The Blue Sense: Psychic Detectives and Crime

The ``blue sense'' is a heightened sort of intuition capable of insights far beyond what a police officer can ordinarily see, hear or smell. Here Truzzi, professor of sociology and director of the Center for Scientic Anomalies Research at Eastern Michigan University, and Lyons ( Other People's Money ) combine their talents in a fair-minded assessment of what parapsychology can bring to law enforcement, arguing that cops have something to learn from psychics. Only about 10% of police forces in the U.S. admit to using practitioners of telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition and psychokinesis, claim the authors, but many more may do so sub rosa, fearing accusations of professional tomfoolery. Devastating in their exposure of charlatanism in the field, Truzzi and Lyons nevertheless also cite important contributions made by psychics to criminal investigations. And, they cogently caution readers, simply because many benefits of the paranormal are unproved does not mean they have been disproved. Photos not seen by PW. (Feb.)