I’m a veteran police investigator who solved numerous cases in areas including narcotics, homicide, rape, murder-for-hire, robbery, kidnapping, burglary, and ritualistic and occult crimes.

During my career in law enforcement I also worked as an undercover officer. In addition, I served a few years as a narcotics K-9 handler.

I received advanced certifications from the U.S. Department of Justice, Virginia State Police Academy, and the DEA. Due to my extensive experience and training as a narcotics officer, I was deemed as an expert witness who testified in many court cases.

As a police academy instructor and instructor trainer, I taught basic and advanced courses in firearms, officer survival, interview and interrogation, and CPR and first aid. And, as a master defensive tactics instructor, I trained and certified both rookie officers and seasoned veterans. I also trained executive bodyguards.

Subsequent to an intense and deadly shootout with an armed bank robber, I received both the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Medal of Valor and the General Nathaniel Greene Medal for Courageous Conduct.

I witnessed the execution of a serial killer, the Southside Strangler, a murderer/rapist who Patricia Cornwell’s bestselling book, Postmortem was based upon. The execution was the first in the U.S. resulting from a verdict based on the use of DNA evidence.
Today I spend most my time writing and planning and hosting the Writers’ Police Academy, a fun and exciting hands-on event for writers, readers, and fans.

I’m member of the National Sheriffs’ Association, International Literacy Association, International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. I’ve previously served as, Board Member on the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, NCADD in the Silicon Valley, an Advisory Board Member for ECPI’s criminal justice program in Greensboro, N.C., and as a Board Member for the New England chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

I’ve written articles for both Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime newsletters, as well as features and exclusives for newspapers across the country. I’ve published articles in both The Writer magazine and Writer’s Digest Magazine, and I’ve served as a consultant for Slate Magazine, Spike TV, FOX news, and for many well-known bestselling authors. As an expert, I’ve appeared on BBC television, CNN, and on NPR radio’s Talk of the Nation, Public Television and local network news, and he’s the host and founder of the Writers’ Police Academy, a fun and exciting hands-on event for writers.

I'm the author of "Police Procedure and Investigation, A Guide for Writers" (Writer's Digest Books), "Murder on Minor Avenue," a true crime tale published in the anthology "Masters of True Crime: Chilling Stories of Murder and the Macabre," "The Sheriff of Macabre County" published in the Writers' Police Academy anthology "After Midnight, with a foreword by Lee Child. I currently write a feature article for each issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.

In January of 2020, I and my wife, Dr. Denene Lofland, launched New Arc Books, an imprint under the umbrella of Level Best Books. New Arc Books publish both nonfiction and fiction titles. Nonfiction books will, of course, be related to the writing of crime fiction, law enforcement guides for both writers and police, and forensics. Top quality mystery, thriller, suspense, and related books will be considered, with a special focus on new voices.