From Cop to Mom & the Words in Between

"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

2012-01-29T03:00:00.000-05:00

On January 29, 1845, readers of the New York Evening Mirror were treated to a narrative poem called "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.

The editor of the Mirror, Nathaniel Parker Willis, introduced the poem, calling it "unsurpassed in English poetry for subtle conception, masterly ingenuity of versification, and consistent, sustaining of imaginative lift...it will stick to the memory of everybody who reads it."

Image: The Edgar Allan Poe Society in Baltimore

Poe was paid nine dollars for its publication.

George Rex Graham, a friend and former employer of Poe's, had declined Poe's offer to be the first to print "The Raven." Graham said he didn't like it, but paid Poe $15.00 in charity. Graham made up for his poor decision by publishing Poe's essay, "The Philosophy of Composition" in Graham's American Monthly Magazine for Literature and Art, a year later.

Happy Birthday, Wilkie Collins

2012-01-08T16:39:00.000-05:00

On this date in 1824, British novelist Wilkie Collins was born.

T.S. Eliot described The Moonstone as the first and greatest of English detective novels.

A quote from The Woman in White seems to have stood the test of time:

"There are foolish criminals who are discovered, and wise criminals who escape. The hiding of a crime, or the detection of a crime, what is it? A trial of skill between the police on one side, and the individual on the other. When the criminal is a brutal, ignorant fool, the police, in nine cases out of ten, win. When the criminal is a resolute, educated, highly-intelligent man, the police, in nine cases out of ten, lose."

Click here for more Wilkie Collins quotes.

New Gilgo Theory: One Killer

2011-11-30T11:16:00.000-05:00

Today's Newsday headline blasts, "Newsday Exclusive: New Gilgo Theory: One Killer - From LI" with a sub-headline, "Top cop: Police fear serial killer will strike again."

This information surprises me, and then again, it doesn't. The first thing that came to mind is that the Police Commissioner of the past eight years, Richard Dormer, is leaving office soon (as a new County Executive, Steve Bellone, takes office in January, he will choose a new police commissioner). It's conjecture on my part, but it's possible that Newsday wanted to give him a chance to say any last parting words about the case, and he gave it to them (hence the exclusive). The article has been written by Tania Lopez.

It was nearly one year ago that a K-9 cop, conducting a search in the hopes of possibly finding evidence of missing person Shannan Gilbert, came across remains. Subsequent searches turned up multiple remains (eight females, one male, one female toddler); yet none belonged to Shannan. Dormer states in the article that detectives do not think Shannan's case is connected; that it was pure coincidence that she went missing in Oak Beach, and the bodies were found on Gilgo Beach.

I worked on the Crime Stoppers tips line (1-800-220-TIPS) for thirteen years, and spoke with hundreds of people who called with information that lead to arrests for homicide, narcotics, robbery, larceny, and other felonies. This case truly needs the break of someone with information to step forward. If you, or someone you know has information, please consider giving a call, or emailing or texting a tip anonymously. There is a cash reward available via the Crime Stoppers program, a civilian organization, of which I am a volunteer.

The Suffolk County Police Department's website has set up a page with sketches of two unidentified victims, and jewelry recovered with the remains of two victims. Please give it a brief view and see if it looks familiar.

Blast at St. Louis Bouchercon 2011

2011-09-30T21:58:00.000-04:00

Bouchercon 2011 at St. Louis was terrific. It is truly amazing to see so many authors all in one place. This was my second Bouchercon. The host hotel, the Renaissance St. Louis Grand, was sold out quickly, so I stayed at the historic St. Louis Union Station Marriott, which was such a treat; it's converted from the original St. Louis railroad station. I shared a room with my fellow New York Sister in Crime, Cathi Stoler, the author of Telling Lies. While attending a paragraph-reading party at Left Bank Books, in which Cathi read a paragraph from Telling Lies, I had the honor of meeting my Twitter friends, Chad Rohrbacher and Ron Earl Phillips.

Lobby of St. Louis Union Station Marriott

L to R, top to bottom: Catriona McPherson, Kathleen A. Ryan, Cathi Stoler, Clare Toohey

Left Bank Books, St. Louis

My New York Sister-in-Crime, Hilary Davidson, Anthony Award winner for Best First Novel, The Damage Done

Duane Swierczynski, Anthony Award Winner for Best Paperback Original, Expiration Date

Reed Farrel Coleman, Three-time Shamus Award winning author and fellow Long Islander!

I was honored to moderate a panel called, "Writing From the Headlines" with authors Pamela Callow, Diane Fanning, Ryan David Jahn, Karen E. Olson, and Rick Reed.

I was thrilled to finally meet in person the fabulous Patti Abbott.

I met a new friend, author Catriona McPherson. What a sweetheart!

Glad to see folks I've had the privilege of meeting before, at last year's Bouchercon in San Francisco, or at book signings in New York City, such as Brad Parks, Joelle Charbonneau, Barb Goffman, and of course seeing another fellow New York Sister in Crime, Clare Toohey.

Plans are underway for Bouchercon 2012 ~ in Cleveland, Ohio, October 4-7.

Bouchercon 2011: St. Louis

2011-08-22T00:54:00.000-04:00

I am very excited and thrilled to be a moderator at a terrific panel called, "Writing From the Headlines," with a spectacular line-up of panelists at next month's Bouchercon in St. Louis. Our panel's title is "She's Not There" (all panel titles were taken from True Blood, Wire in the Blood, and various shows written by Robert Crais) and will occur on Friday, September 16, 2011 from 11:30 am - 12:30 p.m. in "Landmark 4" room of the Renaissance St. Louis Grand.

I will have the privilege of introducing and interviewing: Pamela Callow (@PamelaCallow) Diane Fanning (@DianeFanning), Ryan David Jahn (@RyanDavidJahn) Karen E. Olson (@kareneolson) and Rick Reed (@JackMurphy1010).

I am grateful to programming chairs Judy Bobalik and Ruth Jordan for arranging such an awesome group and bestowing upon me the absolute honor of moderating this panel.

If you are attending Bouchercon next month, I hope to see you at our discussion ~ and come prepared with intriguing questions for these talented authors who have written true crime and/or written mystery, thriller, and detective fiction influenced by or based on true crime events.

I will devote blog posts to each of these authors to get to know each one of them better ~ so stay tuned!

How Quickly Life Changes

2011-08-01T02:33:00.000-04:00

Life changed completely and unexpectedly in my family on July 7, 2011. My 40-year-old sister-in-law, Irene, died suddenly. It is believed she suffered a massive heart attack. She was my brother's widow. My brother was killed ten years ago in a motorcycle crash, four days before their fifth wedding anniversary.

Their ten-year-old son is now an orphan. I hope to become his legal guardian, as I've been close with him since he was born, and began watching him on Saturdays when he was three months old when his mom returned to work.

After my brother's death, I proposed the following to Irene, the single parent of a five-month-old boy: that I take him at least once a month, overnight, to give her a break; and to allow him to grow up knowing the love of his father's family. This way, if she ever needed to travel, attend an event, etc., she would always have a place for her son to stay ~ somewhere he'd already be familiar with; a place she could count on as a safe, loving environment.

We had this arrangement for the past ten years. Hours before she died, she wrote me an e-mail asking for certain dates in July and August for my nephew to sleepover. This has been his second home his entire life.

It's as if I was preparing for this role for ten years and didn't know it.

We hope and pray that all goes well and my nephew will become a permanent member of our immediate family. He's been growing up with my two children more as siblings than cousins. We love him dearly.

When a tragedy like this strikes ~ it serves as a reminder to review how prepared you and/or your family members are, regarding your wishes. Are wills completed, or do they need updating? Does someone in your family know your wishes? Do they know whom your attorney is, whom to contact, where important documents are, etc? A sudden, unexpected tragedy is difficult enough to deal with; but preparations done in advance certainly helps those left behind.

Do the right thing ~ make sure your family knows your wishes; have a will made; maintain of list of where important documents are kept; keep a list of those to contact in case tragedy strikes ~ which I pray never does ~ but at least you'll have peace of mind knowing you've made your wishes known and have eased the burden on your loved ones.

Here's a list of 12 Easy Steps to Preparing Your Estate Plan. Also, check out Emergencies: Are You Prepared? Your Personal Checklist of Important Documents.

Marilyn Levinson, Author of A MURDERER AMONG US

2011-06-23T06:00:00.056-04:00

I'm thrilled to have Mystery & Children's Books Author Marilyn Levinson, the President of Long Island Sisters in Crime, as my guest blogger today.
Congratulations, Marilyn, and much success on the release of your latest novel, A Murderer Among Us.

Kathy, I’m happy to be your guest blogger today. I was fortunate to meet Kathy when she joined the Long Island chapter of Sisters in Crime that I co-founded last summer with my friend and fellow writer, Bernardine Fagan. Kathy became a valuable asset -- helping us with all things police-related, PR, Facebook, and Twitter. We’re a friendly, informal group of mystery writers who meet in various libraries around Long Island. Our meetings vary from month to month. We’ve been fortunate to have two wonderful writer guests so far -- Hank Phillippi Ryan and Reed Farrel Coleman. We critique, try to fathom the mystery of writing mysteries, publishing, and marketing, and support one another wholeheartedly. We welcome all Long Island mystery writers to come and join us.

My mystery novel, A MURDERER AMONG US, debuted on June first. My sleuth, Lydia Krause, has moved to Twin Lakes, an upscale retirement community on Long Island, to start a new life. Lydia’s appalled when her neighbor introduces her to the community’s financial advisor, a convicted embezzler whom Lydia holds responsible for having driven her sister to suicide. She exposes the man in public and exchanges heated words with his wife, who is discovered the following morning, mowed down by Lydia’s Lexus. Suddenly, Lydia is Suspect Number One. Employing the many skills she’s honed as CEO of her own company, Lydia undertakes an investigation to prove her innocence.

The book is about new beginnings. Widowed and no longer in charge of her company, Lydia forges new friendships. Her relationships with her grown daughters take unexpected turns. She even finds herself in a budding romance. Life, Lydia learns, marches on.

A MURDERER AMONG US is available at Wings ePress in print and eBook format. will soon be available on Amazon.com, Kindle, and Fictionwise.com

Visit my website at: http://www.marilynlevinson.com.

If you’d like to know more about Long Island Sisters in Crime, feel free to contact me at Marilev4 (at) optonline (dot) net.

***

Thanks, Marilyn, for visiting today, and your very kind words. I enjoy being a member of Long Island Sisters in Crime. As a relatively new group, I think we're off to a smashing start, if I say so myself!

Visitors: If you have a question or comment for Marilyn, leave a comment ~ and thanks for stopping by!

Beach House Noir at Do Some Damage

2011-06-20T20:27:00.001-04:00

Steve Weddle at Do Some Damage offered up a summertime flash fiction challenge for some Beach House Noir, 500 to 5,000 words. I'm a little late to the game, but I finished a story to add to the mix, called "Wanderlust," which clocks in just under 630 words.

The awesome stories are up at Do Some Damage. Congrats to Thomas Pluck, the winner of Duane Swiercyznki's Fun and Games.

