Cops' True Stories of the Paranormal

1. Paranormal Experiences Challenge Skepticism in Law Enforcement

People on the job have been there, done that, seen it all, heard it all, and experienced it all.

Skepticism is standard. Law enforcement professionals, accustomed to dealing with lies and relying on tangible evidence, typically possess a highly tuned "b.s. detector" and a skeptical worldview. Their daily work exposes them to the extremes of human behavior and tragedy, making them grounded realists. However, some events defy logical explanation and fall outside their normal frame of reference.

Beyond the norm. These inexplicable occurrences go beyond the usual chaos and violence of police work. They are aberrations that confuse, cause anxiety, and often leave officers feeling isolated from peers who might ridicule their experiences. The standard rules and tactics of law enforcement simply do not apply to these strange events.

Experience changes perspective. While many remain skeptical until personally confronted, the book highlights that direct experience is often the catalyst for belief. Officers who have witnessed phenomena they cannot explain find their skepticism challenged, sometimes profoundly, leading them to seek understanding outside conventional explanations.

2. Unexplained Disappearances Leave Officers Baffled

He was running hard but so were we, and we never lost sight of him. That is, until he—vanished.

Witnesses vanish instantly. Several accounts describe individuals disappearing suddenly and inexplicably from clear view, often during pursuits or routine checks. These aren't cases of suspects simply getting away; they are moments where a person is seen one second and gone the next, with no logical escape route or trace left behind.

Impossible scenarios. Officers recount pursuing suspects who disappear inside enclosed spaces with no exits, or encountering people in isolated locations who vanish within seconds. These events defy physical laws and leave experienced officers questioning their sanity and what they witnessed. Examples include:

• A burglary suspect vanishing inside a railroad tunnel only to be found dead in his crashed car moments later.
• A man walking in a snowstorm disappearing without leaving footprints.
• A couple walking on a road vanishing instantly, despite having nowhere to go.

Lingering confusion. These vanishing acts are particularly unsettling because they contradict the fundamental principles of police work based on observation and evidence. The lack of a rational explanation often leads officers to consider paranormal possibilities, even if they remain hesitant to discuss them openly.

3. Residual Energy Manifests as Sensory Phenomena

It’s believed not to be an intelligent form but rather a kind of “recording,” that is, an image or sound similar to an audio or video that continuously replays.

Echoes of the past. Residual hauntings are described as trapped energy from past events or intense emotions, replaying like a recording without conscious interaction. This is considered the most common type of paranormal activity, manifesting as sights, sounds, smells, or temperature changes tied to a specific location or event.

Sensory manifestations. Officers and witnesses report experiencing various phenomena associated with residual energy. These aren't intelligent spirits trying to communicate but rather echoes of past occurrences. Examples include:

• Hearing metallic banging sounds in an empty building where a dead man was found with a cane.
• Feeling sudden, intense cold spots in specific areas without a logical source.
• Smelling unexplained odors like perfume or cigarette smoke.
• Seeing images or shadows that quickly dissipate.

Non-interactive presence. Unlike intelligent hauntings, residual energy is not aware of the living and cannot be communicated with or convinced to move on. It simply replays, sometimes weakening over time, other times seemingly recharging, leaving witnesses with inexplicable sensory experiences.

4. Intelligent Hauntings Involve Interaction with the Living

Spirits interacting with the living are called intelligent hauntings.

Conscious presence. Intelligent hauntings involve spirits that are aware of their surroundings and can interact with the living. These spirits are believed to retain their personality from when they were alive, meaning they can be kind, troublesome, or confused. They actively engage with people or manipulate objects.

Direct engagement. Witnesses describe spirits that seem to respond to questions, move objects intentionally, or appear with a clear purpose. These interactions suggest a level of consciousness and intent beyond simple residual energy. Examples include:

• A ghost prisoner disappearing when approached but reappearing later.
• A "caring nurse" apparition seen by multiple inmates, sometimes appearing to bring water or food.
• Footsteps and door slams heard on an empty upper floor, seemingly in response to people entering the building.
• A shadow figure seen walking and crouching on thermal camera, appearing aware of its surroundings.

Reasons for remaining. Intelligent spirits may be trapped, confused about being dead, have unfinished business, or simply choose to remain in a familiar location. Their interactions often leave witnesses feeling unsettled, watched, or even targeted, unlike the passive nature of residual hauntings.

5. Places with Intense History Often Exhibit Paranormal Activity

Some paranormal researchers believe the reason so many jails and prisons are haunted is because of what they are, the kind of people they incarcerate, and what they do to people once they are behind bars.

Emotional imprints. Locations with a history of intense emotions, violence, tragedy, or confinement are frequently cited as hotspots for paranormal activity. The suffering, rage, depression, and loss experienced in these places are believed to leave an energetic imprint that can manifest as hauntings.

Common haunted locations: The book highlights several types of places where paranormal activity is commonly reported, often linked to their past use or events. These include:

• Jails and Prisons: Sites of confinement, despair, and sometimes violent death.
• Hospitals: Places of birth, death, illness, and intense emotional states.
• Battle sites and disaster areas: Locations of mass death and trauma.
• Old buildings with dark histories: Taverns, houses, or structures used for illicit activities or violence.

Lingering energy. Whether residual or intelligent, the energy in these locations seems to be amplified by the historical context. While not every old or tragic place is haunted, those that are often have a palpable atmosphere that affects visitors and residents, sometimes drawing spirits or replaying past events.

