On November 21st, the Law Magnet hosted a diverse group of professionals in the criminal justice sector, including constables, district attorneys, a federal judge, a forensic chemist, a DEA Special Agent, mounted officers, and drone operators. Students were invited to listen to panelists’ stories and advice, paving the way for an incredible opportunity for education in both criminal justice and life.
The event began with the Law Magnet funneling downstairs into the commons. Once attendees were seated, a few opening remarks were made, including a statement from Sergeant Richmond of the Dallas Sheriff’s Department, who chose to join the police force in lieu of going down darker paths. Later, Dallas County Chief Public Defender Paul Blocker insisted that graduating high school is a key component to succeeding in life. One familiar face was Severo Perez, the man for whom the Law Magnet’s school of criminal justice is named. Perez, citing his criminal justice experience, worked as a state trooper for ten years and taught at the Law Magnet for thirty years. He warned students that they will experience ups-and-downs after graduation, but that their most important task is to get back up. Mr. Jones, the Law Magnet’s principal, and Mr. Turner, a criminal justice teacher, both spoke about the lengths they took to ensure the event could be experienced by Law’s students. They emphasized the hard work of every person involved, many of whom were students with varied leadership experience. Together, they worked to create a seamless event for the Law Magnet’s students.
Students were led by volunteers to different sections, where panelists waited to speak. One of these panelists, Constable Eddie Brown, discussed the process of running for the position and eventually being elected to the job of evicting people from their homes. He described the dislike of police officers, to which he responded that not all officers should be conflated with the worst. Constable Deanna Hammond wore a red cowboy hat meant to brand her as she ran for election and discussed the system of constables in each district. Constable Brown referenced the mental health issues that come with the work, mentioning the need to “go from superman to dad” for his two children. Though he admits that the job can be tolling, he believes it is rewarding nonetheless.
Dallas County Attorney Alexandra Guio spoke to students about her life and legal work. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, she immigrated to the United States at age four. After her visa expired, she grew up undocumented and was forced to work tirelessly to achieve her aspirations.
When encouraged to ask questions, students asked about her most violent and “hardest” cases. She smiled while recalling her favorite case, during which a man stole a Lamborghini from a dealership and incited a high-speed chase, complete with SWAT tanks, a United States Air Force appearance, and footage of the incident.
Guio recounted when exactly she realized that, after the difficult upbringing she endured, her efforts had paid off. “I would say 2013. That sigh of relief that I became a citizen, I graduated law school. I passed the bar and got that job. I finally realized, okay, I did it, but even then, sometimes in my career I have to slow down and take in the glory of just how lucky I am.”
Later on, two mounted officers explained their duties while attendees gazed in amazement and excitedly took pictures of their horses. Two Dallas Police Department Drone Unit operators flew their drones over students’ heads, explaining their use for finding fugitives and missing people. Some individuals tried on the operators’ vests and observed the view of the drone as it flew between the pillars at Townview Magnet Center’s entrance. Later testimonies on the event illustrated that many had not known of career paths like these, a revelation that displays the scope of opportunities available in criminal justice.
Dallas County Public Defender Paul Blocker was one of the most engaging speakers, hinting at his skill as an attorney. He laments that the criminal justice system is meant to strip individuals of their dignity. He, like Defender Alexandra Guio, maintains that everyone’s rights should be protected. On the question of what advice he would give to his younger self, he responded, “Be patient, your story’s not written yet.” As an opening speaker, he had remembered initially believing he would become a physician before taking a detour into a career in law. On the most rewarding part of his job, he mused, “Knowing that someone’s better off after meeting me than before.”
By 2:00pm, students began to shuffle back to class as panelists finished their last sessions. They gathered with friends, wondering aloud who was the best speaker, who was the funniest, the most interesting. Some mentioned the game warden, some said the mounted officers, some said District Defense Attorney Paul Blocker, some said they wanted to go home.
Daniela Garcia, a sophomore in Law’s criminal justice pathway, was glad to have learned about the future opportunities available to her and students with similar goals. “It helped me a lot to explore the types of careers besides the basic police officer and district attorney,” she remarked.
The day was filled with lessons. Hard work pays off, dignity is a right, it takes a village. Students were exposed to models of what it means to have a dream and work towards it, or see an opening and jump in. Amidst an era of dreams and uncertainty over the future, we learned that there are endless paths to be taken.
