Explore the unforgettable chapters of ‘What We Do to Each Other’. Each section takes you deeper into the world of crime scene investigations, sharing shocking, emotional, and sometimes humorous moments that reveal the realities of life behind the badge.
For 18 years, this man and I worked side by side in the crime scene unit. We responded to calls at all hours, tackled every type of crime imaginable, and spent countless nights collecting evidence in some of
Some cases linger with you, not just for the tragedy they represent but for the emotions they evoke. This was one of those cases. It was one of the few times I felt an overwhelming urge to act out—maybe
It was a super fall afternoon in central Michigan, the kind of day that made you appreciate the season. The leaves were turning brilliant shades of red and gold, cider mills were buzzing with activity, and the
Working out of the crime scene unit, I was dispatched to a residential breaking and entering in one of the most exclusive areas of the city. It was the kind of neighborhood where gates and cameras weren’t
One of the most bizarre events of my career took place late one night at a hospital. The station received a call requesting help with identifying a man who had been hit by a train. It sounded straightforward
I started my career in a small town with just one full-time officer and three reserve officers. I was one of the reserves—young, inexperienced, and with plenty to learn. The town was the kind of place where
It all started as I was walking through the lobby of police headquarters. A well-dressed man entered, exuding a sense of authority. He walked straight up to me, looking like he meant business. “My car is
One of my first calls in the crime scene unit took me to an old, two-story residential home. The complaint? Bugs were falling from the ceiling onto a woman’s dining room table. As odd as it sounded,
It was one of those nasty winter days with snow coming down in thick, relentless sheets. The roads were coated, and traffic crawled at a snail’s pace. I had been assigned to the North/East zone that day, which
It was a picture-perfect day—not a single cloud in the sky. Inside the crime scene lab, however, I was neck-deep in a pile of evidence waiting to be processed. That’s when Officer Harris walked in. Harris was
It was a bright and sunny day, and I was working crime scene calls back to back. The 911 center dispatched a call about a sexual battery in progress. I realized I was very close to the location and
Starting out in crime scene work was daunting. I was new, eager, and hyper-focused on doing everything right. The department I joined was large, located in a big city, and the sheer volume of calls and crimes
It was a beautiful morning. The sky was clear, the temperature a comfortable 70 degrees, and the police radio was blissfully quiet. I was patrolling an area of 36 square miles—a township in central Michigan—
In the older section of town, nestled among well-kept homes, stood the residence of Mrs. Bouck. She was a sweet, elderly woman known for her pristine house and flourishing garden. Every day, she could
The day shift had just started when the city cemetery supervisor called the police dispatcher to report an unbelievable event. Something had happened overnight, the kind of thing you only expect to see in
It was my day off, and I was volunteering at my church, Community of Hope when I noticed a commotion near the administration office. Police units from the sheriff’s office were already on the
Over the years, it just didn’t work out. I had the training, stayed up to date, knew exactly what to do. But when I put it into action, it never seemed to make a difference. And sadly, neither did the person on the
In the very early days, before my career in law enforcement, I was working for a daily newspaper and riding to work with my stepfather, who was a fingerprint technician and photographer for the sheriff’s
My brother-in-law was a reserve officer with the department, and we both shared a love for fishing. Michigan had plenty of good spots, and over the years, we had our fair share of fishing trips—some
I was working the day shift, and the calls were starting to back up when I got sent to the local hospital to meet with a sexual assault victim. She had been injured during the attack, and the detectives advised
In a high-class neighborhood, among well-manicured lawns and pristine homes, lived a man in his fifties who believed his property was something special. His front yard was covered in colored stones, little
What a guy. His full-time job was breaking into homes in the middle of the night. He didn’t care if you were home if you had a dog, or if he had to slip through a window while people were sleeping just a few
I was working the day shift when I got dispatched to the home of a retired school teacher on the south end of the city. She was a pleasant woman, the kind you’d expect to see reading a book on the porch or
If people could see ahead of time what their actions do to others, they might change their minds about suicide. Family members are left with grief that doesn’t go away for years. The weight of loss lingers,
Working in crime scene investigations, you spend a lot of time dealing with death. Accidental deaths, traffic fatalities, homicides, suicides, and the natural kind. One group you work closely with is the
Every day in patrol starts the same way—with a briefing. It’s when the department updates you on ongoing problems, current events, and anything you need to keep an eye on during your shift. That
I was working at midnight when I got to the station and noticed that my usual patrol car was missing. After the roll call, my supervisor informed me that we were short on cars and that I’d have to double up
In my later years working in the crime lab, I was often called upon to provide training and public service programs. It was an honor to be taught at three different colleges in the area, teaching about evidence
It had been a long afternoon shift in the Crime Scene, and I was completely worn out. I was finally off duty, heading home in my city-issued call-out vehicle—a full-size van. I had just left work and was sitting.
It had just turned dark, and the usual crowd was starting to emerge—those who preferred the night for their activities. In the heart of downtown, a local judge lived in a well-kept home, but one thing in his
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