The mission of the FBI Community Outreach Program (COP) is to provide a comprehensive program that deals with multiple interrelated societal problems, including
terrorism, civil rights, gangs and drugs, and other crimes in support of the FBI’s investigative mission.
The Goal of the COP is to establish communication between the FBI and the community to share information about the overall mission of the FBI, and specifically, how the FBI’s Community Outreach Program supports the reduction of crime, gangs and drugs, and other
crimes in the community to include terrorism and civil rights violations.
Citizens' Academy
The Citizens’ Academy is a stimulating program that gives media executives, business, religious, civic, and community leaders a chance to get an inside look at the FBI and to meet the dedicated men and women of the FBI. During the Academy, students gain insight
into the structure and operation of an FBI Field Office; obtain an overview of the legal basis for the FBI’s jurisdiction and issues relating to congressional oversight; and learn about the services the FBI provides to local and state law enforcement agencies.
The Cleveland Division hosts two Academies each year within northern Ohio, consisting of six sessions over a five-week period. Below is a picture of the spring 2007 Citizens’ Academy graduates and FBI representatives.
Toledo Citizens' Academy Graduates
2007
Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST)
CREST is a shorter, more focused version of the Citizens Academy, conducted in partnership with a community group at a location of their choosing. CREST offers many of the advantages of the traditional Citizens’ Academy, exposing community leaders to the FBI,
our people, and our operations while building mutual trust and good will. The CREST curriculum will instruct students about the mission, goals, history and internal workings of the FBI, but will be customized to meet the needs of each organization. Any two
to four of the following topics may be selected:
- Counterterrorism
- Foreign Counterintelligence
- Cyber Crimes
- Public Corruption
- Major Thefts/Violent Crimes
- White Collar Crime
- Civil Rights
- Gangs
- Drugs
- Civil Rights
- Recruitment and Hiring
Just like Citizens’ Academy, CREST offers members of the community a chance to meet our people and understand our operations.
InfraGard
Another very important outreach program supported by the COP is InfraGard, a national information sharing and analysis program between the FBI and the private sector that began in 1996 as a local effort to gain support from the information technology industry
and academia for the FBI’s investigative efforts in the cyber arena. The program has since grown into a national entity.
InfraGard is an alliance of private industry, academia, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants committed to sharing information and intelligence to protect our nation’s critical infrastructures. The joint venture has promoted a relationship
of trust and credibility through the exchange of information with the owners and operators of the U.S. critical infrastructures.
As of June 2006, 83 of the top 100 firms in the Fortune 500 have an InfraGard representative and there are over 15,000 InfraGard members throughout the country.
Visit the local InfraGard website at www.nocinfragard.org for more information on the program.
Director's Community Leadership Award (DCLA)
Each year, the Special Agent in Charge selects and publicly recognizes one individual or organization whose achievements in terrorism, crime, drug, gang, or violence prevention and/or education have had a positive impact on the community.
FBI
Cleveland presented Thompson Hine LLP partner Stephen D. Williger with the 2007 Director’s Community Leadership Award. The award, presented
on behalf of the director of the FBI, was established in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs and violence in America. Steve Williger was recognized for his dedication to the FBI Citizens' Academy Foundation of Cleveland since
its inception in 2004, his recent selection for the National Board for the FBI National Citizens' Academy Alumni Association, and offering his legal knowledge and skills to the cause of community safety.
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