car ran up to the officers and told them that his car was found by other officers and that my brother was innocent. One of the officers refused to let my brother go and wanted to take him in. My brother panicked and ran.
You see, we lived in the **** area of the **** and this was in the mid 70's. Police abuse was rampant and crime and fires in the area were out of control. There was little trust in the Police from the community.
They shot at my brother as he ran down the park stairs and he was captured by other officers from three squad cars that suddenly appeared. They took him to the ******** and beat him to a pulp. My parents went to the precinct and were told he wasn't there and had been released; it was a lie. Later on, the officers took him to an industrial area called *****, beat him some more and left him there in the middle of the night. My brother showed up at my house at 12 in the afternoon the next day.
Investigating officers reported that no such incident occurred and that one of the officers whom allegedly was present that night, whom my brother remembered his name and badge number, didn't exist. An officer told my mother that she better get my brother out of the area or he would be killed by the police. She obliged.
Since then, my experiences with the Police haven't been positive. There have been incidents in which I was treated well so I don't want to over generalize but the bad has far outweighed the good. During the **** years, it was hell! I am of **** **** descent and although I am fair skinned, college educated and have worked all my life; I felt that I had a target on my back as I walked the streets or drove in the City. ….police brutality cases have only made me less trustful of the police. I have often wondered why I am even writing a novel related to the Police.
So, last year, when I went to your Academy, I was very uneasy. I was entering an actual Police Academy and was going to be surrounded by Police. I was nervous, apprehensive, and at times, felt like a hypocrite for even being there. But then the Academy started.
Friday morning began with a presentation on the Jaws of Life. The dedication and care for the public from the presenting officer just oozed out of him and impressed me. I then attended "Making a Lasting Impression" with Robert Skiff and David Pauly: I was blown away. The commitment from those two gentlemen to find the truth in order to protect the public blew me away. I slowly began to see that the Police weren't necessarily out to get me but to protect me.
I then went to "Fingerprinting" and it was awesome. Next, I attended "Cold Cases and the Realities of Investigations" by David Pauly and Dr. Ramsland; this is where things really started to change. The openness of the presenters in sharing their knowledge was incredible. I could feel their passion and dedication to getting the truth and solving murders. More importantly, I could see and feel their humanity.
Friday evening after the Night Owl Presentation, I had to go to the Bar and gather myself. My head was spinning. Not only from the information I received in the classes but my emotions were everywhere. Then McMahan sat next to me in the bar and began to talk to me; my heart was racing and my palms were sweating. A law enforcement officer was sitting next to me and talking to me man-to-man. He is truly a gentleman. I found out he's a dedicated dad and husband and I was humbled by his humility and integrity.
We were joined by David Pauly and Dr. Ramsland; they talked to me like I was a human being. You see, Mr. Lofland, in dealing with the Police in my past, I often felt less than human. David Pauly bought me a beer (please tell him I owe him one) and the four of us talked for a while. It was great. They are great people and their knowledge and dedication just blows me away.
Not long after that, Detective Conelli joined us and we had a brief talk; he was exhausted from his trip and needed rest. I couldn't wait for his presentation on the following morning "Anatomy of an Undercover Cop".
Saturday came and I was seated on the floor in Detective Conelli's classroom (the room was full to capacity). He started out by showing a picture of "His Office" which was a building in the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. My heart stopped, I went cold, and I was almost brought to tears. I had been in many buildings like the one in the picture! He then showed us a picture of him while undercover. He had no weapons and was taking a huge risk in going into those buildings. It was during the Crack epidemic and I witnessed, firsthand, how it devastated neighborhoods.
Hearing Mr. Conelli talk transformed me. I began to see the other side of what it is to be a Police Officer. I began to see them as being on my side, for me, and not against me.
On Sunday, during the debriefing panel, I was struck by the Chief's words and his assistant. I'm sorry but I don't remember their names. They urged the writers present to write positively about the Police profession. They said it was very easy to portray cops in a negative light but we were witnesses that weekend to the goodness found among law enforcement professionals. I take that advice to heart.