"Wanderlust"

After a scorcher on Fire Island during the summer of 1994, Phil and Garrett were about to fall asleep in their upscale cottage rental when a questionable sound of flatulence arose.
“Was that you?” Phil asked.
“No,” Garrett said, sitting up. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”
Phil whispered. “Who the hell farted, then — and where did it come from?
Garrett pointed toward the closet. He quietly slipped out of bed and reached under the bed for a bat. He stood near the closet. Phil turned on his bedside lamp.
“We know you’re in there,” Garrett warned. “I have a weapon, so don’t try anything funny.”
“I fell asleep — don’t hurt me. Can I come out now?” the burglar asked.
Garrett pulled the closet doors open. A balding man, not yet sixty, struggled to get on his feet. He rubbed his eyes.
“Who the hell are you — and what are you doing here?” Garrett demanded.
“My name is Tommy Rogers,” the intruder said. He glanced at Phil, who held a cordless phone in his hand. “Please, don’t call the police. I can explain.”
Garrett loosened his grip on the bat. The paunchy invader appeared harmless. “Let’s hear it — and we’ll decide whether to call the cops or not.”
“This community — well, you know, it’s reputation and all,” Tommy said, gazing back and forth at the startled pair.
“You’ve got something against gays?”
“No, not at all. It’s the atmosphere of isolated beach communities. Doors are left unlocked. Everyone’s too trusting — which is to my benefit.”
Garrett asked, “And what benefit would that be, Mr. Rogers? Money? Jewelry? Drugs?”
The disheveled, uninvited man explained, “I look for a wallet on the dresser.” His gaze shifted toward the wallets sitting on their dresser, making his point. “I only remove one credit card, though. I touch nothing else.”
Phil surmised the rest. “To buy time — until the victim realizes it’s missing, or the credit card company notifies the victim — whichever comes first, but could take a while.”
Tommy nodded. “Exactly. If I get a card, I beat feet; but you guys walked in before I even had a chance to look. I didn’t take anything — we’re all good, I promise. I ducked into the closet, waiting for you to either leave or go to sleep. Guess I’m the one who crapped out. What gave me away? Did I snore?”
“We heard you rip one,” Garrett said.
“Damn chili dogs,” Tommy muttered, looking down at his feet.
Phil asked, “So what’s your goal with the stolen card?”
“I book a plane ticket and get the hell out of dodge. I fly to the next gay enclave and steal another card. I’ve been all over the world, and no one’s caught up to me yet.”
“Until now, you idiot.”
“Technically, you’re correct; but do you know that when a burglar enters a potentially occupied home, he is mentally prepared to commit homicide?” Tommy asked, but didn’t wait for a response as he pulled a gun from the small of his back.
He shot Garrett before he could lift the bat.
Tommy double-tapped Phil before he could dial 911, or any other number. He crumbled to the ground.
Tommy heard the front screen door slam.
“Doesn’t anyone ever lock their doors around here?” he grumbled.
“Phil? Garrett?” You guys setting off fireworks?” a concerned friend asked. When he reached the bedroom door, his eyes met the intruder’s. His mouth fell open, but could form no words.
“Fireworks,” Tommy sneered. “I got your fireworks right here.” Bang-bang.
Tommy locked the front door behind him. The drifter strolled down the tree-lined boardwalk, blended in with the crowd, and made his way towards the ferry.
He had a plane to catch.

Antenna TV

2011-06-16T11:51:00.000-04:00

Fans of yesteryear television, rejoice! Antenna TV (shows you used to watch using an antenna) is now available ~ depending on your TV provider and area. Enter your zip code to see if it's available where you live. Sadly, it is not currently available on DISH network or DIRECTV.

We're talking a channel devoted to such shows as All in the Family, Soap, Maude, Good Times, Hazel, The Three Stooges, Dennis The Menace, Three's Company, Here Come The Brides, The Monkees, The Partridge Family, and so many more ~ and movies, too.

To think I gave up ballet lessons on Saturdays so I wouldn't miss The Monkees; certainly no VHS available back then. I just had to wait 40 years to see it on TV on a regular basis again (well, I did buy some DVDs of the shows in recent years, and I've seen The Monkees ~ minus Mike Nesmith ~ in concert several times).

The Network launched on January 1, 2011, with a Three Stooges marathon.

You can follow @AntennaTVOnline on Twitter or "like" Antenna TV on Facebook.

If you have this channel, which show(s) are you interested in seeing? I can't wait to watch Soap again (and Here Come the Brides, and All in the Family).

TV Land, which has been around many years, has quite a line-up of shows, too. Gunsmoke, Bonanza, I Dream of Jeannie, Sanford and Son, and many more. You can also find TV Land on Facebook and Twitter @tvland.

Turning Fifty

2011-06-13T09:59:00.000-04:00

Today's the big 5-0. I don't feel fifty! I got that AARP application in the mail last week, so I guess it's real!

I did a quick search and found out whom else celebrated/celebrates June 13 as his/her birthdate. I'm in some pretty good company. Here's a quick sample:

Basil Rathbone ~ 1892 - born in South Africa, actor ~ played Sherlock Holmes

Dorothy L. Sayers ~ 1893- British Author

Paul Lynde ~ 1926 - Comedian; Bewitched actor

John Forbes Nash ~ 1928 - American Mathematician

Christo ~ 1935 ~ Bulgarian Artist

Malcolm McDowell ~ 1943 ~ British Actor

Whitley Strieber ~ 1945 - American Writer

Stellan Skarsgaard ~ 1951 ~ Swedish Actor

Richard Thomas ~ 1951 ~ American Actor

Tim Allen ~ 1953 ~ American Actor

I'm thrilled to learn that June 13 is also the birthday of fellow Sister-in-Crime Daryl Wood Gerber (aka Avery Aames). Hope you're enjoying your day today, Daryl!

I came across this inspiring quote:

"I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming... suddenly you find - at the age of 50, say - that a whole new life has opened before you." ~ Agatha Christie

Here's another one, author unknown: "Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age."

There's tons of jokes, of course, about turning 50. Here's a cute one from Digital Dream Door:

Well Organized Life

Two senior ladies met for the first time since graduating from high school. One asked the other, "You were always so organized in school, did you manage to live a well planned life?"

"Oh yes," said her friend. "My first marriage was to a millionaire; my second marriage was to an actor; ,my third marriage was to a preacher; and now I'm married to an undertaker."

Her friend asked, "What do those marriages have to do with a well planned life?"

"One for the money, two for the show. three to get ready and four to go."

Do you have any words of wisdom about turning age 50? I'd love to hear it!

L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories

2011-06-08T02:24:00.000-04:00

Mulholland Books has announced that between now and June 12, 2011, residents of North America can download the new ebook, L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories, for free. After the 12th, it will be available for 99 cents. The collection features original stories from Joyce Carol Oates, Lawrence Block, Megan Abbott, Andrew Vachss, Duane Swierczynski, Joe R. Lansdale, Francine Prose, and Jonathan Santlofer.

For those without e-readers, the collection can be downloaded to a PC or a Mac. Details are available on the Rock Star games site.

L.A. Noire is a video game available for PlayStation3 and XBox360; it is set in 1947. Players are challenged to solve a range of crimes. It was released in North American on May 17, 2011.

I think this is a fascinating partnership between ebook publishing and video gaming. It will be interesting to monitor the results of this marketing concept. What do you think of this alliance?

Casey Anthony Murder Trial

2011-06-02T10:36:00.000-04:00

Casey Anthony

Are you following the Casey Anthony murder trial? She is the Florida mother accused of killing her two-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony. Caylee was last seen on June 16, 2008, but not reported missing until July 15, 2008 -- which triggered a nationwide search. Her remains were discovered near her home in December 2008.

The Orlando Sentinel is covering it extensively. The Caylee Daily also covers stories about the case.

You can follow updates on Twitter at @OSCaseyAnthony, or simply use the hashtag #CaseyAnthony and find tweets related to the case.

"In Session" on TruTV (formerly Court TV) is airing live coverage of the trial.

CNN's Nancy Grace is covering the trial, too, weeknights at 8 pm EST. Follow @TeamNancyHLN for an inside view of the trial.

There's been a series of bombshells since the trial started; Casey's defense attorney claimed that Caylee drowned -- and that she and her father, a retired police officer -- covered it up. The attorney has also brought up that Casey has been sexually abused by her father and her brother. Casey's dad was the first prosecution witness, and he denied the sexual abuse allegations and the defense attorney's claims of finding Caylee in the family swimming pool.

Caylee Anthony

Reed Farrel Coleman at Sachem Library, Holbrook

2011-05-21T00:08:00.000-04:00

Today ~ Saturday, May 21, 2011, Long Island Sisters in Crime welcomes Reed Farrel Coleman-- three-time Shamus Award winning author of the Moe Prager series -- as their guest speaker, from 12-2 p.m., at the Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook, NY (Suffolk County).

The event is open to the public; admission is free.

Follow Reed on Twitter @RFColemanBooks and on Facebook.

Who Killed Brenda Martinez?

2011-05-13T17:00:00.011-04:00

DNA might help some cold cases, but sometimes the best chance police and family members have in solving a decades-old mystery is when someone with information comes forward.

The case of 23-year-old Brenda Martinez has gone unsolved since the day she disappeared -- just before Christmas, 1988, in Flint, Michigan, after she walked to a pay phone on Fenton and West Atherton Roads, and never returned.

Her body was discovered on January 5, 1989, near Tobaggan Hill in Holloway Regional Park. Her cause of death was not revealed, but her death has been labeled a homicide.

Brenda also used her maiden name, Harvey. She left behind a daughter, six-year-old Stephanie Bellanca.

The law enforcement agencies investigating the case are the Michigan State Police and the Richmond Township Police.

I learned about this unsolved murder from Vidster, the blogger behind "Defrosting Cold Cases."

In March 2011, The Flint Journal published "Tip energizes probe of 1980s slaying of 23-year-old Brenda Martinez," written by Khalil AlHajal. DNA is being analyzed and people are being re-interviewed. Stephanie Bellanca, now 28, is still hoping for a break in the case, which is being handled by the Michigan State Police/Flint PD Violent Crime Task Force, Cold Case Office.

Anyone with information concerning the death of Brenda Martinez can call Flint Area Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-422-JAIL or leave a web tip. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Jerry Seinfeld Personal Archives

2011-05-07T01:40:00.004-04:00

Seinfeld fans, rejoice!

Visit www.JerrySeinfeld.com to view three video "bits," chosen from Jerry's 30 years of comedy. The clips will only be available for 24 hours before Jerry chooses three new clips. Check Jerry's tour dates to see if he's coming to a city near you.

In 1989, my brother asked if I had seen The Seinfeld Chronicles; I hadn't. When the show later became simply known as Seinfeld, he'd ask, "Are you watching Seinfeld yet?" and I'd say, "No...I haven't gotten around to it yet," because of my alternating shifts. He'd insist, "You have to watch it!" I'd say, "Yeah, yeah...one of these days."

I finally caught my first episode in late 1992, and it turned out to be "The Contest," which later won an Emmy. I immediately knew what my brother had been talking about. I called him and went on about how much I loved Seinfeld. I've been watching it ever since.

I lost my brother ten years ago this month. He was 37 years old when he was killed in a motorcycle accident on May 20, 2001. He is missed dearly.

When I watch Seinfeld, I feel like my brother's laughing right alongside me. It's a great comfort.

Follow the official Seinfeld page on Facebook. You can catch re-runs on TBS.

Silk Road Review: Flash Fiction Contest

2011-05-02T10:01:00.000-04:00

Silk Road Review is holding a flash fiction contest, in which writers can submit up to two entries. There is no fee to enter.

A prize of $500 will be awarded, along with publication in the Silk Road summer print issue, and on their website. The word count is 1200 words or less. All pieces will be considered for publication.

The deadline is quickly approaching -- this Friday, May 6, 2011. Judging will be done by the editors of Silk Road Review.

