Blog 9: Reflection Review

1. I'll say this, something positive about my Lesson 1 was that I tried to keep talking, even if that didn't work out exactly how I wanted, and that I could show something we use in work.
2. I was really proud with how long I stuck out on a presentation I wanted to do, and had a lot I wanted to talk about, even though I stalled.
3. I give myself a CR
4. I give that grade because I stalled and mumbled throughout my presentation and didn't get to what I really wanted to talk about. I also didn't finish or start my presentation strong.
5. In my Lesson I found that having my sources out turned out to be a real help in the long run. I also liked that I could show the real technology used, instead of just mention what it looked like.
6. I would have better prepared myself. given the presentation a better structure, because in my first run, the note cards only gave me cues on what topic was next, not notes on each section, just the name of the section. I would have also tried rehearsing in a crowd earlier, because I wasn't prepared for the amount of people I was talking to.

Extra Post: October

For my extra post I wanted to talk about something new that i've been shown. recently my mentor, while we worked, showed me what audio bugs looked like. What's been shown on television is more wrong than you could think. These new bugs look like just a wire with a slight bulge were the microphone is set into it. These bugs could be put anywhere, AND look like any other cable. they're near invisible. It blew my mind to see that the technology that's being used is so much more advanced than before, yet as simple as having the appearance of a wire.

Blog 8:Research and Working EQ

1. My working EQ is "What is the most effective and safe way for Special Operations to legally place bugs or sweep for bugs in an environment
2.  so far my answers include:

1. for the placement of recording devices, to place them inside an object that isn't interacted with frequently or at all.
2. I believe that a false identity for the purposes of going into a place of interest is essential to keeping safe this includes, False ID's, different clothing, and even disguises for the face: beards, glasses hats.
3. my most important source so far has been "Interpreting Prisoners Communications" as it has given me the most insight to how the prisoners think about their surroundings and understanding of their law.
4. For my Mentorship, I am mentoring under Detective Adam Cordova, who has been showing me the ingenuity and technical know how on the going on's of the office. Everything is mostly made on site or scouted out and placed without anyones knowledge but theirs. The recordings that are received are still extremely confidential but have helped me form my Working EQ.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

For my independent component 1, I plan to continue my job shadowing and working under my mentor. To show That I have performed my 30 hours, I plan on taking photos and recordings of allowed materials, and the workplace I also plan on keeping a log of certain materials used in the offices. by continuing to work under my mentor I can dig into exactly how they do their work, and how I can better form my EQ. I can also learn of other experts in the field and use them as a resource as well.

Blog 6: Second Interview Preparation

1. My Mentor is Detective Adam Cordova and they work at a center for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs department.
2. I will be asking them:

1. Their rank and position within their work.
2. Which academy they attended and the experience there.
3. Their amount of work experience and their path to their current position.
4. What formal education did they receive prior to their position.
5. Why they went into law enforcement and stayed with it.

Blog 5-Mentorship Reflection

1. Mentorship Question: I found my mentorship by watching my father do his job and learning what how he goes about doing it properly for the past five years. So one year ago I asked if I could tag along with him, to see his office and watch, even help him, do his work. He gave me his Sunday's
overtime to help him with filing and recording. That day is ingrained in my mind as the day I saw how detectives both monitor and prevent future crimes. Whether through using recorded prison conversations, or by listening in on a gang's conversation, the LASD has used it's information to the best of it's abilities.

2. When it comes to the resources, such as books on privacy and unlawful search and seizure, or a web article about the law on each form of eavesdropping or wiring, I've learned a lot from each of them. However, when it comes to which one has been the most useful in terms of my research on laws about laws on surveillance and recording, it has been MSI Detective Service's website. this site has provided me with the laws, either state by state, federal, and the proper procedures for Detectives and in terms that a civilian could understand.

August Blog

About an hour after our work is done, my mentor decided it would be worth it to show me all the hidden devices that are used or have been used throughout the intelligence divisions existence. recorders cut into a bibles pages are one such device, but my mentor had an extreme dislike for cutting holes into the new testament, so he and his partner took the covers off the bibles, leaving the pages intact and, creating fake pages with a false inside. Along with the new design came an easier way for the party to operate. afterwards, my mentor taught me about the difference between analog and digital receivers, and went into a brief recount of counter-espionage strategies.

Blog 4: Interview Preperation

1. I plan to interview my mentor who I've been working with for this summer. I chose them because I felt it would be a proper way to get introduced to the interview process. Also, my mentor is one of the seniors in their work.

