PSWA Post Mortem --Sunday


Saying Goodbye, my daughter Lisa, me, and Charlene Schembra.

This was our last day, but it was chockful of information from three panels.

The first one was on Gathering Evidence, with those who know: Gloria Casale, Bob Calkins, Scott Decker and Danny  Smith. Thonie Hevron moderated. 

Danny Smith (Sheriff's dept. and PI) talked about gather evidence from suspects' trash--and yes, it's legal.

Gloria Casale MD discussed the difference between a medical examiner and a coroner: Medical Examiner is an MD, Coroner an elected official, not necessarily an MD.  Police are the first on the scene, then the coroner who pronounces the person dead. The scene is secured and the evidence gather. Autopsy is the job of the coroner. If someone was in hospice when he/died, an autopsy doesn't have to be done.

Bob Calkins (Dog handler, human remains) described how his dogs work.

Scott Decker (Retired FBI) Talked about gathering body parts after 9/11 from the tops of all the tall buildings surrounding the location of the Twin Towers. 


Second panel was Keeping Order and Preventing Discord, Panelists: Dave Freedman, James L'Etoile, Ron Corbin, Bob Calkins, Joe Haggerty, with Pete Klismet as moderator,

James L. Etoile's take was different, as in prisons, you want to move everyoone into a small space. .

Dan Freedman spoke about the Watts riot, and rhe LAPD being unprepared. 

Unfortunately, in today's world, social media has a big part in stirring up rioting.


Third panel was Perfecting Your Writing with Thonie Hevron as moderator, Panelists: Susan Tuttle, Camille Minichino, Ann Parker, Kathy McIntosh, and MaryLou Anderson.

They had tons of good information to share, but the two biggies I got out of it were:

Self-edit before sending it off to an editor.

Be sure to add all five senses to you story.

We had our final lunch and the writing awards were presented by Michelle Callahan, our president, and out going Contest Chairperson.

We sadly said all our goodbyes.

Learn more about the Public Safety Writers Association here:






Comments

Kathy McIntosh said…
Just had the chance to read all three post mortems on the conference. It was so chock-full of ideas and information. I loved your post mortems and will refer to them again.
August 4, 2019 at 9:34 AM
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