Silk Road Review is published twice yearly, in the spring and fall. You can read their mission statement here. They publish fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and translations.

Silk Road Review is made possible by the generous donation of Pacific University in Oregon.

You can follow Silk Road Review on Facebook.

The red tent artwork was done by Vol. 6.1's cover artist, Orna Ben-Shoshan.

NYT Best Selling Edgar Authors on Writing

2011-04-28T17:08:00.001-04:00

In honor of the 65th Gala Banquet of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Awards tonight at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City, here is a video of several Edgar Award-winning authors who talk about writing, produced by Open Road Media.

I attended the MWA (Mystery Writers of America) Edgars Symposium in Manhattan yesterday, followed by the MWA Agents and Editors party ~ both events were marvelous!

The list of nominees was announced on Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday, on January 19, 2011.

Best wishes to the nominees, and all who are attending tonight's Gala Banquet!

Clerk Retains Stick-up Note - Robber's Name on Back

2011-04-22T11:59:00.000-04:00

Bruce Manlove
photo via Doverpost.com

A quick-thinking convenience store clerk retained a stick-up note from a robber who demanded cigarettes. They argued over the note -- which simply stated, "This is a robbery," but the clerk held onto it and the robber fled.

Shortly after, patrol officers in Dover, Delaware, stopped the robber's vehicle, which contained 17 packs of Newport cigarettes.

Even if the officers hadn't pulled over the vehicle, the stick-up note had 36-year-old Bruce Manlove's name on the back of Department of Corrections paperwork. He had been released from DOC custody on April 11 -- but he's right back where he started from, after failing to post $6,500 bail.

Manlove was charged with robbery, terroristic threatening, disorderly conduct, and trespassing.

"Genius Draws No Color Line"

2011-04-09T14:55:00.000-04:00

Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the historic day when contralto Marian Anderson, after being denied the chance to sing at the Daughter of American Revolution's Constitutional Hall (and as a result, the DAR lost one of its members, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, in protest), performed in front of a crowd of 75,000 at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday.

The Secretary of the Interior, Harold L. Ickes, invited Marian to sing; he introduced her by saying, "Genius draws no color line." To listen to his five-minute speech, visit here.

It is chilling to watch her sing, "My Country 'Tis of Thee" ~ especially with the Great Emancipator in the backdrop of this video.

I will never forget my visit to the Lincoln Memorial -- I cried just standing near it. Every American should visit it at least once in their lifetime.

What a voice, what a smile. An awesome moment in history.

A beautiful photographic history book, meant for readers ages 9-12, is available on Amazon: The Voice That Challenged A Nation: Marian Anderson and The Struggle of Equal Rights, by Russell Freedman.

Be sure to visit The Marian Anderson Historical Society web site ~ and share this historic moment with the children in your life.

Cold Case Chat Recap: April 1, 2011

2011-04-02T01:40:00.026-04:00

Today I was privileged to guest host the Cold Case Live Chat on Twitter from 12-1 p.m. EST, using the hashtag #CClivechat. This weekly Friday chat began in February, hosted by @Vidocq_CC and @ColdCaseSquad. My Twitter username is @katcop13.

I started a thread of discussion concerning the recent discovery of a 5th body on Gilgo Beach. When a K-9 officer searched Gilgo Beach in December for missing person Shannan Gilbert, he found remains -- and additional searching turned up three more bodies -- but none turned out to be Shannan. The latest body was located about a mile away. The police will now expand the search to reach approximately 7.5 miles.

The fifth body has also turned out not to be Shannan. This piece of information was revealed to us during the tweet chat from @ColdCaseSquad. The most recent update can be read here.

Anyone with information about the victims found at Gilgo Beach or the whereabouts of Shannan Gilbert can anonymously contact the SCPD by leaving a tip here.

Richard Mark Case (@TrickyCase), a fingerprint expert from The Fingerprint Society in the U.K., joined in the first half of the chat to answer questions. We learned that fingerprints would be too difficult to lift from building materials due to its coarseness, but there's a chance a finger/palmprint can be left in wet cement. The discussion continued concerning several other sources from which a print can or can't be lifted -- even skin!

Richard believes the best opportunity for prints in the Heath case would be the garbage bags.

The lively chat included questions and comments about DNA, fabric, vacuum metal deposition, and several other topics.

Another thread I began had to do with the recent request by the FBI for assistance in cracking a code in a 1999 case. Turns out this particular case stems from St. Louis ~ @bluedog89's neck of the woods, and we learned that @LilacLounge is interested in cryptography. These chats are always fascinating.

Thanks to @TrickyCase @ColdCaseSquad @LilacLounge @oceanbluepress and @bluedog89 for participating in today's chat ~ and I am grateful to @jamesatkinspics @UCsci @nancyjparra @DiscoveryID for their RTs.

You can read a transcript on either Tweetdoc.org or SearchHash (I tried fitting one of them onto this blog post, but was unsuccessful).

I look forward to participating in many more Cold Case Live Chats ~ hope to see you there.

War Story Wednesday: Cops by Mark Baker

2011-03-30T01:05:00.001-04:00

Cops: Their Lives in Their Own Words by Mark Baker is a book of police war stories, first published in 1985. The stories are wild. Police work has changed quite a bit since then, but it remains an eye-opening collection.

Here's a 2002 review which captures the content quite well.

A preview is available online via Google Books.

Page 28 contains a harrowing story of a rookie handling an accident with multiple fatalities; a warning, however: the tragedy involves young children. It certainly predates mandatory infant car seats and seatbelt laws, although in this head-on collision, a seat belt might not have saved anyone. It's a shocker.

The cover contains a blurb from Elmore Leonard: "As authentic as you can get...that's the way it is."

If you have any war stories you'd like to share, post them in the comments section, or write your own blog post and send the link ~ I'll update this page. If you're interested in writing a guest post here on War Story Wednesday, give me a shout @ katcop13 at gmail dot com.

Cold Case Twitter Chats

2011-03-18T13:36:00.001-04:00

Another cold case Twitter chat just ended ~ and it was fabulous!

Chats are hosted by @Vidocq_CC (of "Defrosting Cold Cases" blog) and @ColdCaseSquad ("The Cold Case Squad" blog) on Fridays, between 12 noon - 1 p.m. EST. They began on February 25; this was our fourth chat.

This is a wonderful opportunity for cold case bloggers, cops, media, the families of victims, lawyers, and many other like-minded folks to converse. It's beneficial to writers, also, who can pose questions.

The hope we have for cold cases is that someone with information becomes willing to come forward. The incentive varies, of course, but a person may be persuaded to come forward if certain relationships change; it might be for reward money; a promise of anonymity; the person has matured or his/her conscience is getting the better of him/her. It might very well be to simply "do the right thing." If a shift in a relationship occurs -- which might include divorce, death, a break-up, a renewed friendship -- police usually benefit when it comes to solving cold cases. It is important to keep the dialogue open. The families of the victims should know that the police don't forget; the memory of their loved ones live on as we promote awareness of his/her case.

The hashtag is #cclivechat (short for cold case live chat). If you're not familiar with Tweetchat.com, now's the perfect time to get to know it. You enter a hashtag, and it's the only Twitter stream you see -- and another bonus, it automatically adds the hashtag for you ~ no need to retype it!

@Vidocq_CC has been recapping the chats if you'd like to scroll through the old ones.

Joe Giacalone has recently published The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators. I ordered a Kindle edition through Amazon for my Mac, and I'm enjoying it tremendously.

If I'm near a computer at 12 noon EST on Fridays, I will join in. Hope to see you there -- and bring questions or certain cases you'd like to discuss.

War Story Wednesday: The Battery

2011-03-16T08:36:00.000-04:00

"The Battery"

One of my co-workers, a car buff who enjoyed restoring vehicles, banged in [cop talk for calling in sick] because he dropped a battery on his foot. (To appreciate this story, you should know that he was a bit of a whiner.)

Upon hearing this, my salty supervisor said,

"It was probably a double A."

Got a war story to share? Enter it in the comments, or send me a link to your post and I'll update this page.

Monkeybicycle at The Cake Shop in NYC

2011-03-15T13:34:00.001-04:00

On Wednesday, March 16, I will proudly participate in the Monkeybicycle Lightning Round! Reading Series, along with 19 other writers. This free event will be held at The Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow Street (between Stanton and Rivington - J, M, Z or F trains to Delancey) New York City, from 7-9 p.m.

The reading series, as described by Monkeybicycle:

This new quarterly reading series fuses quick, high energy readings with a broad range of voices--both established and emerging--into a seamless hour of literary brilliance. Each event will feature 20 readers, each of whom will read no longer than three minutes before introducing the next reader. No interruption from the host means a continuous listening experience. No guidelines other than length means maximum variety of form and content. Monkeybicycle's Lightning Round!Reading Series: a cure for the common reading.

Featuring: Paula Bomer, Vince Czyz, Scott Geiger, Jeff Grentharer, Michael Hickins, Suzanne Marie Hopcroft, Blake Kimzey, Lincoln Michel, David Moscovich, Dustin Luke Nelson,Steve Peacock, Edwin Rivera, Kathleen A. Ryan, Andrew James Weatherhead, and Katie Wudel, plus others.

This event will double as the launch party to celebrate Monkeybicycle's eighth print issue.

Check out "Point Pleasant Poet Performs in New York City" on BoroIndependent.com, about one of the readers, Steve Peacock. The NY Daily News lists it on their event calendar, as does Slice Magazine.

I'd like to thank Monkeybicycle editors Steven Seighman and Shya Scanlon for this amazing opportunity.
Hope to see you there!

War Story Wednesday: Halloween Tragedy

2011-03-09T11:45:00.011-05:00

My first night in the Public Information Bureau (a unit located at the front desk of Headquarters; liaison between the department and the media, among many other functions) was October 31, 1989. Even if it hadn't been Halloween night, I would always remember my first tour after transferring from patrol.

This four-to-twelve tour remains memorable for two particular reasons.

It rained something awful -- which cut down on the 911 calls as far the "usual" Halloween pranks, such as egg-throwing, shaving cream spraying, and toilet-papering. I was answering the media phone calls, which was every hour on the hour as they prepared their Halloween stories for the evening news and the following day's papers. The officers training me that night said I should respond, "Nothing's going on" when asked by reporters, since nothing was going on. One particular reporter kept pushing, though. After he asked several times, I said something like "the weather must be doing it in" as the reason for such a quiet Halloween night.

It appeared in the paper the next day. I learned my very first lesson in PIB (although Public Info is widely known in agencies as PIO, Public Information Office or Officer): whatever I say better be printable. I certainly would have said something more intelligent had I known he was going to QUOTE me. Can you imagine, I actually expected the reporter to warn me? (Lesson #2).

Back to Halloween night:

Anyway, before the tour was over, something DID happen.

I responded with Officer Randy Jaret to my first scene while assigned to PIB -- and it was tragic.

I listened as Randy gave interviews to reporters near the train tracks in Shirley as we all stood in the rain with our umbrellas.

When the railroad crossing gate had lowered, a 20-year-old male driver stopped to wait for the train to pass.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old driver, speeding on the wet pavement, couldn't stop his car in time. He plowed into the back of that waiting car and pushed it right into the path of the oncoming train.

The driver of the crushed vehicle was injured, but survived.

His passenger, however, was killed.

His 61-year-old mother.

Tuesday Twosome

2011-03-08T10:54:00.006-05:00

It's time for "Tuesday Twosome" at Women of Mystery.

If you're game, post two sentences you've read recently, and two that you've written, and notify Clare, my blogmate at Women of Mystery. She'll update her post to include a link to yours -- or you can join in here, if you like!

