Blog 13: Rought Draft of 30 Min Presentation

30 Minute Lesson Plan

Blog 12: Third Interview Questions

How can an officer best handle a life-threatening situation?

What skills, traits, or experience help keep an officer calm during an emergency?

What are some of the most deadly emergencies that an officer can face while in the line of duty?

What type of training, if any, does the police academy offer to prepare trainees for future service?

What are the dangers of not being able to keep calm during an emergency?

How often would you say you hear of or witness an officer who isn't prepared to respond to emergencies?

Do you know of any special techniques used to keep calm during emergencies, and if so what are they?

Do you believe that the ability to keep calm during an emergency can be taught? Why or why not?

What is the best way to prepare to handle an emergency?

What kind of mentality do you need to effectively and calmly handle an emergency?

What has worked the best for you in your experience?

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 hours Check

1. Where are you doing your mentorship?

• I am still enrolled but about to graduate from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Training and Regional Services Center Explorer Academy. My mentorship is going to be continued at my Police Explorer post at the Baldwin Park Police Department. 

2. Who is your contact?

• I am about to graduate and become an explorer at the Baldwin Park PD Explorer Post and my primary mentor is Officer Jaycon Sanchez. 

3. How many total hours have you done?

• Not counting summer hours, up until 1/10/2013 I have 255 hours from my explorer academy, weekly post meetings, and any events I worked. My total overall is 299 and a half hours if I include summer.

4. Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.

• The 255 hours I have accumulated are the result of my 18 week explorer academy, my weekly post meetings, and the 2 police details I have worked so far.  The 18 week explorer academy comprised of physical training and in class training in preparation for my duties as a police explorer. My weekly post meetings were a furthering of this while also serving as training for the competition I am going to on the 19th of this month. The 2 details included the Christmas event for Baldwin Park's youth and the traffic detail I worked at the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game. 

Rose Parade/Rose Bowl - January 1st 2013

On Wednesday, January 1st, I got to work my 2nd official detail as an Explorer at the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl. My post was assigned to traffic duty, where we basically were each given a street to manage and keep traffic moving and allowing pedestrians to cross as they moved from the parade and to the game.

Rose Bowl before the game.

This is basically what I was doing for 5 hours. I quickly learned

that it is not a lot of fun, especially when dealing with

unruly fans and angry drivers.

Final "Real" day at the Academy - December 29th

Saturday, December 29th, was the last day we, as recruits, would have any formal training or lectures. We had our Final Exams, our Final Physical Training 500 exams, and our final lecture on Patrol Procedures.

Despite having 3 more Saturday meetings to go, the reason why this one is considered the last is because the next three meetings are devoted to Family Day (sort of an open house for our families to see what we've had to go through) and then Graduation rehearsal, and finally Graduation day.

 I am so happy to have made it this far and am looking forward to finally becoming an Explorer.

Final Defense Tactics Training - December 22nd

Saturday, December 22nd, was the final day where we were taught maneuvers on how to catch, fight, and take down a hostile suspect. We were tested on all of the information we had been given at the end of the day by having to use it in a real hands on scenario. 

The scenario entailed the following:

1. I and a partner had to arrive on the "scene" in a police cruiser, give out the proper radio and location information, and then proceed to run to the building where the suspects were.
2. While warming up for the scenario, we had to punch and kick punching bags and do push ups while continuing to relay information on where we were located at.
3. We did a few minutes of jump rope and push ups to keep our blood going while we waited our turn for the final stage of the scenario.
4. The last and best part had us fighting a fully padded up Drill Instructor with the intention of taking him down and arresting him. If it seemed like we were winning, more Drill Instructors would be thrown into the fight. Mind you, most of them are former Marines or army, and all of them are currently on duty as a deputy or officer and have much more experience on us. 

All in all I learned a lot from today, and it definitely will be a day I remember. 

Sheriff's Shooting Range!

On Saturday, December 8th, my academy class went to the L.A. County's Sheriff's Range in Valencia for a private lecture, demonstration, and opportunity to fire the department's weapons. While I am not at liberty to disclose the full details of what went on, I can say that it was definitely a fun experience. We were able to take home the brass and shells of the shots we fired. At the end of the day, I was informed that I was to be the next class sergeant for my academy class.

First Detail!

On Thursday, December 6th, I worked my first detail at the Baldwin Park Teen Center. It was a Christmas toy drive for underprivileged children between the ages of 3 and 14. My duties included setting up, working the game booths, directing traffic, and taking down the event. It was a lot of fun to help out and seeing all the smiles on the children's faces would have made anyone happy.

