Weird Wednesday: Police Psychics
I have doubts about psychics who participate in criminal investigations, but police psychics do exist. According to TruTV:
Vernon J. Geberth, author of Practical Homicide Investigation, devotes five pages to how police officers can (and do) work with psychics,… but Barry Fisher, in Techniques of Crime Investigation, equally renowned in law enforcement, ignores the entire issue.
Says debunker Gary Posner, “There has not been a single iron-clad case, bulletproof case that has been convincing.” In addition, no psychic has ever stepped forward for the million-dollar reward that James Randi’s educational foundation offers (nor any other financial award from other agencies) for proving their psychic powers in controlled conditions.
Here are a few links to psychics who work with the police:
Allison Dubois (a reader left a comment mentioning Dubois’ name)
Gale St. John (she worked on the ongoing Caylee Anthony case in Florida)
What do YOU think?
October 21st, 2009 at 10:37 am
I think the most successful “psychics” are people who have the capacity to subconsciously perceive and digest clues from their surroundings. They aren’t psychic in the sense we think of it, just people with strong perceptive powers. Like the Rainman, their minds just work a bit differently than “normal” folks. Real psychics would be winning the lottery weekly otherwise. I could be wrong, I’ll have to consult my crystal ball.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:33 am
What about Allison DuBois – whom the show “Medium” is based on? She has apparently helped solve some murders. Obviously it’s not like the show but otherwise she is a normal married woman with 3 kids.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:51 am
Emily, thanks for mentioning her. She is definitely worth looking into.
Douglas, what about KRESKIN??!
October 21st, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I believe! Then there are those who will not, under any circumstances, so to each their own.
As to why no one has stepped up to the challenge – I believe the answer is somewhere along the lines of “if you have to ask, you wouldn’t understand”.
October 21st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Actually, Kreskin is one who does it consciously. He knows he cannot read minds but he is expert at both reading body language, picking up subtle clues, and manipulating people into certain thought patterns.
October 24th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Normally, I like to believe in something that is scientifically proven. However, I have a friend who used to tell me there was money in a telephone booth, that she was going to win a drawing, that she knew what was in someone’s else’s closet on a top shelf, etc. I think there are people who have the ability to use that sixth sense–like my friend. I’m a believer now.