tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post1351136390030349108..comments2024-03-17T06:03:00.362-04:00Comments on Fiction University: 10 Tips for Writing About Law Enforcement Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-56907261923799307502014-03-16T04:13:13.247-04:002014-03-16T04:13:13.247-04:00Rachel6, I try to at least be smirk worthy ;)Rachel6, I try to at least be smirk worthy ;)Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-33650942575801518912014-03-15T18:33:22.925-04:002014-03-15T18:33:22.925-04:00To be reeeeaaaallly honest? I'm too amused to ...To be reeeeaaaallly honest? I'm too amused to be annoyed ;)<br /><br />Tap his shoulder indeed...Rachel6https://www.blogger.com/profile/15138745237488029817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-18802467422741691482014-03-15T00:11:12.627-04:002014-03-15T00:11:12.627-04:00Good points. Most departments offer ride-A-longs. ...Good points. Most departments offer ride-A-longs. I have had them, always interesting to expose someone to what I do.Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-1492802414904782162014-03-15T00:09:45.013-04:002014-03-15T00:09:45.013-04:00Tic: 'I gotta bag this maggot proper or sarge ...Tic: 'I gotta bag this maggot proper or sarge will raze me'.<br />Toc: ' Everyone thinks whores were nice girls once.'<br />Tic: ' Captain will reach so far up his ass he can tap his shoulder.'<br />Toc: ' Another wonderful day in paradise.'Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-58150206975230003582014-03-14T06:24:42.330-04:002014-03-14T06:24:42.330-04:00Interesting article. I cant help but think of the ...Interesting article. I cant help but think of the tv series "Castle" about the crime writer who researches by shadowing a police officer on the job...and ends up providing valuable insight into the mystery and cracks the crime! How true to life is this guy? Would the police force actually allow an untrained civilian to access all areas and join the team on raids etc? Do crime writers roll their eyes at this guy? (or is he their poster boy?) I'm sure real-life research is considerably duller.<br /><br />On a more serious note, I read an article about authorly research which suggested the mountains of information gathered doing research for a novel could also be woven into a feature article or two, which may provide income while crafting said novel. And if an article gets published around the time of the book's release, the brief author bio under the by-line could mention "john smith has recently published a novel about crime writers" as a tiny bit of publicity. The gift that keeps on giving!Jshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12040163478550891972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-81344213053588974082014-03-12T23:27:51.248-04:002014-03-12T23:27:51.248-04:00Can you say more about #3? Somehow I'm not ima...Can you say more about #3? Somehow I'm not imagining what internal dialogue that sounds like a parking meter is like.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11634437240749374209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-48621389083069035962014-03-12T22:33:16.471-04:002014-03-12T22:33:16.471-04:00Yes - many stories - some are finally open to disc...Yes - many stories - some are finally open to discussion. My time was served at the Waco, TX/McClennan County PD/SO. Maybe someone remembers David Koresh...that was my time and where my contact with Secret Service and Feds happened. <br />The concept of community policing had just come to TX and Waco held the #1 spot in the nation for homicides (for cities that size). It was wild.<br />Your article covered points that are now vital to anyone writing about critical incident professions - again, thanks for bringing it forward.Maria D'Marcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07909374867721777133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-37621211501041060342014-03-12T17:53:24.644-04:002014-03-12T17:53:24.644-04:00Thank you Amy, never saw The Wire but sounds good ...Thank you Amy, never saw The Wire but sounds good :)Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-41207668584166257222014-03-12T16:17:18.784-04:002014-03-12T16:17:18.784-04:00Very interesting post! And I think the issue can ...Very interesting post! And I think the issue can be applied to other professions as well. Doctors, lawyers - anyone who has a job people "think" they know... and then people forget that those people are more than just a job. It's lazy writing to throw in these generic figures. That was one of the things I liked best about The Wire - every character was a <i>person</i> with a life, not just a label.Amy Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263719891092841767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47681019781759057902014-03-12T12:54:30.926-04:002014-03-12T12:54:30.926-04:00Great point. The most irritating thing about TV la...Great point. The most irritating thing about TV law enforcement is seeing people get out of their job class like criminalists who strictly do lab work going out to the field. The examples go on and on...Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-78594122059705369922014-03-12T12:52:49.487-04:002014-03-12T12:52:49.487-04:00Most welcome!
Most welcome!<br />Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-37452106337620898752014-03-12T10:21:03.838-04:002014-03-12T10:21:03.838-04:00Thanks for this article. It was very helpful. Al...Thanks for this article. It was very helpful. All one has to do is watch some of the unrealistic TV productions about law enforcement in order to see some of these mistakes being made.David Rheem Jarretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04148830135602552894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-25296599468304926602014-03-12T07:51:30.604-04:002014-03-12T07:51:30.604-04:00I enjoyed this post; thank you!I enjoyed this post; thank you!Rachel6https://www.blogger.com/profile/15138745237488029817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-72135837566565183252014-03-12T03:03:43.982-04:002014-03-12T03:03:43.982-04:00Hi Julie!