Or, simply add it in the comments.

Two from "The Story of the Stabbing" by Joyce Carol Oates, from The Dark End of the Street: New Stories of Sex and Crime by Today's Top Authors, edited by Jonathan Santlofer and S. J. Rozan:

Rhonda knew better than to draw attention to herself, however -- though Daddy loved his sweet little pretty girl Daddy could be harsh and hurtful if Daddy was displeased with his sweet little pretty girl so Rhonda fixed for herself a very thick sandwich of Swedish rye crisp crackers and French goat cheese to devour in a corner of the room looking out onto a bleak rain-streaked street not wanting to think how Daddy knew, yes Daddy knew but did not care.

That was the terrible fact about Daddy -- he knew, and did not care.

***

Two from my WIP, a true crime memoir:

When I tell the Reach to Recovery volunteer from the American Cancer Society that we intend to talk with our children about my breast cancer, she suggests discussing the subject of death, for this particular reason: if a child tells a classmate that his or her mom has breast cancer, the classmate may reply: "My mom had it, too, but she died."

Her point is well-taken; one of my son's first-grade classmates had already lost her mother to breast cancer -- and three years from now, the disease will claim yet another classmate's mother.

***

Fallen Officer: P.O. John Falcone: Update

2011-03-03T11:49:00.007-05:00

I recently posted about fallen officer John Falcone of the Poughkeepsie City PD -- the hero cop who saved a three year old child before making the ultimate sacrifice. I just read a beautiful tribute post on www.policeone.com, "Mourning Our Slain LEOs" by Terrence P. Dwyer, a retired 22-year-veteran of the New York State Police. His post reminded me of standing alongside thousands of brother and sister officers at the funeral of P.O. Glen Ciano in February 2009. I had the privilege of working with Glen in the Second Precinct in Huntington for several years.

In Dwyer's post, I learned that Officer Falcone was posthumously promoted to Detective and awarded a department Medal of Honor. According to Stephen, who blogs at EMT to Physican Assistant, it was the first time ever in the history of the Poughkeepsie City PD a Medal of Honor was bestowed.

This information warranted a new post and a tremendous "thank you" to Detective Falcone for his service and sacrifice on this "Thank-a-Cop-Thursday," that is celebrated on Twitter each Thursday. I am so grateful that the Poughkeepsie City PD honored Detective Falcone in this appropriate manner.

Thanks also to retired officer Terrence P. Dwyer, for his years of service, and for this graceful post honoring our slain LEOs. Thirty-two officers have died in the line of duty in the U.S. in 2011 so far -- that's thirty-two too many. I pray there will be no more.

Read more on the origin of "Thank-a-Cop-Thursday." On Twitter, use the hashtag: #tacop.

On Twitter, follow @PoliceOne and Stephen @emttopa.

Image source: EMT to Physician Assistant

Two Sentence Tuesday

2011-03-01T08:32:00.005-05:00

Today is Two Sentence Tuesday at Women of Mystery -- if you're unfamiliar with this weekly event, here's how it works: Either on your own blog or in the comment section at WoM, post two sentences you've read, and two sentences you've written. It's that easy!

Two from the 2010 Best Mystery Novel Macavity Award winner, TOWER by Ken Bruen and Reed Farrel Coleman:

Grayness burned away by the sun like a match through dark acetate. Still cold as an icehouse, but to feel the sun on my face was redemption, if only temporary.

Two from my true crime memoir, A Perfect Night for Murder -- still a W-I-P!

Throughout dozens of interviews, a single thread pierced the fabric of every conversation concerning communication between family members, spouses, children, friends, and neighbors of the historic harbor enclave in the 1950s: residents simply avoided talking about unpleasant or uncomfortable things — as if they didn’t exist.

I also learned that infidelity, spousal and child abuse, and alcoholism was rampant; these painful experiences created silent suffering for its victims.

Join us ~ share 2 + 2, this and every Tuesday. If you've been been meaning to write, this gives you a great excuse to get to it -- at the very least, two sentences -- and you never know where that might lead!

"A Scarry Night" Flash Fiction Challenge

2011-02-28T04:31:00.012-05:00

Welcome to "A Scarry Night" Flash Fiction Challenge posed by Patti Abbott. Recently, Patti overheard a conversation between a man and a woman. The woman said, "I really don't mind the scars." This became the inspiration behind this Flash Fiction Challenge -- to use that particular line in a story of 800 words or less.

For more entries, visit Patti's blog. Be sure to stop by Women of Mystery, where my blogmate, Anita Page, will post her entry in this flash fiction challenge.

"Beholden"

He noticed the attractive twenty-something cashier the moment he walked into the store. She had long, curly brown hair and wore a red sweater that fit just perfectly. He pretended to look at the DVDs; but when their eyes met briefly, she blushed.

Another cashier relieved the pretty one.

She walked towards him. “Can I help you?”

"I’m trying to decide between Taken and Ransom."

"If you're into a kidnapping drama, I’d recommend Fargo, or possibly Raising Arizona -- an earlier work by the Coen brothers with a lot of laughs.”

“Thanks for the suggestions, uh, Karen,” he said, nodding towards her name tag. “I’ll keep them in mind. My name’s Kevin, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you, Kevin.”

He smiled. “I know it’s a bit forward, but are you getting a break any time soon? Maybe we can have a bite to eat at the food court?”

“I’m about to take a lunch break, and I guess I wouldn’t mind the company.”

Karen told the store manager she was taking her lunch break.

They chose pizza and Cokes. Kevin treated.

They chatted, mainly about movies and music. He caught Karen staring at the scars on his muscled forearm.

He rubbed his arm. “This happened when I was little. I yanked on the cord of a steam vaporizer in my room, and the scalding water fell on my arm and chest.”

“I’m so sorry. It must have been devastating. How frightening.”

“I spent a few weeks in the burn unit, and I don’t remember most of it. I really don’t mind the scars. I’m lucky I survived.”

Karen glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to get back. Thanks for the pizza and the company.”

“I’d like to walk you back — I gotta hit the men’s room first. Can you wait?”

“No problem."

As he headed towards the restrooms, Karen dumped the garbage and returned the tray.

Two females grabbed her. One held her arms back as the other took a straight edge to Karen’s face. She screamed and instinctively held her face as it spurted blood. The assailants took off in different directions.

People were yelling, “Call 911!” Some were crying, running away with their children in tow.

First aid responders tended to her quickly. One cop issued an APB over his radio with a description of the suspects. Another cop was passing out paper and pens to the witnesses, asking them to write their names, phone numbers, and a brief description of the attackers. They were instructed not to compare notes with anyone, and would eventually meet with detectives to give formal statements.

Upon his return, Kevin witnessed the commotion. He scanned the crowd, searching for Karen. He waded through the onlookers, panicking when he didn’t see Karen. He made it near the table where they sat, but crime scene tape was already up.

He saw the victim with curly brown hair, wearing a red sweater, lying on the ground, covered in blood.

“What happened here?" Kevin said to a stunned gawker.

“She was attacked by two females with a straight razor. I overheard the cops say this has gang-initiation written all over it -- they said something about the victim wearing red. They're asking anyone with information to write down their name, contact number, and a description of the suspects."

Kevin took a pen and a sheet of paper. He started scribbling.

He walked toward the vestibule near the pay phones. He placed a call on his cell.

When Primo answered, Kevin blasted him. “What the hell happened? You told me to bring her to the food court. I did. This beautiful girl is now disfigured — if she doesn’t bleed to death first!”

“I really don't mind the scars. She earned them when she broke up with me. Look, the deed’s done. You held up your end of the bargain. You can have your sister back. She’ll be dumped on the south side entrance of the mall, unharmed.”

She’d better be, he thought.

“Get the hell out of there, Peter,” he said. “I hope you didn’t use your real name.”

“Give me some credit. My sister better not have one scratch on her.”

“Not to worry. She’s fine.”

Before leaving, Peter slipped a folded paper to a cop. “Can you pass this along to the detectives? It may be useful to them.”

It contained the full name, description, address, and cell phone number of the man who kidnapped his sister and set up Karen’s assault.

***

An Evening with Hint Fiction

2011-02-27T10:32:00.004-05:00

Tonight I will participate with fellow contributors of Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer, and our editor, Robert Swartwood, in a reading at the KGB bar in New York City.

An Evening with Hint Fiction, which is part of the KGB Bar Sunday Night Fiction program, runs from 7-9 p.m. According to the KGB Bar web site, this program "showcases the finest in contemporary fiction from new and emerging writers."

Joining me tonight, the guests slated to read include: Jennifer Alandy, Randall Brown, Frank Byrns, Tara Deal, Bruce Harris, Donora Hillard, Jack Ketchum, Minter Krotzer, Jason Rice, Samuel Rippey, and Robert Swartwood.

If you're in the vicinity of the KGB Bar, 85 E. Fourth Street, NYC, at 7 p.m. ~ stop in!

Before the event begins, we may be gathering at Dempsey's Pub, 61 2nd Avenue, between 3rd & 4th Street.

100 Years Later, 6 Victims of Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Identified

2011-02-20T23:05:00.008-05:00

Joseph Berger of The New York Times reports that six previously unidentified victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 have finally been identified, thanks to the perseverance of amateur genealogist and historian, Michael Hirsch.

The factory fire at Washington Place and Greene Street that occurred on March 25, 1911, claimed the lives of 146 persons (129 women, 17 men).

Twenty-three families sued the two owners and were eventually paid $75 each. The owners were acquitted of any wrongdoing.

A centennial commemoration of the fire at the Greenwich Village building will be held on Friday, March 25, 2011, from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. which will include a reading of the victims' names -- which is now complete. At 4:45 p.m. (the time of the fire), a bell vigil will take place; 146 bells will ring, one for each victim, as visitors meditate on the lives lost. They are requesting churches, fire departments and the public to join in a pealing of bells.

Mr. Hirsch was hired by HBO as a co-producer for the upcoming "Triangle: Remembering the Fire." The documentary will debut on March 21, 2011. See the viewing schedule here. (On Twitter, you can follow @HBODocs or like their page on Facebook.)

Cornell University has assembled a comprehensive web site on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

A list of events honoring the 100th anniversary can be found at "Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition." Like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @trianglefire.

Visit wnyc.org to hear one of the survivors speak (1986), and see photos.

On March 25th every year, volunteers fan out across the city to chalk the sidewalk with the names of the victims in front of their former homes.

Ten years ago tomorrow -- on February 22, the last survivor of the fire, Rose (Rosenfeld) Friedman, passed away at age 107. Read her incredible story here -- and how she survived by following company executives to the roof. She became a lifelong crusader for worker safety.

TRIANGLE: Remembering the Fire from Blowback Productions on Vimeo.

Fallen Officer: P.O. John Falcone

2011-02-19T18:12:00.006-05:00

An 18-year veteran of the Poughkeepsie City Police Department made the ultimate sacrifice when responding to "shots fired" call on Lower Main Street near the Poughkeepsie Train Station on Friday, February 18, 2011.

Officer John Falcone, age 44, came upon 27-year-old Lee Welch of Catskill, holding a three-year-old girl and waving a gun. Officer Falcone was most likely unaware that Welch had already shot his 28-year-old wife, Jessica, inside a vehicle in a nearby parking lot. Jessica succumbed to her wounds by the time she was taken to the Vassar Brothers Hospital.

