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.

Blog 16: Answer 2

1. My EQ is, "How can the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department best utilize their Special Investigations Unit?"
2. The Los Angeles Sheriffs Department can best utilize their Special Investigations Unit by better funding them, and by providing them with more employees, and giving them constant up-to-date training for advances in technology and methods.
3. The Los Angeles Sheriffs Department could be better utilizing their SPI Unit by removing the unnecessary, bureaucratic laws that bind them at the moment, and discuss which of these laws is necessary.
4. a. The LASD has three form of recording consent laws, whether it be dual, all, or single party consent, It is unnecessary to have both dual or all party as their descriptions are almost completly identical.
b. The Los Angeles Sheriff County has little in place to protect its detectives from being accused of breaking these laws and little to save them from loophole exploitation.
c.
5. Faturechi, Robert. "Narcotics Wiretap Catches Voice That May Be Sheriff's Captain's." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.
It can be seen that even the Sherifffs aren't safe from recording at times. and nothing hurts the reputation of other detectives than one being caught doing something wrong.
6. Friedersdorf, Conor. "Eyes Over Compton: How Police Spied on a Whole City." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 21 Apr. 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.  This Source shows the bad PR that the sheriffs recieve whenever they try to monitor or patrol the city in newer, more sophisticated and safe ways. They are pressured into using older methods that put more people in danger.
7. To conclude the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department may have been pressured into it's downsizing by citizens who were upset at the methods they were using, and wanted them to shift over to more comfortable, familiar methods used previously.