Phoenix, AZ - Phoenix FBI Special Agent in Charge John E. Lewis and President of the FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association Dr. Harry Waters would like to announce the Phoenix Division's Citizens' Academy Alumni Graduation Dinner to be held on the evening of April 4, 2007. The 2007 graduating class of the Phoenix FBI's Citizens' Academy will mark the Academy's 15th year anniversary.

The FBI Citizens' Academy originated in the FBI Phoenix Field Division. Since that time, FBI Field Divisions throughout the nation have established an Academy and FBI Headquarters has more recently established a National Citizens' Academy. The Citizens' Academy is an eight-week program that gives business, religious, civic, and community leaders and inside look at the FBI. The objectives of the Academy are to increase public awareness about the FBI, provide an avenue for the FBI to hear and respond to community issues and concerns, and strengthen relationships between the FBI and the communities it serves.

This year's graduation will be held at the Wrigley Mansion and the Phoenix Police Department Honors Chorus will be performing at the event. The guest speaker for the evening will be Wayne Murphy, Assistant Director, Directorate of Intelligence, FBI Headquarters.

This event is funded by the Phoenix FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association. The Phoenix FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association supports future academy classes and the FBI Phoenix Division's community outreach initiatives. Such initiatives include opportunities for community education events, an Internet Sexual Predator education course designed to help parents protect their children on-line, Junior Special Agent Academies which are instructed by agents at two area schools and designed to teach youths self esteem and citizenship, and feeding the homeless at St. Vincent De Paul.