On the plane on my way home I thought about my experience. I have a coworker whose brother is a **** Captain. I decided I would reach out to him in order to not only get information for my novel but most importantly, bury some painful experiences I had been carrying for many years. I realized that the experience with my brother had colored my view of Cops and I needed to change that.
Captain **** **** so happens to be the Captain of *** homicide. When we texted each other in order to set up a meeting, he told me he worked out of the ****! The same one in which my brother was abused. But the *** **** had since moved so I thought nothing of it. It turns out that the **** has indeed moved but the original building (in which my brother was abused) is used to house Captain **** and other administrative offices.
So, on a cold December night around 11pm I went to meet Captain ****. It was surreal walking into that building. I confessed my feelings about the Police to Captain **** and told him that if he felt uncomfortable with me that it was okay if he didn't want to share and continue our meeting. He was very gracious and understanding. He confessed that the **** doesn't have clean hands and didn't have clean hands during those days in the 70's in ***** but he shared his side of things.
I made peace with a lot of things that night, Mr. Lofland. It all started with your Academy and your gracious speakers. You have a very special thing going there. My mother would call it a ministry; something God-given.
My wish is that your Academy could be duplicated throughout the country and be used as a tool not only for writers but to bridge the gap between the Police and the communities in which they serve. I would like to see young people attend your Academies and receive healing just as I did.
I would also like to see you guys do a documentary on the Police. My vision is to have several Police recruits from several Police Academies from different parts of the country be followed from just before they enter the Police Academy to about five or more years into their careers. The documentary would show their everyday lives and their struggles and maturing process. I think the public would love it and gain a lot from such a program.
As for me, I don't know if I will ever finish my novel or have it published. I am currently working on getting a Master's of Social Work (MSW) so that I could work in the **** Schools helping kids in the inner city; kids much like me when I was younger. I can't attend this year's Academy because we can't afford it and because of my studies.
However, I will forever be grateful to you and to Mr. McMahan, Mr. Skiff, Mr. Pauly, Det. Conelli, Dr. Ramsland, and all the others who were there last fall. I'm a better man for attending and am at peace now.
I am eternally grateful to you and to your partners. May you guys have the best Writers' Police Academy yet and may God richly bless you and yours.
Name withheld
https://i2.wp.com/www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/55.jpg?fit=448%2C298&ssl=1 298 448 Lee Lofland https://www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.png Lee Lofland2019-09-20 08:54:452019-09-20 12:07:37A Powerful Message About the Writers' Police Academy: "My Mother Would Call It A Ministry; Something God-Given"
10 Things You Shouldn't Say To The Police
Cops are often the target for some pretty nasty verbal ammunition. In fact, they endure some things that would make the average person explode into a fit of rage. But police officers have to stand there and take it. It's part of the job, unfortunately.
And always, without fail, officers should keep their anger in check, even when people say things like …
1. "I pay your salary, Barney Fife. So do your job and find the crook who stole the three dollars from the purse I left lying on the seat of my unlocked car."
These types of comments often spill and flow freely from the lips of unemployed crackheads and other folks who often do not pay taxes.
2. "I called twenty minutes ago. Where've you been, eating donuts?"
Normally said to cops by 325 lb. unemployed geeky guys who're standing hiding in the foyer behind a locked screen door.
3. "I play golf with the chief and he's going to hear about this tomorrow."
Words spoken by a great number of people who've been arrested for DUI on Friday night.
4. "I'll slap you if I want to because I'm a woman and you can't fight back. That's the law."
Said the sobbing female who struck the police officer's face and quickly found herself cuffed and stuffed. "I didn't mean it. Please don't take me to jail. Pleeeeeeezze!" she said from the rear compartment of the officer's patrol car.
5. "What'cha gonna do, tough guy? There's six of us and one of you."
