What I Learned from "What Hollywood Gets Wrong" - Forensics and the Mystery Writer

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My Sisters in Crime - Central Virginia chapter held a program recently on forensics for the mystery writer called “What Hollywood Gets Wrong.” Many thanks to Officer Richard Mallory and the Henrico Police Department for a great discussion and equipment demo in the parking lot. Here’s what I learned…

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  1. As a police officer, you never know what you’re walking into. It could be a minor call that turns into something much larger.

  2. “Forensic Files” featured episodes on Henrico County, and “Crime 360” had episodes set in Richmond.

  3. You only get one chance to document a crime scene. Photos and diagrams are key. You must be detailed and accurate.

  4. Faro cameras (that look like surveyor’s equipment) can take hundreds of photos from different angles. They also take measurements.

  5. Witnesses often have different recollections, so it’s important to document everything.

  6. Stress changes your perception and your recollection of events.

  7. This department uses two kinds of fingerprinting equipment. One is a black chalky powder. The other is metallic, and the stylus is magnetic.

  8. Forensic science helps law enforcement to eliminate suspects, as well as confirm others.

  9. Technology and forensic science are powerful tools, but the job still requires old fashioned police investigation.

  10. Most radar guns now contain a laser (lidar), and they can be aimed at a specific vehicle.

  11. I didn’t realize how heavy some of the bullet-proof vests were. And I’m thankful that advancements have been made in safety equipment.

  12. Cameras are everywhere these days, especially in new cars like Tesla.

  13. Forensic analysis takes way longer than it does on TV and in movies. On average in Virginia, Toxicology takes 44 days, Trace Evidence takes 51 days, Firearms Analysis takes 73 days, Forensic Biology takes 103 days, Drug Analysis takes 137 days, and Computer forensics could take up to a year.

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Growing up as a "C.K." and How It Inspired My Love of Mysteries

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I'm a "C.K." (Cop's Kid). I had a great, but sometimes unusual childhood. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. I think it played a huge influence in my love for all things mystery.

As a small child, I'd go with my dad to the shooting range. One of my first jobs was to collect shell casings in a metal peanut can when he was done firing. Those suckers were hot. You had to be careful.

He was the SWAT commander in the 1970s, and they needed practice bullets. I sacrificed a ton of crayons for practice ammunition. What other elementary school kid knew how to melt crayons and fill shell casings?

In first grade, my dad was the BEST for career day. He arrived in a police car, and then he had the police helicopter fly over and land in the field next to the school. He was way cooler than the insurance salesman. I still owe him for that one. He and the helicopter pilot were a hit!

One summer evening, my sister and I learned how to use a night scope. It was fun to watch the neighbor's dog illuminated all in green.

But NEVER watch police shows with law enforcement professionals. There were very few police dramas that my dad liked because most were too "Hollywood" and not real. I loved "CHiPs," and I never heard the end of it about Ponch and Jon not even riding their own motorcycles. (I didn't care that they were towed behind a truck.) But this stuck with me, and as a mystery writer, I do a lot of research to make my stories as accurate and plausible as possible. And my dad, now a retired police captain, is my best resource on police procedures and crime scenes. (The only police shows that he liked were "Hill Street Blues," "NYPD Blue," and "Barney Miller.")

As a C.K., I learned respect for guns and law enforcement. I am still a fan. Our police, fire, and first responders are heroes. They risk everything every day. I too vividly remember when my dad was called out for emergencies, and I wondered whether or not he'd come home that evening. These men and women (and their families) give up a lot in service for us. He worked just about every holiday, and we was right in the middle of every emergency or crisis.

While it wasn't a "normal" childhood, we had some interesting dinner conversations, and it was a wonderful time that I wouldn't trade for anything. Happy Father's Day, Dad!