Police Academy
Posted on | August 18, 2006 | 4 Comments
I received word today that I’ve been accepted into the Houston Police Department’s Citizen’s Police Academy, and I’m really looking forward to the experience.
This is an 11-week program (one three-hour class per week, on Thursday evenings) where civilians get to see the inner workings of a police department. Among the topics that will be explored are Police Dispatch, Crime Prevention, Family Violence Unit, Vice Division, Narcotics Division, Bomb Squad, SWAT Detail, Hostage Negotiations, Shoot-Don’t Shoot training exercises, Criminal Prosecutions, Homicide Investigations, Gangs, and Juvenile crimes. It’s not all classroom work, either—we might end up in a cop car during a simulated police chase, possibly doing some mock shooting, and I’m hoping to get some time on a firing range.
Total cost? Nada. This should be terrific background research for future works. My one experience on a police ride-along a while back led to a short story that will be published in an MWA anthology edited by Michael Connelly, so who knows where 33 hours of police research will lead.
I sent my Missing Persons manuscript to the printer this morning, having finished my first pass on removing the boring bits. Now it’s time to tackle the book as a whole and see what damage I’ve inflicted and where else I can improve matters. Looks like I have my weekend’s work cut out for me.
Regarding Big Brother All Stars: Way to go Chicken George. He won HOH and responded brilliantly by making an inspired choice of nominees under pressure. Remains to be seen whether Mike Boogey will use his awesome new power to shake things up or not.
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About
Bev Vincent is the author of The Road to the Dark Tower, the Bram Stoker Award nominated companion to Stephen King's Dark Tower series, and The Stephen King Illustrated Companion, which was nominated for a 2010 Edgar® Award and a 2009 Bram Stoker Award.
His short fiction has appeared in places like Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, From the Borderlands and The Blue Religion. He is a contributing editor with Cemetery Dance magazine and a member of the Storytellers Unplugged blogging community. He also writes book reviews for Onyx Reviews.
August 18th, 2006 @ 2:02 pm
congrats on the course! i’m willing to bet you’ll learn more in the next eleven weeks than you could ever imagine.
August 18th, 2006 @ 2:07 pm
That’s my hopes! My eyes were opened during the previous ride-along.
August 18th, 2006 @ 3:05 pm
you will not regret this course, bev. i’m actually thinking about taking it again here next time it is offered.
August 18th, 2006 @ 3:16 pm
I just can’t wait to get my hands on a gun and say, “Do you feel lucky, punk?”