Of course, the other five are standing behind this nutcase, shaking their heads from side-to-side, indicating they don't wish to support their friend during his sudden and foolish moment of stupidity, a time that often precedes pain compliance and the word "ouch" shouted repeatedly by the "brave" guy as the officer "gently" applies handcuffs to his wrists. The others usually and wisely go on their way.
6. "That badge don't mean nuttin' to me. Come and get me."
It's at this point that, and I've never figured out why, the guy starts backing away while forcefully removing his gravy-stained t-shirt, typically exposing one of two classic body types—that of a beanpole with xylophone-like ribs, or a belly that resembles a sideways beer keg encased in flabby and sweaty ,undulating, hairy skin.
Personally, I'll take the blubbery obese guy any day over the wiry one because they're slower and easier to handle. The skinny ones, well, you have to use an extra amount of caution when arresting them because when riled they'll climb you like a squirrel, punching, clawing, gouging, biting, and kicking, up one side and down the other.
7. "Umm … there's no need to tell my wife(husband) about this, is there?"
Spoken by most of the naked people who've been caught in the backseats of cars on deserted dead-end roads.
8. "I'm gonna %$^# your mama/wife/children/mother-in-law/family dog when I get out."
Cops hear this, and other combinations of the same thing, all the time. Spoken by every drunk in town.
9. "You no-neck son-of-a-bit**. Take off these cuffs and I'll kick your ass!"
Again, spoken by everyone who blows over a .12 on the Breathalyzer. And who, by the way, had every opportunity to open their cans of "whup ass" prior to the cuffs going on. It always amazed me how the application of handcuffs saved the lives of so many officers who arrest people, especially the people who couldn't fight their way out of a one-man boxing match.
10. "You and who else is taking me to jail? 'Cause you ain't man enough to arrest me."
These unfortunate words normally come from the smallest guy in the room, the guy who's trying to impress his friends. And this is the guy who, when you make the move to handcuff him, flails his arms like a windmill, with fists balled up. He sometimes breaks down into some sort of martial arts stance. And, he often reaches into his pocket, pretending to go for a weapon that isn't there. Luckily for these guys, the hospital and excellent ER physicians are often standing by between the point of arrest and the county jail.
And, as a bonus, the ever popular … "I know my rights, Kojak. My uncle's barber's sister's husband's third cousin on my mama's daddy's side of the family used to clean the floors at a law school. So I'm suing your ass. Yeah, that's right. Things about to get real up in here."
See everyone in the list above.
September 10, 2019 /1 Comment/by Lee Lofland
https://i0.wp.com/www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Ka-POW-copy-2.jpg?fit=465%2C349&ssl=1 349 465 Lee Lofland https://www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.png Lee Lofland2019-09-10 08:38:302019-09-10 12:30:1710 Things You Shouldn't Say To The Police
5 Dumb Crooks of the Day
Most cops have dealt with a few criminals who aren't, well, you know, playing with a full deck. They're not the sharpest knives in the drawers. One donut short of a full dozen.
Some of these intelligence-challenged folks, bless their hearts, go the extra mile on the dummy scale. For example:
Dumb Crooks of the Day
Douglas Kelly, a Florida resident, purchased and consumed what he believed to be methamphetamine, an illegal drug. Then, after consuming the meth he felt as if the drugs didn't quite meet his expectations—didn't deliver the high he'd hoped to achieve.
So he did what any level-headed person would do when they believe they've been cheated in a business deal—he called the local sheriff's office to file a formal complaint. He asked to have the ILLEGAL meth tested for purity so he could file appropriate charges against the person who sold the drugs. Of course, deputies from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office were more than happy to oblige.
They politely asked Mr. Kelly to bring the substance to the sheriff's office, and he did, and the deputies there did indeed test the drug which, by the way, field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Therefore, Dumb Crook Number 1, Douglas Kelly, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine.