2. On top of the required questions I plan to ask the following questions.

•  What would you say is the most tedious or frustrating part of your job?
•  How does your work affect investigations, is what you find admissible in court?
• Do you find yourself more bound by state or federal law?
• Is your work environment changing rapidly, with new responsibilities being placed on you?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Working EQ

1. My topic is Special Operations.

2. What are the laws that restrict Special Operations, and what is their procedure for acting within but around these laws and restrictions?

Summer Mentorship Component

     1. Mentorship Hours Spreadsheet located here.

     2. Due to the nature of my mentors work and in concern for their safety and the safety of their respective co-workers I can NOT allow the publication of their identity or workplace number. please understand that not only am I bound by law to keep their identities secret for legal reasons, but also a moral obligation for the protection of their families and loved ones. Unless I am given permission by my mentor to publish their name and number, this must remain my stance. Thank you.

     3. Various Questions were raised during my mentorship with the Technical Division. These questions ranged from personal about my mentors previous work experience and broad questions dealing with the Division as a whole. These questions included:

1. How does the typical work day go for you and your co-workers? are you all working on the same investigation or do you each have separate tasks assigned to your respective positions?

2. What sort of education is required or expected of you for employment in the field? Is there more than one way to enter your work?

3. Did you plan on this line of work from the beginning? If not, what led you to this line of work and continue with it? If it was, what obstacles did you face along the way to your current position?

4. Where does your equipment come from? If from outside sources, than what are some examples of these companies, and if you build them yourself, where did you learn to craft these electronics?

5. What would be your best advice for someone looking to enter the force and become a new member of the Technical Division? What would you say is the best way of getting through the Police Academy?

 6. What is NATIA? Are you required to attend every one of it's sessions? How would you describe the experience of seeing the several small companies, each trying to prove itself that it stands above all others in terms of your work? 

7. NATIA occurs in several different states in the U.S., it could be in Texas or Tennessee, or maybe even closer to home in San Diego. does your department cover the travel expenses for the farther training, or are you expected to cover the cost of travel and reservation?

8. What concerns do you have for the future of your work? Is there any need for caution amongst new recruits? How about workplace politics? Do certain co-workers interfere with your attempts to perform your duties?

9. What is the median pay for people in your line of work? Does the department provide certain benefits to it's workers such as medical, dental, or life insurance?

     4. The most important thing i learned while serving my mentor was, i learned of the extreme expertise amongst the detectives and the way they utilize their equipment. what they can not build or find amongst the office, they can create from scratch through soldering, metalwork, and skill. some equipment such as cameras, microphones and transmitters can be used in several different ways to match the situation. When it comes down to it, I learned that these workers are problem solvers. they solve the real world problems as they come, or even before they happen, and are able to work as they go along. their ingenuity, bravery and deduction make these detectives the top in their field. Given the importance of these qualities, it is important that any aspiring employee should personify them. 

     5. For my Senior Project, I plan on working much closer with the Technical Division and my mentor to closer study how their jobs may be even more effective in the pursuit of law and justice. working in this mentorship opened up my eyes to a world around me. one of surveillance, forensics and espionage. this work opens up possible employment opportunities in , engineering, computer programming, counter-espionage, and even domestic careers such as photography. while i was mentored, I learned how the skills i was taught could be warped into fighting itself. Which is why for my Senior Project, I plan on working on the Technical Division and how it could improve in hardware and methodology.

Blog 1: 2 hour presentations response

1. what presentations did you see?

Karate

Radio Frequency Field Engineer. 

Goalkeeping 

International Business

Dentistry

Software Developer

Public Defender

Computer Programming

Warehouse Management Op.

Homelessness

Magic the Gathering

Soccer 

Dentistry

Public Transport

Automotive Repair

Fire Protection

2. What questions did you have that weren't answered about the senior project?

I wanted to know a bit more about the individual components that went into their presentations, what work was assigned to help them complete the assignment. A big question I had about presentations that I felt wasn't answered by the presentations was about the problems and downsides to their best answer, they did touch on this, but never went into depth about the challenges or negative side effects of their best answer. 

3. What was the most important part of the senior project based on what you are seeing in the presentations?

 Based on what i saw from both the good and the bad presenters was that they put most of their effort on the hook activity and their best answer. which makes sense seeing as how they want their audience engaged in their topic, and wanting to showcase the best answer that they had spent months on creating. They had to put their all into the presentations and put the bulk of that effort into teaching their topics best path.

4. What topic are you considering doing and why?

Right now I am set between either Funeral Service, and Law Enforcement Technology. I've considered Funeral Service due to past family events and articles on the subject. as for Law Enforcement, I have several family who work in the field and the topic of Law and Criminals is very intriguing. 

5. What are you doing for your Summer Mentorship?

Based on which of the two topic I chose, I will either be going to a family friend in the field of mortuary science, or to Los Angeles to work under a mentor for Law Enforcement Technology.