Blog 10: Senior Project Update

1) What are you currently doing in your indepedent component?

• I am still attending the STARS Explorer Academy in order to graduate as a Police Explorer. In the most recent class we had, we learned self defense tactics from a professional that trains the actual sheriffs dupties. We also had a lecture on the "Use of Force" by law enforcement.

2) What is a recent piece of research (article, interview, or audio-visual) that have you reviewed you would say was significant in helping you understand where to go next in your senior project?  The piece of research should be something you reviewed in November.  Please explain what you learned and where are you going next because of this piece of research.

• During one of the classes I had at the STARS center, we were given a lecture on the duties as a Police Explorer which would include working details and going on "Ride-a-longs" with officers. Seeing as my essential question involves looking for the best way an officer can deal with high stress situations both professionaly and ethically, getting hands on experience with such situations will help me find the answer.

3) Here is a picture of the self defense class we had. 

Colors Run!

On November 17th, I had my Colors Run for the STARS Academy. The Colors Run is a tradition that has been in the academy for years that marks the moment when a recruit reaches half way in his or her training. It is also done in remembrance of all fallen officers and deputys. It was a 4 mile run at Long Beach, with 2 miles being ran in the sand and 2 miles being ran in the water.

 It was definitely an experience on a whole other level and it turned out to be one of the most memorable days of my life. I am halfway there to graduation as an explorer!

Blog 5b: Science Fair Proposal

1) Law Enforcement

2) Police departments have been using the M9 9mm as their standard issue service pistol for officers, but recently there have been many departments, including the L.A. sheriffs, who have considered and already implemented the more reliable Glock to replace the M9.

"Trigger Pull Weight for a Handgun." Trigger Pull Weight. Vickers Tactical, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.

3) A rookie using a Glock 9mm is more accurate than an experienced cop using the M9 service pistol.

4) I would gather at the minimum 22 cops (11 experienced and 11 rookies, rookies being those with 0-5 years of experience and experienced being those with more than 5) and have the rookies fire the Glock 9mm and the experienced fire the M9 9mm. Accuracy shall be tested by comparing target scores of the different shooters using the two guns. 3-5 rounds of the same 9mm ammunition shall be used by the shooters for both guns. 

5) Behavioral/Social Science

Blog 9: Working EQ and Possible Answers

1) What was the working EQ you used during your presentation?

• "What skills or traits help keep an officer calm during an emergency?"

2) Did you decide to revise your working EQ after your presentation?

• "What skills, traits, or experience help keep an officer calm during an emergency?"

3) What are possible answers to your current working EQ?

• The training officers recieve is designed in such a way that when an emergency comes around they should be able to act in a cool-headed manner.
• Some officers say that the best way to develop a calmness for emergencies is through experiencing them yourself.
• Some officers know and are naturally confident in their abilities and those of their partner so that when an emergency occurs, they can wisely use their resources in the most effective way.

Blog 8: Rough Draft of Presentation 1

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qlQeVnLi9Jvhk3Jbpr02mOTz73RIJRgjvcHCOc_w1z4/edit

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1. Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component. 
For my independent study component, I am going to continue with the police explorer program and attending the Sheriff's Training and Regional Services Center academy. The police explorer program is a way for me to get hands on study with officers on not only their day to day activities like patrolling, but every aspect of law enforcement such as forensics, interrogation, air patrol, special weapons and tactics, canine, and more. At the academy I will also be taught the history, policies, and values of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and law enforcement in general. 

2. Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.
My meetings at the academy are every Saturday from 6:00 A.M. to about 5:00 P.M. and my police explorer post meetings are every other Monday from 5:00 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.  My academy time runs until I graduate in January, while the police explorer program is until I quit, so by February I will have well over 100 hours.

3. How does your independent study component relate to your working EQ?
The police explorer program relates to my EQ: "What skills or traits help keep an officer calm and alert when responding to an emergency?" because the program teaches me about the challenges that officers face on a day to day basis and how their training and discipline allows them to keep their cool when it all hits the fan. The program also exists to imbue me with the skills officers have to stay calm in situations so that I can use them when performing my duties as an explorer. 

Second Interview Questions

1. When did your tour as an police officer start and how long have you been on the force?

2. What college education do you have and how has it affected your performance in your line of work?

3. What type of training did you receive before your tour began?

4.  What responsibilities are entrusted to you as a Baldwin Park police officer?

5. Where do you see yourself as far as your career is concerned 10 years from now?