The title of Dumb Crook Number 2 goes to 25-year-old Ruddy Rodriguez, who was operating his ATV illegally and extremely recklessly on city streets. While driving at dangerously high speeds he maneuvered in and out of and around traffic. He even zipped through intersections when the lights were red.
To top off his careless behavior, this dummy of the day pulled up next to responding officers and actually laughed at them, then said, "You'll never catch me or stop me!" Then he revved up his engine and took off, driving straight onto the sidewalk where he immediately crashed into a large concrete planter box. Karma…
Cops often throw a nice party when one of their fellow officers is about to retire. They're lively affairs that often take place in a local bar or pub. Such was the case when a Baltimore County PD sergeant's retirement party was held in a back room at Monaghan's Pub in Baltimore which, by the way, is across the street from a police station.
Enter Dumb Crooks Number 3 and 4 who picked the absolute worst time in the world to rob Monaghan's cashier at gunpoint. Both men were instantly placed under arrest, the hard way, as evidenced by the black eyes and bumps and bruises prominently displayed in their mugshots.
Dumb Crook Number 5 is one of my arrests. It started with a silent alarm triggered by a clerk working in a local convenience store. When I arrived the doors were locked and the clerk who'd set off the alarm turned the key to let me inside. She was shaken to core. He hands trembled, tears spilled down her cheeks, and words rolled off her tongue at 100 mph.
After a few minutes of "Officer Friendly" smooth-talking, her anxiety eased enough to allow her to describe what had taken place. She said a man entered the store and very slowly walked up and down each aisle while nervously glancing around the place. His gaze met hers a few times and once in a while locked in on the security cameras.
Finally, the man walked to the rear of the store where he opened a cooler door and withdrew a can of beer. Then he approached the counter. The clerk said she asked to see his ID, which he produced. She studied the driver's license and saw that his date of birthplace indicated that his age as well above the legal limit to purchase alcohol. She also confirmed that the face in the ID photo matched that of her customer. She rang up the sale and he paid in cash. The clerk then placed the man's ID on the counter and slid it toward him.
It was then when the man pulled a pistol from his jacket pocket and demanded that she give him all the money in the register. Well, apparently she wasn't moving quickly enough so he grabbed the entire machine, snatching it free from its cables and mount, and ran out the door.
When she'd finished her narrative I started to go outside to grab my handy-dandy Sirchie fingerprint kit. On the way out I stopped to have a quick look at the countertop, and there it was, the robber's driver's license.
He'd not only shown the license to the clerk, providing her the opportunity to later identify him, he'd given me his name, date of birth, address, a nice photo of his face, and his social security number (Back in those days, Virginia used a person's social security number as their driver's license number. That is no longer the case).
So I hopped in my car, called for backup, and drove to the suspect's home where we found both him and the stolen cash register. Oh, the gun was a pistol that had been stolen a few months prior to the robbery. And, we found crack cocaine on the stack of wooden pallets he used as a coffee table. I don't believe he'd ever watched HGTV.
Believe it or not, this, the driver's license thing at a convenience store robbery, also happened a second time but with a different dumb crook.
In another instance I found a driver's license at the scene of an arson. Somehow the fire-starter dropped it on the ground. I found the ID while poking around the area as firefighters battled the blaze. He was from out of town so I enlisted the assistance of the local cops in that city to help me with the arrest. The firebug confessed to the arson after a lengthy interrogation session.
September 9, 2019 /1 Comment/by Lee Lofland
https://i0.wp.com/www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/dumb-convict-copy.jpg?fit=465%2C349&ssl=1 349 465 Lee Lofland https://www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.png Lee Lofland2019-09-09 13:29:522019-09-09 13:29:525 Dumb Crooks of the Day
San Francisco Has Lost Its Freakin' Mind: Carl "The Butcher" Jenkins Is Now a "Justice Involved Person"
I try to be a forward-thinking person and I definitely believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. I don't like to hurt anyone's feelings, if possible. Heck, I'll even go out of my way to avoid killing a bug. Well, there are exceptions to the bug squishing—those gigantic prehistoric Palmetto bugs deserve all the squashing, smashing, and foot-stomping I can deliver. They give me the creeps. So much so that I'd almost choose to face a knife-wielding serial killer than one of those hissing, flying creatures.
