CTE Programs: Law Enforcement

Kailani Fletcher, Gissel Delgado, and Maya Mercado-Garcia
January 11, 2022

Downey High School’s Saturday Law Enforcement course prepares students for future careers in the field and also teaches students about different laws and law enforcement procedures. Information is provided through slideshows, videos, hands on activities, like working with fingerprints, and class discussions. Students also visit the Downey Police Department in order to see the action, talk to working police officers, and get in depth explanations of some of the processes in law enforcement. “I talk about both negative and positive aspects of law enforcement and let the students draw their own conclusions,” Law Enforcement teacher, Mr. Kendall, explained. “I want the students to get a look at the whole picture and to teach the kids more aspects of what law enforcement is about.”

The course sets students up with a sound background knowledge that can support a plethora of professions. “A lot of [students] want to get into the FBI [or] the secret service; they want to become law enforcement or they want to become an attorney,” Kendall said. “Some just want to get to know what their rights are.”

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About the Contributors

Kailani Fletcher, Writer

Even though Kailani Fletcher is a very well rounded senior, she still takes an extra step to find her interest by starting her first year at ‘The Downey Legend’ as a writer. Fletcher is also the President of the Downey High School Writing Center, a part of the Downey Track and Field, and is a Link Leader which has her filled schedule. She is hardworking and friendly, which can be seen as she welcomes new people to track and field or being involved in tons of school activities. She has huge dreams in journalism and has the experience in writing to take her there. Just by having a conversation with Fletcher you can see the journalist in her, and how intelligent she is. She hopes to keep her straight A streak, and continue at Barnard College. Writing is a huge part of what she does, and who she wants to become.

“I love writing other people’s stories. You get to put on other people’s shoes and see their perspective.” says Fletcher. “I am huge on humanity and always make a point to try and understand my classmates.”

Gissel Delgado, Editor-In-Chief

Having been a part of The Downey Legend in the previous year, former podcaster and current Co-Editor-In-Chief Gissel Delgado, 12, finds herself wanting to grasp on to her ending adolescence, which is full of helping others. Being a part of the Link Crew Commissioner Class, Delgado is passionate about taking care of new students and making sure all feel welcomed into their first years of high school. This carries over to her personal life, in which she highly prioritizes time with her parents and two sisters. She also likes to challenge herself with several Honors and A.P classes due to her love of learning. In her final year at Downey High School, Delgado hopes to finally know what are the next steps in her career and personal life.

"In all the movies I've watched and books I've read, senior year is always depicted as this sort of self-discovery moment," Delgado said. "Senior year is when you really start to grow up and plan your future, so as I wrap up my time in high school, I really hope I get to find my passion. Slowly but surely, I'm confident that I can."

Maya Mercado-Garcia, Editor-In-Chief

Going into her last year of highschool, Maya Mercado-Garcia, 12, enters her second year in The Downey Legend as co-editor in chief, as well as a photographer. The Youth for Change founder aims to attend a four year UC, with hopes to major in photojournalism, political science, or law, as she would like to make a change in the world by expanding the qualities of a natural born leader. With much involvement at school such as being a Writing Center tutor, a Link Crew leader, a four year Downey dance team member, and taking part in three clubs, she still manages time to be part of the Leadership Committee in Santa Fe Springs and the UNA-USA Whittier Chapter as well as spending time with her neighborhood cat, Sol.

“No matter what it is, whether it’s dance team, Newspaper, Link Crew, the Writing Center, I’m always, even in my club, being a leader, always willing to lend a helping hand” Mercado-Garcia stated. “I really am passionate about helping others through community service, I just want to help people, I just want to do something that makes an impact in the world.”