Welch fled with the child, with Officer Falcone in pursuit. The officer caught up with him, pulled the child from Welch, and passed her off to the safety of a nearby civilian. Along with fellow officers, Falcone continued to pursue Welch, and they exchanged gunfire. It is believed, however, that Welch turned his gun on himself after shooting Officer Falcone. Officer Falcone underwent surgery, but succumbed to his injuries.

Lee Welch had been arrested for domestic incidents several times in January. The couple recently separated. News reports have identified the child as the couple's daughter; they have two other children. After their recent separation, they were meeting near the train station so that Jessica could take possession of the car.

Officer John Falcone, a true hero, is the 27th officer to die in the line of duty in the United States in 2011. He is survived by his parents. He was the third officer to die in the line of duty in Poughkeepsie City, the last one occurring in 1969, and before that, in 1916.

On Twitter, updates have been posted to #pjshooting. A press conference is slated for Sunday morning at 10 a.m.

Photos from the incident can be found at The Poughkeepsie Journal. A photo of the bunting displayed at the Poughkeepsie City PD was taken by YNNHudsonValley and shared on Twitpic.

For more information on Domestic Violence, or how to get help, visit The National Domestic Violence Hotline.

A Twist of Noir

2011-02-16T00:18:00.004-05:00

I am thrilled to have a new story up at "A Twist of Noir," Christopher Grant's terrific site for noir stories. Last August, Christopher offered a "600 to 700" challenge: to write a story to correspond with a specific word count between 600 and 700 words (story 600 would have 600 words, story 601 would have 601 words, etc.). I immediately got to work on my story ~ which I had started as a 250 word story for a "String of Ten" contest at Flash Fiction Chronicles a year ago. It placed as a finalist, but the story was never posted; it is only mentioned by title and my name. I transformed the story from the original, and I worked on it for months to prepare it for A Twist of Noir.

My story, "Heat of Passion" is #661 and was posted Monday ~ a nice Valentine's Day gift! I am thrilled and honored to have a story posted alongside such talented writers whose work graces A Twist of Noir. I'm grateful to Christopher for this opportunity.

Last April, my story, "Victims of the Night," which won a Flash Fiction Award from the Public Safety Writers Association in June 2010, was posted on A Twist of Noir.

Stop by if you have a chance ~ I'd love to hear your thoughts.

You may want to check out Porter Wagoner's song, "The Cold Hard Facts of Life," before you venture over; I included it in my story, and I was shocked the first time I listened to it.

Love Quotes from Authors

2011-02-14T14:06:00.009-05:00

For Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share a web site called Yuni.com that's packed with words of wisdom, quotes, short stories, and much more. I chose some of my favorite "love quotes" from authors on their "Romantic Love Quotes" page.

"To get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with." - Mark Twain (1835-1910) [Samuel Clemens] American Author, Humorist

"True love begins when nothing is looked for in return." - Antoine De Saint-Exupery (1900-1944) French Aviator, Writer

"I love thee, I love but thee With a love that shall not die Till the sun grows cold And the stars grow old." - William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English Poet, Playwright, Actor

"Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it." - Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Clergyman, Author

"Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold." - Zelda Fitzgerald (1900-1948) American Writer

"Who, being loved, is poor?" - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Irish Author, Poet, Wit, Dramatist

"Love looks through a telescope; envy through a microscope." - Josh Billings (1818-1885) [Henry Wheeler Shaw] American Humorist

"Grow old with me! The best is yet to be." - Robert Browning (1812-1889) English Poet

"'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." - Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-1883) English Poet Laureate

"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity." - Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933) American Clergyman, Writer

"Life is a flower of which love is the honey." - Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French Author, Lyric Poet, Dramatist

"To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others." - Francois Mauriac (1885-1970) French Novelist, Essayist, Poet, Playwright

How about you ~ do you have a favorite love quote?

Happy Valentine's Day!

War Story Wednesday: "A Breeding Ground..."

2011-02-09T10:31:00.004-05:00

While working in Public Information, my partner received an telephone inquiry from a gentleman who lived in California. He and his wife were considering a move to a particular town (that shall remain nameless) in Suffolk County.

As police officers, we have to tread carefully when answering questions of this nature. There are ways to answer truthfully and diplomatically.

My partner chose to give him a direct, blunt reply.

"It's a breeding ground for criminals," he said.

The caller promptly notified his real estate agent, who in turn responded forthwith to her county legislator's office, who called the Police Commissioner.

My partner got in trouble.

Years later, that particular legislator resigned from his post when he pleaded guilty to bribe receiving in office. He worked out a deal, however, by working with the District Attorney's Office on a dozen other public corruption cases. Three years later, he served six months in jail, after pleading guilty to bribe receiving and scheming to defraud. Thirty-three other charges were dropped.

Fallen Officer: P.O. Michael J. Califano

2011-02-05T16:21:00.006-05:00

I am heartbroken to learn of the death of an officer in my neighboring police agency, the Nassau County Police Department. Michael J. Califano, age 44, a 12-year-veteran, had pulled over a box truck on the Long Island Expressway, shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday, February 4, 2011, for insufficient lighting. While writing a summons in the patrol car, a flatbed tow truck driver plowed into the police vehicle, pushing it under the box truck, but also landing on top of Califano's car. It took rescue workers 30 minutes to free him.

He was taken to Nassau University Medical Center, where Officer Califano died from his injuries.

John Kaley, age 25, of New Britain, Connecticut, was arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide, assault, and failing to move over for an emergency vehicle. New York became the 48th state to enact the "Move Over" law, which took effect in 2011.

The occupants of the box truck and a passenger in the flatbed suffered injuries and were treated at the hospital.

Officer Califano is the 19th officer to be killed in the line of duty in the United States in 2011.

He leaves behind a wife, Jacqueline, and three sons: Michael, Christopher, and Andrew.

May he rest in peace.

UPDATE: Michael Puccio, a friend of Officer Califano's, sent me a tribute video he created on You Tube in memory of Officer Michael Califano.

War Story Wednesday: "Shots Fired" by Wayne Zurl

2011-02-02T00:37:00.006-05:00

I am truly honored to welcome a fellow retiree of the Suffolk County Police Department (and fellow writer), Wayne Zurl, to War Story Wednesday. He and his wife, Barbara, live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. Wayne's mystery/detective novel, A New Prospect (cover, below) was recently released by Black Rose Books. You can find Wayne on Facebook and Twitter. Wayne recently conducted an interview over at A Moment With Mystee, in which he was asked some intriguing questions, and he provided fascinating answers.

Today, Wayne takes us back on patrol with him in 1974 with "Shots Fired." I know you'll enjoy it!

If you would like to share a war story, either enter it in the comments below, or provide a link to your blog and I'll update this page. Or, if you have a war story you'd like to submit for War Story Wednesday, contact me at katcop13 (at) gmail (dot) com. Thanks!

Shots Fired

by Wayne Zurl

I hated the place at first sight; a narrow enclosed stairway with a slight dog-leg to the right obscuring a door at the top. A bare forty-watt bulb hung above the landing, casting an eerie light over the scene. Once we started up the steps we were in a tunnel—sitting ducks. I looked at Louie. He looked at me. I shrugged.

“You’re the one high on the sergeant’s list,” he said. “I’ll follow you, my leader.”

“Nothing like an ambitious partner to make you feel secure,” I said.

He grinned and I pushed the safety on the Remington pump shotgun to the left. A round of magnum double-O buckshot already sat in the chamber. Louie drew his Colt Trooper and we started up the stairs.

* * *

Ten minutes earlier we sat in a dark spot on the eight-hundred block of Taylor Avenue. A 5th Squad detective told me about a new felony warrant for a burglar named Glenwood Orange. Most everyone called him Pee-Wee. He weighed a hundred-and-ten-pounds soaking wet.

Pee-Wee wasn’t good at hefting TVs or stereo sets, but being skinny enough to fit through the smallest window, he excelled at stealing cash, guns, and small valuable antiques. He really knew his antiques.

We waited across the street from his mother’s house, watching. Sooner or later Pee-Wee would show up. He always did.

Then the dispatcher interrupted our meaningful work.

“Unit five-oh-three, five-zero-three, handle a 10-17, possible gunshot, upstairs, 752 Bellport Avenue, off Brookhaven. Complainant Mayo is in the first floor apartment.

“10-4, headquarters,” Lou said, as I hit the gas and steered our big blue and white Plymouth away from the curb. “We have back-up?”

“Negative, five-oh-three, closest car is on the other end of the precinct.”

“10-4, headquarters,” he said, and then turned to me. “Saturday night and everybody but us looks for a DWI. We end up with a gun call and nobody’s around when you need them.”

“That’s why we get the big bucks, partner.”

“Shit.”

I made a left on Brookhaven Avenue and switched on the flashing red lights. It was a short fast drive along a main drag. When I crossed Station Road, the primary north-south route between North Bellport and another classy community called Eagle Estates, I killed the lights and slowed down, coasting up near the address the dispatcher gave us. Evil Estates, as the cops called it, occupied a piece of another precinct—someone else’s headache.

Number 752 on Bellport Avenue was a ramshackle two-and-a-half story Victorian; senior member on a block littered with post-war cracker boxes built on fifty-by-a-hundred postage-stamp lots. They all looked like they had seen better days and were long overdue for their twenty year reunion with a paint brush.

The night was damp and the autumn air felt cool on my face. Everything around us looked as dark as an abandoned cemetery. Unknown vandals shot out the corner street light earlier that week. A crescent moon cast only a ghostly glow from behind some high cloud cover.

We walked up to the front door of the complainant’s house, keeping an eye on the upstairs entrance and an ear open for anything we could hear.

A wizened old party named Sefus Mayo answered the door. He was the owner and landlord of the place and a common fixture in the neighborhood for decades. In a hushed conversation, he told us he thought he heard a shot fired in the upstairs apartment.

“Why do you think it was a shot, Mr. Mayo?” I asked. “Why not a car backfire outside or some other noise?”

He spoke in clipped, staccato sentences, with an accent I took to be South Carolina, mixed with too many years in New York.

“Cause I knows what a shot sounds like. I heard a damn shot, son. A .22 mebbe, nuthin’ big. Saturday-night-special be my guess.” He finished that thought with a quick and decisive nod to punctuate his last statement.

A large gray-haired woman in a house dress sat on the couch inside the living room watching television. I heard the theme from The Rockford Files.

I took his date of birth for my field report and his pass key to open the downstairs door to the upstairs apartment. I told him to stay inside and if he heard any more gunfire to call 9-1-1 again. It was 1974, before the days of miniature portable radios and cell phones. We relied a lot on good citizens to do the right thing.

Lou and I walked quietly to the door and slipped the dead-bolt. I winced as the hinges creaked. I remembered my mother listening to a radio show called Inner Sanctum. The sound of a creaking door began that program every week.

We looked up at the dim fly-specked light bulb at the top of the stairs. What I presumed to be Caribbean music came from inside the apartment, not overly loud, but audible from the ground floor.

We began our slow ascent, hoping the door remained closed until we reached the top. We walked softly, but the old boards groaned beneath our steps. I felt prickles go up my spine.

It was October 14th. Two weeks earlier we had gone back to long-sleeved shirts and put on our ties. The tight collar annoyed me. I reached the half-way point up the stairs and I felt like I needed a drink.

At the top of the staircase we looked at each other again. Lou nodded. He stood ready at my back. I slapped the door four times.

“County police, open the door!”

Nothing. The music played on. I knocked again.

What sounded like a small caliber handgun popped behind the door.

Lou said, “Son of a bitch!”

I braced myself and hit the door with my shoulder. The frame cracked; the door swung inward.

