Blog 22: Mentorship

Adam Cordova

Special Investigations Unit

The most important thing I've gained from working with the SPI Unit, and especially under my mentor, was how important it was to cooperate and work together. They're a very small team, made up of only 6 people, when a problem arises between them, if it isn't worked out quickly, then the whole line of jobs and work gets backed up. I got to see this very personally over the past few months, with investigations by IA and drama between each other. It taught me how important just a little communication can be when you're working as a team.

This mentorship has helped me with my senior project because I got to work with the people I was doing the project on, so I got to pick their brains and get their opinion on what the best solution would be. They aren't mentioned anywhere in papers, or in the internet, so actually talking to them has been the only way to gain any real answers to their plights. I think that this mentorship was at the perfect time, with all the situations going on, I was able to see what was affecting them most, and how they deal with it. It also helped me answer my EQ because I was able to get feedback over what to add or remove from my answers to help me give the best advice on how they could be better utilized, and be as efficient as possible.

Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or your senior project? Why?
I am most proud of being able to speak quality research on my topic for enough time, and making time in general. It was my greatest worry that I would not be able to speak long enough, as before when I had timed myself, I didn't make time, so to hear that I made both speaking time, and overall time was a relief.

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?
I think what really worked for me in my senior project was my mentorship. During my mentorship I was able to learn some much in more in-depth of the operation of the law, and the struggles that technical teams face in their work. I also got to see the dedication these people put into their oath to protect and serve. Also, I would not be able to learn anything on the SPI Unit, even their existence, if it weren't for my mentorship
(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?
I had more information I wanted to say. there was more to my topic that I wish I could have said, I wanted to go on about how the only way the LASD would probably learn is by losing cases, or waiting years on an outside tech team, since that was the only reason several other departments learned to create and effectively fund their own SPI Unit-variants. My activity is also something I wanted to work on. I wanted to add onto it, having the groups also focus on managing their money, and giving them a budget to work with. I also would have created a stricter schedule for myself, as that would have saved me a lot of trouble.
(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.
 I don't think that without the senior project, I would have ever thought of law enforcement as a viable employment option. Because of Senior Project, I have considered going into and applying for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Academy, and joining the LASD. I hope to one day get to the same position as my mentor and join the ranks of SPI, if it still exists. Senior Project also has given me perspective to how the real world looks, with the deadlines and individual responsibilities. I guess in an immediate sense, Senior Project gave me the chance to gain real world experience and more to put on my resume.