FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the Writers’ Police Academy

*FATS and Driving Simulator assignments will be sent via email on or before Monday 9-19-11. Please read all accompanying material and bring signed waiver forms to the FATS training room on the day and time of your shooting session.

Due to unexpected circumstances, Alafair Burke has cancelled her appearance. She expresses her regrets and hopes to join us next year.

By now, all 2011 attendees should have received an important message from the WPA staff. The emails were sent on 9-16-11. If not, please contact Lee Lofland immediately at lofland32@msn.com.

The schedule has been revised. Please review for very important additions and updates!

Buses begin loading at the Embassy Suites at 7:00 each morning, and depart at precisely 7:30. They cannot wait for anyone so please be on time.

The top ten finalists for the Golden Donut short story contest have been selected. The winning entry will be announced at the WPA Saturday night banquet.

- The schedule for the 2011 WPA has been updated as of 9-8-11. More updates on the way. Check in often.

- Those of you participating in FATS and the Driving Simulator will soon be receiving a schedule via email. The schedule will also include the name(s) of your shooting/driving partner(s).

- The lottery drawing for ride-a-longs will take place during the week of the event. Winners of the drawing will be notified in advance. Absolutely NO weapons are permitted. Always ask the officer for permission before taking any photographs.

- The short story contest has come to a conclusion. We’ll be announcing the top ten finalists in a few days. Great, great stories again this year. The judges were quite impressed with each of them.

- We are very near capacity for the 2011 WPA. Therefore, we may be forced to cut off registrations within the next couple of days.

- Both event hotels are now full. If you need suggestions for a nearby hotel please contact us and we’ll point you in the right direction.

- We are providing transportation to and from the academy. Buses will be leaving the hotel at a specific time each morning. Please be on time. They cannot and will not wait for anyone.

- Remember, NO firearms or other weapons are permitted at the academy (active-duty law enforcement officers excluded). Leave them at home. This includes Tasers, pepperspray, pocket knives, throwing stars, slingshots, and sharpened sticks. If it can be used as a weapon, do not bring it with you. Any violation of this rule and you’ll be asked to leave the academy grounds immediately.

- You should be receiving information from the WPA staff with the next few days (this message was posted 9-8-11). Please watch your inbox.

1. What is FATS?

 

2. What should I wear to the WPA?

  • Wear comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes. And please remember, the event is held in September in the south. It could be very warm and humid. You should also be prepared for the normal afternoon rain showers.
  • Attire for the reception is casual.
  • Business casual is acceptable for the banquet, but you’re more than welcome to take it up a notch!

3. What if I can’t keep up with everyone?

  • The WPA is not physically demanding. Yes, the event is a hands-on event, but it’s designed so that WPA recruits can do as much or as little as they want. The experience is wonderful no matter what you do or don’t do!
  • There is no running, exercising, lifting, pushing, pulling, etc. There is, however, some walking involved. Yes, you will be expected to walk from workshop to workshop.
  • The entire event is wheelchair friendly. Service dogs are welcome, too. BUT…please keep in mind that police canines will be on site and they sometimes do not mingle well…
  • Please, no animals other than service dogs. No exceptions.

4. Can I take photos?

  • Absolutely. However, some of the police officers on the grounds may be working somewhere in an undercover capacity, therefore, having their image plastered across the internet could prove to be dangerous for them and their families. So please ask before taking any pictures or videos. Everyone is aware that cameras will be on hand so there shouldn’t be any problems. But the WPA is held at a working police academy and there will be on-going classes while you’re there.

5. May I bring my personal weapon?

  • NO! Absolutely no firearms, pepperspray, Tasers, handcuffs, knives, etc. No weapons of any kind. Please leave them at home. If you need protection I think it’ll be fairly easy to find a police officer within arm’s reach.
  • Bringing a weapon to the WPA grounds will result in immediate dismissal from the event. No refunds.
  • (Law enforcement officers, please contact Lee Lofland or Jerry Cooper regarding weapons policies).

6. Are meals provided?

  • Breakfast is included with your Embassy Suites hotel reservation.
  • Lunches are not provided by the WPA. However, the local EMS will have sandwiches, chips, and drinks available for a very small donation to their organization. The lunch breaks are brief and the academy is not near any type of restaurant.
  • You will be on your own for dinner on Friday night. There will be assorted fruits, cheeses, and other goodies available at the reception. (Menu is still a work in progress).
  • The Saturday night banquet is optional, but you’ll miss a great time if you don’t attend.

7. Can I bring my small children to the event?

  • We love kids. We really do. But there is no daycare facility on the grounds, and children may not attend the workshops. Some of the material is simply not suitable for children. And, since this is an actual police/fire/EMS academy, there are many, many dangers for children.
  • Young adults 16 and above may attend as registered WPA recruits.

8. May I bring a guest to the banquet?

  • Sure. In fact, we welcome banquet guests. All we ask is that you include the appropriate dollar amount on your registration form and then send us a note including your guest’s name. Your banquet tickets will be waiting for you when you arrive.

9. May I bring copies of my books to sell at the event?

  • Sorry, but the only books that may be sold at the event are those offered for sale by Barnes and Noble at their official event bookstore. And the only books that will be available are those of the WPA faculty and keynote speaker. There may be a few nonfiction titles available that relate to police and forensics. Remember, this is not a writers conference, so take off your marketing hat and enjoy yourself!

10. How are the lucky people chosen for the ride-a-long’s with sheriff’s deputies?

  • Ride-a-long’s will be chosen by lottery drawing. Everyone who registered before the early bird cut-off date of June 15, 2011 will be eligible. One entry per person.
  • Winners will ride on patrol, at night (6-10pm) with a Guilford County Sheriff’s deputy. You may transfer your winning ticket to another WPA recruit if you choose to do so.

11. Are there prisoners in the jail that we’ll be visiting?

  • Yes. The jail houses inmates who’ve committed crimes ranging from misdemeanors to murder. You’ll be escorted by law enforcement, so you’ll be perfectly safe. Please listen to and follow the deputies’ instructions.

12. Will we actually be using real police tools and equipment?

  • Yes, everything you’ll see at the WPA is real. This is not a watered-down citizens police academy. We want you to see, touch, smell, and experience what it’s like to be a police officer, even if it’s only for three days. I promise you an adrenaline rush before the weekend is over!

13. Will I have time to see and do everything?

  • Absolutely not. Think of this event as Disneyland For Writers. There is far too much to see and do in one weekend. You’ll need to study the schedule and pick and choose the workshops that interest you the most. We do try to offer each workshop/class/session at least twice. Still, it would be impossible to do it all. We will, however, arrange it so that everyone is able to attend Dr. Ramsland’s Friday presentation.
  • We are in the process of nailing down the final schedule and hope to have it online and ready to go by June 12, 2011. Please bear with us. It is a scheduling nightmare trying to line up active-duty law enforcement officers and fire and EMS personnel from a few dozen agencies. Not to mention the rotating shifts, vacations, court, sudden call-outs, emergency situations, etc. And we have dozens of large vehicles, equipment, etc. that we have to get into place at the proper times.
  • The WPA schedule could change at any moment due to any of the above situations.

14. Don Knotts Golden Donut Short Story Contest is open. Please visit contest page (link is above in header) for details. Good luck!

15. Thanks to Sisters in Crime national, the early bird registration has been extended.

Check back as we will update this page often!

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