Six people with chairs drawn in close, sat around a cocktail table. One man held a two-dollar bottle of champagne tightly around its neck. His smile of only moments ago turned to a look of fear. Everyone froze with their glasses held over the center of the table.

Oops!

***

My Chat with Author M.M. Gornell

2011-01-31T08:54:00.009-05:00

I'd like to thank M.M. Gornell, the award-winning California author for inviting me to chat with her today on her blog. I had the pleasure of meeting Madeline at the Public Safety Writers Conference in Las Vegas in 2009 and 2010 (Photographer Sherman Lee caught us chatting at the 2009 conference - see photo below). BTW, the 2011 PSWA conference is scheduled at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, July 14-17. There's a break on the cost if you register before March 31.

If you're not familiar with PSWA, here's some background info, as found on their website:

Founded in 1997 as the Police Writers Club, the Public Safety Writers Association is open to both new and experienced, published and not yet published writers. Members include police officers, civilian police personnel, firefighters, fire support personnel, emergency personnel, security personnel and others in the public safety field. Also represented are those who write about public safety including mystery writers, magazine writers, journalists and those who are simply interested in the genre. The association also welcomes publishers, editors, agents and others who help writers realize their writing goals.

Authors M.M. Gornell & Kathleen A. Ryan, Las Vegas, 2009

photo taken by Sherman Lee

If you have a moment, please stop by and visit and say hello to Madeline. She's the author of Uncle Si's Secret, Death of a Perfect Man, and Reticence of Ravens, published by Aberdeen Bay. You can also find Madeline, (a member of Sisters in Crime in L.A. and Nevada, and the California Writers Club) on Facebook. You can read more about Madeline in The Examiner, in a lovely "Spotlight" interview with Morgan St. James.

Serial Killer Indicted in Cold-Case Murders

2011-01-27T15:07:00.008-05:00

A serial killer on death row in California for the murder of a 12-year-old girl and four other women, incarcerated since 1980, has been indicted for the murder of two New York women: Cornelia Michel Crilley in 1971 and Ellen Jane Hover in 1978. Both women were 23 years old at the time of their deaths.

In a creepy twist, the suspect, 67-year-old Rodney Alcala (photo, above, via the New York Post) had appeared as a contestant on The Dating Game in the late '70s ~ and he won. However, the woman ultimately decided not to go on a date with him ~ she found him "too creepy," according to New York magazine. At the time he appeared on the show, he had already committed two murders.

Alcala, a photographer, used an alias of John Berger when he lived in New York, according to the New York Times article by Mo si Secret. The New York Daily News indicates that Alcala studied film with Roman Polanski and had a genius IQ.

The New York Daily News has a collection of 215 photos taken by Alcala in the '7os, in which NYPD is looking for clues from the public. Anyone with information about the photos is asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS.

On this Thank-a-cop-Thursday (#tacop on Twitter), I'd like to thank the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and his cold case squad who didn't give up on the murders of Ellen Jane Hover and Cornelia Michel Crilley. Thanks to Detectives Wendell Stradford, Robert Dewhurst, and (retired) Stefano Braccini for their efforts.

War Story Wednesday: ID Blunder

2011-01-26T09:44:00.007-05:00

Welcome to War Story Wednesday, when I share a story from my days on the job, or share someone else's war story. I'd love to hear your war stories, so please feel free to participate in the comment section, or write a blog post and provide a link here, and I'll revise my post to include your link.

This story comes from a P.A. (Physician Assistant) who worked in the M.E.'s office.

A victim was found in the back seat of a car. He had been shot in the chest, the gun pressed right against his chest when it fired. In order to prevent the identification of the victim, the bad guy(s) cut off the victim's head and hands.

They failed to check his pockets, where the victim's wallet contained his identification.

Mystery Monday: Who Killed Sir Harry Oakes?

2011-01-23T23:21:00.010-05:00

This past fall, I watched the outstanding HBO series, Boardwalk Empire. Last week, I saw the brilliant movie, The King's Speech. The two stories remind me of the unsolved murder of Sir Harry Oakes.

Let me explain.

The series, directed by Martin Scorcese, is based upon the 2002 book, Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, by Nelson Johnson. Among the many characters portrayed in the Prohibition-era series is Lucky Luciano (photo below) who was instrumental in creating the American Mafia.

The King's Speech, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, is the amazing story of King George VI (who took over after his brother, Edward, abdicated the throne in order to marry the twice-divorced Mrs. Wallis Simpson), and the difficulty he faced as a stutterer.

Harry Oakes was born in 1874 in Sangerville, Maine. He attended Syracuse Medical School, but gave it up to pursue a gold rush in the Klondike. At 23, he ventured to the Klondike; he was shipwrecked off the Alaskan coast, was taken prisoner by Russians, he sailed to Australia, New Zealand and California. He nearly froze to death in Alaska. When he made his way to Kirkland Lake, Ontario, he discovered gold underneath the lake. His Lake Shore Mines earned him about $60,000 a day.

He was soon the richest man in Canada. He married Eunice MacIntyre, and for tax reasons, they settled on the island of Nassau in the Bahamas. Oakes was named a baronet by King George VI in 1939.

When Oakes' family was vacationing in their summer house in Bar Harbor, Maine, in July 1943, Oakes was murdered in the Bahamas on July 7 in his bedroom. A fire had been set in the bedroom. His body was discovered by Sir Harold Christie, a close family friend.

Oakes' son-in-law, Count Alfred de Marigny, became a suspect. He was disliked by Oakes and the society members of Nassau. The other notable figures on the island included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (Edward and Wallis).

The investigative work on the case was poor. Marigny's trial began in October 1943 and when the case went to the jury, he was acquitted in less than 2 hours. Marigny later accused Christie of the murder. There were rumors that Mob boss Meyer Lansky was behind the murder because of Oakes' opposition to build casinos. It was believed to be Lucky Luciano's idea to build casinos on the island, and figured between the connections with Christie and the Duke of Windsor, he'd have the means to do it; only Oakes wasn't interested.

The murder of Sir Harry Oakes remains unsolved.

Steve Buscemi, one of my favorite actors (and fellow Long Island native), won a Golden Globe for his performance in Boardwalk Empire. HBO recently began airing an encore presentation of the series. If you have HBO and missed it this fall, catch it now!

James Ellroy's LA: City of Demons

2011-01-17T02:44:00.005-05:00

One of Hollywood's notorious unsolved murders, that of Elizabeth Short, whom the papers dubbed "The Black Dahlia," is featured in the first episode of Investigation Discovery's new six-part series, "James Ellroy's LA: City of Demons," which premieres this Wednesday, January 19, at 10 p.m. ET.

Short's body was discovered on January 15, 1947.

Ellroy is the best-selling crime writer of such novels as L.A. Confidential, Blood's a Rover, American Tabloid, and two memoirs, The Hilliker Curse and My Dark Places.

Ellroy is a larger-than-life character who was so emotionally wounded as a child when he secretly cursed his mother dead after an argument, and she turned up dead three months later. When his father gave him The Badge by Jack Webb, he was astonished after reading about the Black Dahlia. For him, the Black Dahlia was just like his mother -- and he became obsessed.

Wednesday's episode, "Dead Women Own Me," also features several other murders, including Ellroy's mother, Jean Hilliker (1958), 16 year old Stephanie Gorman (1965) and 17 year old Lily Burk (2009).

Ellroy is a lively host who enjoys alliteration. He also doesn't mince words. "Closure is nonsense," he insists. "Nothing this bad ever ends; murder is a powerfully perennial puzzle."

The show includes several interviews and a couple of scenes with "Barko," Ellroy's animated bull terrier sidekick.

Driver in Officer's Death Sentenced

2011-01-14T21:29:00.007-05:00

A 24-year-old Plainview man was sentenced to 1 1/3 - 4 years in prison for causing the 2009 crash that killed 45-year-old Suffolk County Police Officer Glen Ciano. Jose Borbon's blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit, and he was talking on a cell phone when he struck Officer Ciano's patrol car in Commack, Long Island, causing it to crash into a pole and burst into flames, trapping Officer Ciano in the car.

Glen was killed on 2/22/09, in his 22nd year on the job, and was the 22nd officer to die in the line of duty in Suffolk. Glen and his wife Susan, the parents of two children, would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last year.

Jose Borbon has been in jail, serving a one-year sentence on an unrelated DWI charge stemming from an arrest six weeks before killing Officer Ciano. Borbon worked out a plea deal on a charge of first-degree vehicular manslaughter; had he gone to trial, he might have faced up to ten years.

This article in the Huntington Patch includes emotional statements made by friends and family just before sentencing.

I had the privilege of working with Glen in the Second Precinct in the late 1980s and early 90s. He is dearly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.

Thank-a-Cop-Thursday: Robbery in Progress

2011-01-13T08:00:00.006-05:00

This video is awesome ~ for a rare and unusual moment caught on tape: a robbery in progress occurring right in front of a cop.

At 5:45 a.m. on December 16, 2010, Police Officer Joshua Campbell walked in to a Walgreen's in Dayton, Ohio, to pick up a surveillance video of a robbery that occurred at 2:15 a.m., involving the use of a firearm. He waits for the clerk to finish her transaction before approaching the counter. The customer, completely unaware that a police officer stands behind him, decides to pull a robbery. Officer Campbell notices the customer reaching over the counter to grab cash from the register. Officer Campbell draws his weapon and confronts him. The pair end up in a violent struggle, which can be seen on another video, which includes commentary by Officer Campbell.

Who says there's never a cop around when you need one? Thanks, Officer Campbell, for a job well done!

Don't forget ~ today is "Thank-a-Cop Thursday" on Twitter, using the hashtag #tacop.

War Story Wednesday: "Jail Mail'

2011-01-12T10:23:00.003-05:00

Over at Women of Mystery, I share a story about my experience as a gal Friday in the early 80s, corresponding with inmates, before joining the Suffolk County Police Department in 1986. Stop by if you have a chance.

As always, if you have a war story you'd like to share, feel free to do so in the comments below, or provide a link to your post and I'll update this post to include it.

Mystery Monday: The Murders of Nicole Simpson & Ron Goldman

2011-01-10T08:29:00.004-05:00

F. Lee Bailey has just released what he calls "new evidence" proving O.J. Simpson's innocence of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Bailey was one of Simpson's defense attorneys in the high-profile 1995 trial.

It is a 46-page document on his web site, entitled, "The Simpson Verdict." (photo source: Bailey and Elliott Consulting.)

I've always wondered, if O.J. didn't do it, who the heck did? (I know they brought up some nonsense about drug dealers, but it was laughable). On June 12, 1994, someone wanted to kill Nicole, and Ron was unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I watched most of the televised trial and of course the verdict. I couldn't believe it when one of the jurors, Brenda Moran, interviewed after the verdict, said, "This was a murder trial, not domestic abuse. If you want to get tried for domestic abuse, go in another courtroom and get tried for that." Moran told People magazine that the prosecution's suggestion that Simpson went from being an abusive spouse to a killer was "a waste of time."

What planet was she residing on?

According to the Silent Witness National Initiative, by the mid-1990's, at least fifteen hundred women each year were murder victims from domestic violence.

What do you think?

(O.J. currently sits in jail after being convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping, and assault charges in Las Vegas. In December 2008, Simpson was sentenced to at least 15 years in prison.)

War Story Wednesday - A Cold Winter's Night

2011-01-05T07:00:00.004-05:00

One freezing winter's night during a midnight tour in the late 80s, I was checking the churches in my sector, as there had been a spate of break-ins. Near the entrance of a church on Vernon Valley Road, I noticed a figure tugging on a locked door. I was surprised to see it was an elderly woman.

