With Michael W. Streed The basics of composite sketching and how it fits into the investigation process: A composite sketch is a graphic representation of a person’s basic facial characteristics Composite sketch artists are either the first or last person called in to assist with an investigation Most composite sketch artists are police officers or detectives first, artists … [Read more...]
The SketchCop Michael W. Streed on The Night Stalker
A close call, with a close and famous case. Reading about famous true crime stories can be frightening. Being directly involved or on the fringe of one can be equally concerning. Throughout my career, I have been involved in many murder cases, but the one that hit closest to home occurred in the early 1980’s during Southern California’s Night Stalker investigation. During The Night Stalker’s murder spree, serial killer Richard Ramirez … [Read more...]
The Sketchcop Michael W. Streed on What a Real Cop Thinks of TV Cops
What a REAL Cop Thinks of TV Cops Many people just love reading about true crime and watching police procedural shows on television. ‘Real’ cops – not so much. Police officers spend so many hours a day living the real thing, many of them loathe spending more time watching it, or reading about it, after a long day spent inside their squad cars. Personally, I have been a big fan of TV cops. It started when I was a kid. In the 60’s and 70’s, … [Read more...]
Michael W. Streed: True Crime Stories from a Forensic Artist
Michael W. Streed is an internationally-recognized forensic facial imaging expert based in Southern California. For 35 years he has blended his rich law enforcement experience and artistic skills to provide forensic facial imaging services to some of the largest, most diverse, police agencies in the United States, including the Los Angeles and Baltimore City Police Departments. During his distinguished law enforcement career Michael … [Read more...]
The SketchCop Michael W. Streed on Writer’s Block
The SketchCop on writer’s block. When I wrote SketchCop – Drawing A Line Against Crime, I found that one of my biggest challenges was writer’s block. After a career spent writing millions of words, onto tens of thousands of pages of police reports, you would think that it would be simple for me to write a book. Not true. Writers block is a something I experienced many times. If you don’t believe me, think back to when you were stuck staring at … [Read more...]
Michael W. Streed on the Impact of New Forensic Technology
Making faces and the impact of new forensic technology Technology continues to affect the way we live and work. Each day, companies are developing new tools and computer software programs that propel industry and help create products that make our lives easier. In my industry, technology is changing the way we create a criminal’s face. For example, 100 years ago, if a frontier lawman wanted to make a poster of a wanted criminal, they only … [Read more...]
Michael W. Streed Helps Solve Cold Case in History Channel’s, Alcatraz: Search for the Truth
On October 12, 2015, Michael W. Streed was featured during History Channel’s, Alcatraz: Search for the Truth. The program details the notorious 1962 prison break from Alcatraz State Penitentiary by convicts Frank Morris and Anglin brothers, John and Clarence. All three were presumed dead by drowning after an exhaustive search failed to locate evidence they survived. Now, fifty-three years later, relatives of the Anglin’s approached … [Read more...]
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