And yes, I know it's tough to avoid mistrusting a known bad guy when working as a police officer because cops deal with the folks whose mere existence is surrounded in some sort of doubt nearly 24 hours each day. Still, I try.
But there is a limit to how far a person could and/or should go. Yet, the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco has, with all due respect, lost their ever-loving minds. They've gone bat-&%#@ crazy, actually, and I cannot in good consciousness give them the benefit of doubt, because they've boarded Ozzy Osborne's Crazy Train, and at this point in time are speeding along the tracks heading straight into the Twilight Zone.
Here's What They've Done
To avoid labeling criminals or hurting their feelings, including those crooks who've been convicted of various crimes, the Board of Supervisors have spent hours coming up with a resolution to assign new names for bad guys, the crimes they've committed, and other areas of criminal behavior.
If this resolution is passed, no longer will San Franciscans be permitted use the term "convicted felon" when speaking of a mass murderer who's served his time and is released on parole. No sir. Not in San Francisco. Instead, Carl "The Butcher" Jenkins must be addressed as a "justice involved person." If The Butcher whacks up another victim while out on parole, the Board of Supervisors now insists that he and other repeat offenders be called "returning residents" once they've served their time and exit the prison for another try at life on the outside.
Going forward, a juvenile offender in San Francisco must be referred to as a "young person with justice system involvement," or a "young person impacted by the juvenile justice system." Drug addicts, according to the resolution, are "a people with a history of substance use."
The 10 supervisors who voted in favor of the resolution argue that because 1 in 5 Californians has a criminal record, "words like 'prisoner,' 'convict,' "inmate" or 'felon' 'only serve to obstruct and separate people from society and make the institutionalization of racism and supremacy appear normal." Being labeled as a convicted felon, they say, brands for life, the formerly state or federal housed separator of human limbs and/or vital organs.
The resolution states that by assigning negative labels, such as convicted felon, the returning residents are wearing a scarlet letter they can never leave behind.
After reading the article about this relabeling effort in the San Francisco Chronicle, I thought…hmmm…perhaps I should come up with a few new terms of my own to replace some of the current ones that could offend and . Such as…
Kidnapper – person who relieves family of added burden of extra mouth to feed.
Arsonist – person who assists firefighters with real-life on the job training.
Burglar – second shift housecleaner responsible for the first step of rotating valuables in safes and jewelry boxes.
Embezzler – person skilled in reverse accounting.
Prostitute – stress relief expert.
Pimp – employer of stress relief experts.
Murderer – population control expert.
Okay, this silliness could on and on and on. But the real solution to removing the scarlet letter and stain on a convicted felon's record is to provide attainable but stringent goals for them to achieve. And once those goals are met they're able to first regain/earn their lost rights, and then move toward clearing their record after, say, a decade or so of a stellar lifestyle. Of course, I'm not speaking of career criminals and violent offenders. Instead, I'm addressing first-time, nonviolent offenders, for example.
Until this is done, a real second chance, the scarlet letter will always remain attached. They'll always feel unclean and not worthy of living a decent life. They'll forever be forced to work menial jobs because most employers won't hire a former prisoner, and those who do rarely trust them.
Convicted felons are are barred from obtaining employment and/or licensing in certain fields in certain states, such as health care, child care, security, public office, cosmetology, barbering, boxing, wrestling, EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), and acupuncture, to name a few. Also, many felons are prohibiting from working as volunteers in places where the public, especially children, are involved, even if their crimes had nothing to do with kids or stealing (drug possession, for example).
Public housing is often denied to convicted felons. Therefore, without a deceit home and no job or educational opportunities available, the temptation to reoffend is great. When the stomach growls and cold rain is pouring down on their heads, well, survival instinct kicks in and they go for what they know.