I lowered the passenger side window and summoned her. "Hop in ~ it's five degrees outside!"

She got in, and I asked her what she was doing, and if she had any ID. She was trying to find someplace warm, she said. She opened a small purse, which contained three unusual items: a checkbook register from 1969, a knee-hi stocking, and a spoon, but no ID. I requested her name and date of birth (DOB). I imagined some family worrying about their missing loved one, yet I hadn't heard any local notifications recently. I asked where she lived. She cryptically replied, "Near the water." I assumed that meant Northport. I found her in East Northport, which is actually south of Northport (that's another story). I asked if she knew the name of the street or her house number, but she did not.

I drove to the nearest Dunkin' Donuts (24 hour places were limited at the time), so I could use a pay phone (no cell phones, or computers in the patrol cars). I brought her to the counter, gave the clerk money to buy a warm drink and a snack for the lady while I used the phone. I called the precinct and asked a desk officer to run a missing person's check. She was not an active missing person, but her name appeared in the computer -- with a DOB 20 years older than what she provided. He supplied her address on Vernon Valley Road, not far from the church where I found her. We returned to the car. After mentioning her address, she seemed to recognize it. As I drove along Vernon Valley Road, I asked her if she could point out her house; she could not. I tried looking for house numbers where you'd expect them ~ on mailboxes, curbs, houses or garages ~ and several in a row displayed no house numbers (one of my pet peeves in patrol work).

I had delivered mail in the Northport area one summer while waiting to join the police academy, and I learned that strange house numbering is the norm on Long Island. (House number image: L.A. Times blogs.)

I chose a house that I estimated to be near the woman's address. It was still dark out when I woke an occupant at some ungodly hour.

"Who is it?" the groggy voice answered, without opening the door.

"It's the police. What's the number of your house?"

"Oh, yeah, we don't have our number on our house."

"I know. Sorry to wake you. I'm trying to locate the home of a woman who wandered away." I mentioned her name, but the resident didn't know her. I apologized and tried the next unnumbered home.

It was the wrong house, too. This woman knew her, though. "You know what it is, right?" she asked. I nodded as she said, "Alzheimer's." She explained that when the wandering woman and her husband, now deceased, had moved in 30 years ago, their house was facing a side road that didn't exist yet. That's why I had such difficulty finding the house. The lack of numbers on the surrounding houses didn't help.

She said that her wandering neighbor, who had no family except one relative in Europe, lived alone. A social services worker visited weekly, and the house was boarded up from the inside to prevent her from wandering. Sounded like a fire hazard to me.
She offered to take the woman home. When I said that she had claimed to live near the water, the neighbor said she was referring to Battery Park in New York City ~ where she lived as a young girl. (photo: www.common/wikimedia.org.)

When I retrieved the woman from my patrol car, the wanderer said to her neighbor, "How's Charlie?"

The neighbor gently replied, "Oh, he died ~ twelve years ago."

It was heartbreaking.
**********

According to ProjectLifesaver.org, experts estimate the people age 65 and older in the U.S. is projected to double by the year 2030. By age 72, 1 in 8 Americans will have Alzheimer's Disease. Project Lifesaver International was established in 1999, to help families find missing loved ones who wander because of Alzheimer's, Downs Syndrome, dementia, and autism. It's headquartered in Chesapeake, VA., and they work with law enforcement agencies in 1000 communities in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.

A reminder for the new year: if your house number (or the house number of your loved one) isn't prominently displayed, make sure that it is. When emergency responders are trying to locate a sick or injured party, seconds count. It's frustrating when a house is difficult to find because it isn't numbered. At the very least, if you are in a home occupied with several people, and are awaiting an ambulance or cop to respond, have someone be on the lookout for the responders ~ and wave them on.

I'm impressed with the Fire Department of Franklin Township in Erie County, PA. They distribute free, highly reflective numbers for the mailboxes or driveways for residences and businesses. Cool idea!

If you notice your street sign has been stolen or knocked down, contact your local village or town to have it replaced. According to the Cape Cod Times, a missing street sign delayed the rescue response for a woman who was choking, and it resulted in tragic consequences.

One more thing ~ if you have an elderly neighbor who lives alone, if you don't already know him or her, why not introduce yourself sometime? Check out these suggestions.

Rookie Cop Killed in Arlington, Texas

2011-01-02T10:09:00.007-05:00

A rookie cop, who had just completed her field training two weeks ago, was shot and killed during a domestic incident on Tuesday, December 28, 2010, while shielding an 11-year-old girl from gunfire. The child's mother was killed just before the suspect took his own life.

Officer Jillian Smith, age 24, responded alone to take a report from 29-year-old Kimberly Deshay Carter, who lived with her daughter at an apartment complex. Arlington Police Chief Theron Bowman referred to the taking of this report as a "low-priority" call, one that they would expect only one officer to handle.

Who is making the decision on the priority of the calls?

As a retired 21-year veteran police officer who handled domestic violence calls while working in the patrol division, I cannot imagine sending only one officer to a domestic incident call. Last I checked, no one has a crystal ball that can predict the volatility of a domestic incident. The department's priorities should be adjusted; this shouldn't have been categorized simply as "taking a report," but remained as a high-priority call of a domestic assault.

Especially when the suspect is a registered sex offender with a criminal record.

Especially when the suspect, 38-year-old Barnes Samuel Nettles (photo) threatened Kimberly's step-mother, Leah Richardson, and Kimberly's sister, in September -- that he'd kill the entire family, according to Leah's story in The Dallas Morning News.

According to Carter's father, Willie Richardson, his daughter called him shortly after the assault, and that she was afraid to leave, as she thought he was still outside. He advised her to wait for the police, and he was on his way. By the time Richardson arrived, three people were dead in the apartment.

It's very sad that the question, "Is he still there?" turned this high-priority call into the "low-priority" response. The nature of the call should determine the response. If the department has the crystal ball on whether a violent man is lying in wait, I wish they'd lend it out.

As Gerald W. Garner, a police veteran and author of several books concerning police safety, pointed out in his 2005 article, "Fatal Errors: Surviving Domestic Violence Calls," on www.policemag.com:

"A domestic violence assignment is never to be handled solo."

Read Garner's sage advice here ~ which should become required reading for the Arlington Police Department:

The scene of a domestic violence crime contains great potential for continuing or additional violence. A new attack could be instigated from virtually any quarter. As you already know, people besides the initial offender could launch it. Or the attacker could re-escalate into more violence even after the police are on-scene. If he sees he’s headed for jail, he may attack to avoid custody. Violence could even erupt on a scene where the attacker has fled before you arrived. The batterer may return unexpectedly to finish the job or attack the meddling cop who dared interfere in his private affairs and mess with his marital “property.”

Information on Officer Smith's wake and funeral can be found here, as well as details concerning donations for her family.

Kimberly Carter's family spoke with NBC-DFW. Information about her funeral arrangements and how to donate for the cost of the funeral can be found at the end of this article.

I hope these women did not die in vain; may the Arlington Police Department review their policies concerning the prioritization of domestic incidents and make some wise decisions.

May Kimberly Deshay Carter and hero Officer Jillian Smith rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers go out to their grieving families, friends, and colleagues.

"Keep A Cop Bored" video

2010-12-30T15:50:00.004-05:00

Check out this light-hearted video "Keep a Cop Bored" to encourage drivers to stay home to drink.

Thanks to videographer Frank Vespe, the East Hampton Police Department, and all the parties involved who supported this project. Check out Erin Geismar's story of the video in Newsday. The video stars East Hampton Police Officer Matt Rodriguez, and the voice over is provided by WKJY "KJOY" radio DJ Steve Harper.

Twitter fans: Don't forget, Thursdays are "Thank-a-Cop-Thursday," using the hashtag #tacop.

May everyone have a safe New Year's!

Mystery Monday: Bodies on Long Island

2010-12-20T07:48:00.009-05:00

This is the most current "mystery" on Long Island. Suffolk County Police are investigating the deaths of four bodies dumped along a roadway. Their identities are unknown. At least two are women.

On Saturday, December 11, 2010, Suffolk County Police K-9 officer John Mallia and his partner, "Blue" (photo, above, from Overoll.com) were conducting exercises and searching for a woman who went missing in May: 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert from Jersey City. They found skeletal remains of a woman. When the search expanded on Monday, imagine their surprise upon finding three more bodies, within a quarter-mile stretch along Ocean Parkway. The parkway runs from Jones beach, which is 14 miles west, past Oak Beach, to Captree State Park.

None of the bodies turned out to be Shannan Gilbert. Police are investigating whether the remains could be of another woman, Megan Waterman, of Scarborough, Maine, who was last seen at a Hauppauge hotel in June, where she was staying with her boyfriend, but early reports indicate it is unlikely her remains.

A web site has been established concerning the whereabouts of 22-year-old Megan Waterman, who was an escort who advertised on Craigslist. A $2500 reward is being offered for her safe return, or her recovery and an arrest and conviction.

The New York Daily News has photos of the missing women.

The police are hoping that science may help crack open the case.

Even if none of the bodies turns out to be Megan Waterman, in addition to the identities of the four bodies recovered, another mystery remains: Where are Shannan and Megan?

If anyone has information concerning the identity of the four bodies, the whereabouts of Shannan or Megan, or any other clues, please contact Crime Stoppers of Suffolk County. Thanks!

Mystery Monday: The Disappearance of Judge Crater

2010-12-13T11:41:00.008-05:00

On August 6, 1930, Judge Joseph Force Crater disappeared after hailing a cab in Manhattan on 45th Street near Eighth Avenue after dining at a Times Square restaurant with his mistress and a friend. He had just withdrawn $5100 from his two bank accounts.

It is the longest unsolved missing person's case in the NYPD.

Following the Judge's disappearance, "Pulling a Crater" became a part of the lexicon, as did "Judge Crater, please call your office," by comedians.

Novelist Peter Quinn wondered about his disappearance for years ~ his father was a justice at the same courthouse as Judge Crater ~ and he decided to fictionalize the story in The Man Who Never Returned, through the eyes of a detective in 1955. This past August, Alan Feuer interviewed Quinn for an article in the New York Times. Quinn's fascination and involvement in this case is detailed in this informative article.

In August 2005, authorities announced they had received notes left by the wife of an NYPD officer, after her death at age 91. The notes alleged the judge was buried under the boardwalk in Coney Island. Author Richard J. Tofel expressed skepticism of the woman's account in his book, Vanishing Point: The Disappearance of Judge Crater and the New York He Left Behind.

Sounds like some intriguing books for my Christmas list!

Images from The Overlook Press blog and Barnes and Noble.

Keeping Kids Safe in Cars

2010-12-09T07:34:00.006-05:00

Did you know that on the average, five children a day are killed in car crashes? That's a tragic statistic, and one that could be reduced through the proper use of child safety seats.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children, ages 3-14, in the U.S. Statistics show that nearly 80 percent were unrestrained or were in adult seat belts.

Child Passenger Safety is addressed today at NPR.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a forum today and is open to all, and is free to attend ~ no registration required. The forum, "Child Passenger Safety in the Air and Automobile" will take place at NTSB's Board Room and Conference Center, 439 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington D.C. (On Twitter, follow #NTSB today).

The event will be webcast live.

One of my former partners in the police department is a certified technician who assists motoring parents to ensure the safety seat for their infant or child is positioned properly.