My Fiance has not been quiet about her d...Hi Julie!<br />My Fiance has not been quiet about her disdain of my "clarifications" regarding on screen "facts".... BTW ask your husband if he knows the SID photographer who says: "Sarkisian, common spelling". I get to go up on their ladders when we have an OIS or rub shoulders when they extricate after a KTC. Amazing how some of them tell me: "I could never do your job." I replied once: "No one has ever woken me up to do mine...ever." Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-7188538119679911262014-03-12T02:58:23.957-04:002014-03-12T02:58:23.957-04:00Those points are quite valid. I tried to encapsula...Those points are quite valid. I tried to encapsulate a lesson in familiarity. So many robots are made of humans already I got sick of seeing it in novels. You were part of the scene during a transitional time, I bet you have some stories to tell :)Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-1606144864564578202014-03-12T02:55:11.407-04:002014-03-12T02:55:11.407-04:00Thank you.Thank you.Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-25430213364255467362014-03-11T19:32:52.490-04:002014-03-11T19:32:52.490-04:00Harry! My husband works for LA City Fire. Maybe yo...Harry! My husband works for LA City Fire. Maybe you've even crossed paths :)<br /><br />I tell ya, watching a firefighter movie with my husband is an exercise in patience (for both of us). He grumbles, "It would not happen that way," or "Come on, really? No face masks?" Accuracy matters a lot.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-1241226882295244702014-03-11T16:22:32.236-04:002014-03-11T16:22:32.236-04:00Great article - thanks!
My previous post went to t...Great article - thanks!<br />My previous post went to the ether apparently - so will do a brief re-try...<br />I worked with city, county, federal, and secret service officers and agents back in the 90s. As a LT-level civilian, I learned a lot in the 10 years I spent in that world.<br />I agree with all your points and would offer a small insight: law enforcement appeals to and attracts individuals with highly developed views of right and wrong. Many of the individuals I came to know admitted that they felt their career gave them a healthy outlet for their natural 'fault-finding' mentality. Pursuing solutions within the rigid rule-driven world they must operate in creates some interesting behaviours. <br />People invested in law enforcement do not like drama, are trained to defuse the verbal and body communications that enflame, and are either naturals at distancing themselves from a crisis or are committed to their training - or both.<br />I saw and was involved in the social segregation that surrounds a lot of officers and agents - due to their jobs. Family is important, good friends vital, and training saves your life.<br />I hope more writers take the opportunity to learn from an officer firsthand - most departments have ride-a-long programs.Maria D'Marcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07909374867721777133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-76580270146660362752014-03-11T13:20:46.221-04:002014-03-11T13:20:46.221-04:00read with interest :O)read with interest :O)Author R. Mac Wheelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679108828353499313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-60604160921256668062014-03-11T12:40:05.461-04:002014-03-11T12:40:05.461-04:00Great points Mr Cramer!Great points Mr Cramer!Harry Sarkisianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734703704447800714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-31392539237241014912014-03-11T12:09:45.896-04:002014-03-11T12:09:45.896-04:00Time to talk about my all-time favorite law enforc...Time to talk about my all-time favorite <em>law enforcement</em> story, the novel - much more than the movie - <em>The Silence Of The Lambs</em>: It stays clear of all the ten by a wide margin. Examples:<br /><br />>> 2. Subordinates yelling about inequality, social injustice, <br />Clarice once calmly explains to Crawford how his sexist talk with the West Virginia cop was highly problematic, even if she knows it was just a trick, and he sees - and takles - her point. She never complains about either the blatantly sexist behaviour or the condescending manner of some men, especially Dr. Chilton.<br /><br />>> 4. Graphic descriptions that are nothing but goreporn<br />Given the extremely gory subject matter, the description is always restrained and tasteful. E.g. the result of Hannibal Lector's cannibalistic attack on a nurse is described by <em>They could save one of her eyes</em>, which tells you all you need to know without going into much detail.<br /><br />>> 5. Heartless commanders and others of ‘rank’<br />The highest-ranking asshole, DOJ's Paul Kreidler, patiently explains to Clarice what he thinks doesn't need to be explained, and we can perfectly understand why he dislikes the rookies interference so much, as well as Crawford's. <em>Behavioral Science's brief is, and has always been, advisory.</em><br /><br />>> 8. Stereotypical stoic cookie cutter bitter alcoholic investigators<br />Not only is Clarice's backstory and character interesting - her lowly upbringing, her intelligence and competitiveness, her excellent results in all kinds of training, the quick wit and smartness she uses to parry attacks from superior knowledge or intellect - but each point is plot-relevant as well.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976498978178251940noreply@blogger.com