But changing the names assigned to convicted felons does absolutely nothing to alter the stigma. Call 'em what you want, but in the minds of the public, whether or not he's called a convicted felon or a formerly incarcerated person, until real change is made, the revolving doors on our prisons and jails will forever be spinning.
I know, I never offer opinion, opting to write only about fact. This has been my rule. But today I made an exception. Therefore, I am now a one-time official evader of fact-based information who delivered a personal view based on information that does not align with a certain set of beliefs.
August 22, 2019 /5 Comments/by Lee Lofland
https://i1.wp.com/www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/knife-guy-copy.jpg?fit=485%2C364&ssl=1 364 485 Lee Lofland https://www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.png Lee Lofland2019-08-22 13:57:582019-08-22 16:03:59San Francisco Has Lost Its Freakin' Mind: Carl "The Butcher" Jenkins Is Now a "Justice Involved Person"
A Dead Woman Crying: Delivering the "Death Knock"
I've seen more than anyone's fair share of murder victims. More than I'd care to count, actually. I've also seen a variety of methods and instruments used by killers to achieve their goal(s)—gunshots, edged weapons, etc.
Some victims were poisoned; others were killed by hanging, strangulation, fire, torture, beatings, blunt instrument bludgeoning and, well, you name the manner and instruments used to kill and I've probably seen the end result. Unfortunately, it's not long before dead bodies—the victims of senseless violence—quickly begin to stack up in the old memory bank.
Sure, cops get used to seeing carnage. They have to in order to survive the job. Still, there are cases that cling to the outer fringes of the mind, remaining fresh in our thoughts for many years. These, the often thought of, aren't necessarily the most gruesome or the most difficult to solve. Not at all. In fact, what sticks with one officer may not affect another in the same way.
A few homicides occasionally creep back onto the "replay" reel inside my brain—the killing of children, the crazy guy who hacked his sister-in-law with an ax because she wouldn't give him money for a pack of cigarettes, the kid found hanging from an extension cord in an abandoned factory, and, of course, the case I'm about to describe to you. It came to mind recently because of rains we've received lately here in Delaware.
The storms came at night, bringing brilliant displays of zig-zagging lightning followed by earth- and window-rattling thunder. Windblown raindrops the size of chickpeas pounded against our windows and rooftop. This is how it was the night I saw the dead woman crying, and it was the morning after when I had the unpleasant task of doing the "death knock."
So slip on a pair of boots and a raincoat and join me on a brief journey into my memory. And yes, sometimes tales do begin with the weather…
It was a brutal storm that night, one that delivered a hard-driving and bitterly cold winter rain. Accompanying winds tugged hard against my long, school-bus-yellow rain coat, sending its tails fluttering and flapping, exposing my brown over tan deputy sheriff uniform. It—the uniform—was not waterproof. Not even close.
The ground at the crime scene was extremely muddy, and with each step my once shiny brown shoes collected gobs of thick, wet soil until it felt as if bricks were tied to the bottoms of my feet.
These were the deplorable conditions in which I met the crying dead woman.
Raindrops the size of gumdrops pelted her smooth and round caramel-colored face. They gathered and pooled at the corners of her eyes, eventually spilling out across her cheeks like tiny rivers following the contours of her flesh until they poured from her in miniature waterfalls.
It was one on one—me and the victim.
Passenger door open.
She's lying there,
Bottom half in, top half out.
Her face aimed at the sky.
Rain falling into her open mouth.
Cheap dollar-store tennis shoes and half-socks, the socks her youngest daughter—the seven-year-old—called baby socks.
Her wet hair, mingled with mud, sticks, and windswept leaves.
Power lines crackled and buzzed overhead.
The yellow Magnate beam, a spotlight on her dim gray eyes.
No life.
No recollections.
No dreams.
Not a flicker.
Tire tracks.
Different pattern than the rubber on her Chrysler.
Driver's window down.