6. Divine Intervention Offers Protection and Guidance

Divine intervention is a guardian that redirects us to prevent something from happening, or redirects us to a place where we can help someone or experience something of value.

Higher power influence. Some experiences are interpreted not as hauntings or demonic activity, but as benevolent intervention from a higher power. These events involve inexplicable guidance, protection, or redirection that leads to a positive outcome or prevents harm.

Guidance and protection. Officers share stories where they believe they were guided or protected by a force beyond their understanding. These moments often occur in dangerous situations or lead them to help someone in need. Examples include:

• Being inexplicably delayed or redirected, narrowly avoiding a fatal accident.
• Hearing a distinct, commanding "voice" instructing them to take a specific action that saves their life or the lives of others.
• Being led to a hidden victim or suspect through an unusual intuition or sign.
• Experiencing a weapon malfunction at a critical moment, preventing a tragic outcome.

Confirmation of faith. For those with existing spiritual beliefs, these experiences can serve as powerful confirmations. For skeptics, they present a challenge to their rational worldview, suggesting that not all outcomes are simply due to chance or human action.

7. Malevolent Forces May Manifest Physically

A demon is a persistently tormenting person or supernatural force.

Dark presence. Beyond simple hauntings, some experiences involve a palpable sense of evil or malevolence, sometimes manifesting physically. These encounters are often described as oppressive, threatening, and distinctly negative, suggesting a force actively seeking to harm or torment.

Physical and emotional impact. Witnesses report feeling overwhelmed by a dark energy, experiencing unexplained physical injuries, or sensing a malevolent presence watching them. These aren't just spooky feelings but intense, fear-inducing encounters. Examples include:

• Feeling an extremely heavy, dark, and oppressive energy pushing down, as if the room itself is assisting.
• Experiencing unexplained scratches or injuries after interacting with dysfunctional families in dimly lit spaces.
• Sensing a malevolent presence associated with shadow figures or specific locations.
• Feeling compelled to flee a location due to an overwhelming sense of evil.

Challenging explanations. These experiences are particularly disturbing and difficult to reconcile with conventional explanations. They lead some to consider the possibility of demonic forces or entities that actively seek to cause distress and harm.

8. UFOs Are Observed by Credible Witnesses with Physical Effects

All I know for sure is what we saw, what the radar picked up, and how the flying craft affected our dogs and the zillions of insects and animals in the surrounding jungle.

Unidentified aerial phenomena. The book includes accounts of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) observed by military personnel, often with accompanying physical effects on the environment or equipment. These aren't distant lights but objects seen up close, sometimes confirmed by radar.

Close encounters. Witnesses describe objects that defy conventional aircraft capabilities, moving silently, changing direction instantly, or hovering inexplicably. These sightings sometimes coincide with physical effects. Examples include:

• Nocturnal lights moving erratically over the ocean, seen by multiple witnesses.
• A cloud edge illuminating with a beam of light shooting down, affecting electronic devices (implied by the "Close Encounters of the Second Kind" definition).
• Objects seen directly overhead, causing animals to react violently or flee.
• Radar confirmation of objects that are also visually observed.

Official silence. Despite credible witnesses and sometimes physical evidence, these events are often met with official silence or orders not to discuss them. This lack of explanation from authorities adds to the mystery and fuels speculation about their origin.

9. Animals Can React to Unseen Phenomena

Instead, he sprang off the ground and slammed into my chest with all four feet.

Animal sensitivity. Several stories highlight how animals, particularly dogs, seem to react to paranormal phenomena that are not immediately apparent to humans. Their behavior suggests an awareness of unseen presences or energies.

Unusual reactions. Dogs, trained to detect tangible threats, sometimes exhibit fear, aggression, or unusual behavior in specific locations or during strange events. These reactions are often inexplicable to their handlers. Examples include:

• A large dog staring intently with eyes that exuded intelligence and "a presence," chilling the officer despite the heat.
• A police K9 refusing to enter a building where noises were heard, despite being trained to apprehend suspects.
• A military police dog reacting violently and trying to flee from an unseen presence in a dark area.

Indicators of the unseen. Animal reactions can serve as an independent indicator that something unusual is present, corroborating human feelings or observations. Their behavior, uninfluenced by human skepticism or imagination, adds a layer of credibility to paranormal claims.

10. Personal Encounters Transform Beliefs About the Paranormal

The difference between a believer and a skeptic is personal experience.

Skepticism challenged. Many individuals, including hardened law enforcement professionals, begin as skeptics regarding the paranormal. However, direct, inexplicable personal experiences often force them to reconsider their worldview and open their minds to possibilities beyond conventional understanding.

Transformative moments. Encounters with the unexplained can be profoundly impactful, leading to a shift in perspective or even a change in life path. These aren't just interesting anecdotes but moments that challenge deeply held beliefs. Examples include:

• An officer becoming a "believer" after witnessing a foggy figure walk through a locked fence on surveillance video.
• A tour guide starting as a skeptic but becoming convinced after seeing figures and hearing noises in a haunted prison.
• An officer's personal experience leading him to join a paranormal investigation group.
• An officer's encounter with divine intervention leading him back to faith and ministry.

Sharing the unexplainable. Despite the potential for ridicule, many witnesses feel compelled to share their stories, seeking validation or simply an outlet for experiences they cannot logically explain. These shared accounts form the basis of the book, offering a glimpse into the strange events encountered by those who serve and protect.

Last updated: June 14, 2025