For today's #TACOP (Thank-a-Cop-Thursday), I'd like to thank him and all certified technicians ~ law enforcement officers, health officials, and other concerned parties ~ who spend their time making sure our future citizens are prevented from becoming one of those five unfortunate losses on the roadways.

For a safety seat check in your area, visit http://www.seatcheck.org or call 1-866-SEAT-CHECK.

Here are ten tips to keep a child safe while riding in a vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also offers information on keeping children safe in vehicles. Don't forget to register your car seat so you can be notified in the event of a recall.

On Twitter: @NHTSAgov, @childseatsafety @NTSB

On Facebook: Child Seat Safety NHTSA

For those on Twitter, don't forget to #TACOP!

A Day That Will Live in World History

2010-12-07T12:37:00.012-05:00

Today marks the 69th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Below I have included a clip from The Pacific Historic Parks' DVD, Pearl Harbor: A Landmark of History. Over 2300 lives were lost that day.

(U.S.S. Arizona photo source here)

In 1994, my husband and I traveled to Hawaii. Part of our journey included an emotional, haunting visit to the U.S.S. Arizona memorial.

Last year, I visited Washington, D.C. for the first time. I blogged about it for a "My Town Monday" post at Women of Mystery. As a writer, one of the highlights of my trip was seeing a replica of FDR's typewritten draft of his Pearl Harbor address -- with edits -- posted in the Smithsonian, in the National Museum of American History (I took the photos of the draft, and they are unclear; if you visit here, click on the draft photo and you can zoom in).

FDR had crossed out "World History" and replaced it with "infamy."

My grandfather, Edward Welsh, who died from a heart attack at age 47, was born on this day, 101 years ago. On December 7, 1941, my grandparents went out to celebrate his 32nd birthday, and when they returned home, they continued celebrating. My mother was conceived that night; she was born the following year -- on September 11th.

Last year, to commemmorate my grandfather's 100th birthday, I accompanied my mother and two of her siblings to attend mass in his honor at St. Joseph's on Pacific Street, Brooklyn (the church is still undergoing renovations, as evidenced by the scaffolding in the background). My grandfather, the youngest of nine, was born on Pacific Street.

St. Joseph's has a Facebook page, and so does the National Museum of American History. You can follow @WWIIValorNPS on Twitter.

War Story Wednesday - A Masked Intruder

2010-12-01T19:31:00.004-05:00

A frightened family in a residential area awoke to loud, strange noises in the lower level of their home during the early morning hours. They called 911 and remained upstairs until patrol officers arrived.

The family members let us in. Guns drawn, we checked out the house. It turned out to be a raccoon that came in via the chimney, landing in the fireplace. The critter ran across the piano keys, tried desperately to find a way out (ruining some window treatments in the process), and scared the heck out of the occupants.

We were relieved the bandit was a four-legged one, who was promptly shown the door. The family probably replaced or repaired their chimney cap the next day.

If you have a War Story to share, by all means, enter it in the comment section, or leave a link to your post.

L.I. Sisters in Crime Welcomes Hank Phillippi Ryan

2010-11-30T22:00:00.002-05:00

A new chapter of Sisters in Crime recently formed on Long Island, and I immediately joined (although I happily remain a member of the New York/TriState chapter).

We are very excited to have Emmy award-winning reporter and award-winning author Hank Phillippi Ryan as our guest speaker this Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 2 p.m.

Our meeting, which begins at 1 p.m., is open to the public ~ so if you live in driving distance to Holbrook, Long Island, stop by the Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road. Hank will join us at 2 p.m. ~ and here's what's in store:

"Using TV Technique to Write a Killer Novel"

THE SCOOP! EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WRITING--HANK LEARNED ON TV!

Here's what you need to do to produce a successful television news story:
Develop memorable characters. Build suspense. Show conflict. Tell a compelling
story. Create a satisfying ending. Find justice. Change lives. That's exactly
what Boston's premier investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan's been doing
for her entire career.

But here's the scoop. Writing a successful mystery, thriller or romantic
suspense novel-or short story!--requires exactly the same things. And Hank's
years of experience with journalism can now give your book or short story a
boost.

With her top-ten list of questions, journalism techniques and solid practical
applications, this Emmy- (and double Agatha, Anthony and Macavity-) winning
reporter will teach you the secrets of television news. And then: she'll show
you exactly how those skills can work for you to develop the novel or short
story you always wanted to write. Or to make your next work of fiction better.

It's your chance to learn the inside scoop.

***

Hope to see you this Saturday ~ and spread the word!

Also -- a reminder -- this Saturday is the first "Take Your Child to a Bookstore" day. Read more about it on my post on Women of Mystery.

DNA Spritz for Robbers

2010-11-27T16:29:00.009-05:00

After reading this nugget in the New York Times ("A Spray of DNA to Keep the Robbers Away"), I knew I had to share this story. This synthetic DNA spray was developed in Britain by two brothers: a police officer and a chemist. The posted signs alone are helping reduce the crime rate. The tasteless and odorless spray sticks like glue to the criminal for weeks, and causes a bluish glow under UV light; it inextricably links the bad guy (or girl) to the scene where it was sprayed.

For more information about this technology to prevent crime and catch criminals, check out SelectaDNA and their product brochure. This article in the Toronto Star further explains how the spray works. This deterrent is currently being used in the Netherlands, the U.K., New Zealand, and Germany. The Bank of New Zealand has installed the security device at all of its branches.

According to AOL News, the security group of the British company Selectamark is in talks with U.S. companies.

I wouldn't be surprised if the sale of portable black light UV flashlights will increase, so that criminals can check themselves. Although the spray can be detected for up to two weeks, it may be possible for the criminal to wash it off; however, removing it from inside the nostrils, ears, and under fingernails would be a challenge. Also, robbers will probably wear protective gear and then ditch it. They always find ways to get around crime detection, or at least make attempts to avoid detection.

I'm sure this new technology will fascinate mystery and crime fiction writers and their stories will include the use of these devices real soon.

Thank-a-Cop-Thursday: Fire Rescue

2010-11-25T12:44:00.005-05:00

Two Suffolk County Police Officers rescued a 53-year-old woman and a 67-year-old disabled man from a burning house in East Islip on November 21, 2010. Both victims were transported to Southside Hospital.

According to Newsday, four fire departments responded to handle the fire. The Suffolk County Arson Squad is investigating the cause of the fire.

On this special "Thank-a-Cop-Thursday" (known as #tacop on Twitter), a huge Thanksgiving thanks goes out to Officers Jonathan Allen and Kelly Hendrickson of the Third Precinct for the awesome job they do everyday, and for saving the lives of two Long Island residents.

A special thanks to Mike Ellis (@EmergCommNetwrk) and Lauri Stevens (@lawscomm) for their efforts in the creation of Thank-a-Cop-Thurdsay.

(image source for Thanksgiving clip art: www.theholidayspot.com and for flame photo here.)

War Story Wednesday - An Overheard Conversation

2010-11-24T09:54:00.005-05:00

An actual exchange I heard in the precinct, between a fairly new police officer and a seasoned, salty desk sergeant, who often butted heads:

The Rookie: "You don't like me because I'm Jewish."

The Sergeant: "I don't like you because you're a f***ing a**hole."

Top Police Blogs

2010-11-21T04:57:00.004-05:00

CriminalJusticeDegree.net

The online Criminal Justice Degree web site has posted its list of Top Police Blogs, and I'm proud to say that From Cop to Mom and the Words in Between has received a 2010 Top Police Blog Award.

Thanks to Criminal Justice Degree for the honor and recognition. Congratulations to my fellow bloggers ~ I look forward to visiting your blogs!

"Courage to Serve" Exhibit

2010-11-18T08:28:00.014-05:00

An exhibit honoring police officers killed or injured in the line of duty by drunk drivers is on display at the Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City, Long Island, until November 21, 2010 (*update: See the video below of the news conference and display).

According to Newsday, the relatives and supporters of Nassau police officer Kenneth Baribault and Suffolk police officer Glen Ciano gathered at the mall in Nassau County this past Monday to unveil the memorial, which is intended to remind drivers during the holiday season that driving under the influence can ruin many lives -- including those of police officers, such as Baribault and Ciano, whose patrol cars were struck while on duty. The photos below depict the mangled patrol vehicles of Officers Baribault and Ciano (photos via NY Daily News).

The memorial was unveiled less than 12 hours after a DWI arrest of a Brooklyn man who struck and killed an off-duty NYPD officer on the Northern State Parkway.

Suffolk Police Officer Glen Ciano, a 22-year veteran, was struck by a suspected drunk driver and killed on February 22, 2009. Nassau County officer Ken Baribault was severely injured on May 18, 2008, after his patrol unit was struck by an accused drunk driver on the Long Island Expressway during a traffic stop of a suspected drunk driver.

The exhibit was made possible through the efforts of Baribault's sister, Danielle Rella; Nassau County Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

*****

On Twitter, today is "Thank-a-Cop Thursday." I thank Officers Ciano, Baribault, and all law enforcement officers in New York for their devoted service and sacrifices to make Long Island a safer place to live. As a Suffolk County Police Officer for 21 years, I had the privilege of working with Glen Ciano in the Second Precinct; he is sorely missed by his friends, family, and colleagues.

If you are an active user of Twitter, you can participate in "Thank-a-Cop Thursday" by using the hashtag #tacop. Follow Mike Ellis of Emergency Communications Network, the man behind #tacop, at @EmergCommNetwrk. You can also follow Mothers Against Drunk Driving @MADDOnline.

War Story Wednesday - The Foreign Object

2010-11-17T23:41:00.005-05:00

In the early 1990s, while working the Second Precinct desk in Huntington, an agitated gentleman walked into the precinct demanding to know what this foreign object was that someone threw into his swimming pool. It was made of glass and filled with a liquid substance. The desk sergeant, one of the funniest men I've ever met, heard the conversation and came to the desk to take control of the situation before we even had a chance to respond. He took the object and before he could even get a good look at it, dropped it. It broke, and we instantly knew what it was ~ a stink bomb. We left the poor sergeant alone and disappeared to laugh our butts off. He was very embarrassed about the incident and we of course never let him forget it.

If you have a War Story to share, feel free to enter it in the comments below or provide a link to your blog post should you decide to write one.

Facebook Renews Interest in Missing Person Case

2010-11-15T07:00:00.002-05:00

The past few days in Newsday, Long Island's daily newspaper, and the New York Daily News, articles have appeared about a 1984 missing person's case, that of Kelly Morrissey -- who was 15 years old when she disappeared. Her story has re-surfaced because of chatter on Facebook; people were reminiscing about their roller skating days at Hot Skates Rink in Lynbrook. In doing so, the topic of the disappearance of Kelly surfaced, since it was from that vicinity of Nassau County she was last seen. In addition, however, people were discussing the case of two women who went missing within months of Kelly's disappearance -- but their bodies were found, raped and strangled. One of the victims was a friend of Kelly's. Those murders have gone unsolved, and police have not made a connection between the three cases.

Kelly's parents, Iris and Paul Olmstead, are thankful for the new interest and would of course appreciate any information about Kelly's whereabouts.

As a former police officer who worked for many years in Crime Stoppers, I know that the police and the missing person's family would be extremely grateful to receive information about the mystery surrounding Kelly Morrissey. If you or someone you know has information about Kelly, please contact the Nassau County Police Crime Stoppers tips line at 1-800-244-TIPS.

For a photo of Kelly (above) and this age-progressed photo, visit Help Find the Missing.

*****

The Criminal Justice Degrees Guide has prepared a list of the Top Ten Unsolved Missing Person Cases.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children maintains an extensive web site with information concerning missing children.