Three rounds—one to the head and two to the torso.
Five empty casings.
Pistol.
Not a revolver.
Half-empty wine bottle.
Cheap convenience store label.
Not her brand according to the ladies in her church group. "Oh we don't drink. Neither did she. Except on special occasions. Yep, it must have been something or somebody really special for her to drink that stuff."
"Was there a somebody special?"
Eyes cast downward.
Blushes and eyelash flutterings all around. "Well … she did stay after Wednesday night preaching a few times. But they were meetings strictly about church business. After all, he is the Reverend. A good man."
More blushing.
A stammer or two.
A good man.
The rain comes harder.
Droplets hammer her open eyes.
She doesn't blink.
A dead woman crying.
Footprints.
Two sets.
One walking.
Casually, perhaps.
The other, long strides.
Running away, possibly.
Zigzagging to the woods.
Bullet lodged in base of a spruce pine.
One round left to find.
Water inside my collar, down my back.
Shivering.
Cloth snagged on jagged tree branch.
Plaid shirt material.
Blood?
Still visible in the rain?
The missing fifth round?
Maglite never fails, even in torrential rain.
Light finds a shoe in the underbrush.
It's attached to the foot of an adult male.
Bullet in back.
The fifth round.
Coming together nicely.
Church meetings.
Reverend.
Two lovers.
Special wine for special occasion…
Sure he is.
Morning sunshine.
Tiny face peering from window.
Waiting for Mama?
A lump in my throat.
Scent of frying bacon in the air.
I raise my knuckles to the door.
It's the worst job in the world,
The "Death Knock."
Door swings open.
Worried husband.
"No, she didn't come home after church. Called friends and family. Nobody knows."
Husband, devastated.
Questions unanswered.
Children cry.
"Yes, I have ideas.
And I'm so sorry for your loss."
Tire tracks match.
Pistol found.
Preacher hangs head in shame.
Special occasion.
To profess love.
Another man.
Another lover.
Angry.
Jealous.
Handcuffs.
No bond.
Prison.
Today, our rains have stopped.
But I'm thinking of the crying dead woman and her kids, her loving husband and, of course, baby socks.
Special occasion?
Good man?
July 20, 2019 /1 Comment/by Lee Lofland
https://i2.wp.com/www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/New-Picture-3.jpg?fit=448%2C288&ssl=1 288 448 Lee Lofland https://www.leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.png Lee Lofland2019-07-20 08:56:232019-07-20 11:26:54A Dead Woman Crying: Delivering the "Death Knock"
Yes, They Actually Said …
During the course of their days at work, officers hear many excuses, threats and, well, dumb statements. Here are a few I've heard over the years.
Me – "Sir, do you know how fast you were driving?"
Driver – "I do, but I'm not telling you that I was going 87 when I passed where you were sitting because you'll give me a ticket."
Drug dealer – "You can't arrest me because you didn't tell me you were an undercover cop before I sold you the crack."
Murder suspect – "She was already dead when I killed her."
Murder suspect – "Yeah, I was in the house. But I didn't kill that guy in the bedroom. Oh wait, you didn't mention a dead body, did you?"
Man arrested for fighting – "Take off these cuffs and I'll whip your a**," he said to me as I drove him to the hospital for the treatment of injuries he received while resisting arrest.
Man found sitting in the middle of a busy highway – "I'm from Mars. Your laws don't apply to me. Go away."
Man who resisted arrest – "You're not man enough to … Ow! Ouch! I give up!
Burglary suspect – "I must've been sleepwalking, officer. I went to bed around ten and woke up inside this strange house just as I heard someone yell, 'Police!.' Honest, I don't know where I got these gloves and tools."
Robbery suspect – "I ain't scared of that dog … Ahhhhh!!!! Make him stop biting me! Ahhhhhhh!!!!!"
Tough guy – "I. Will. Knock. You. Out. Take one more step and—"
July 18, 2019 /by Lee Lofland
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