The FBI Citizens’ Academy was established in 1993 at the Phoenix Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a part of it’s Community Outreach Program.  To date, this initiative has met with substantial success and continues to grow in interest and local impact.  The FBI Citizens’ Academy offers Phoenix area citizens an opportunity to have a first-hand look at the FBI from an organization and operational standpoint.  Students are presented a general overview of all areas of investigative responsibility of the FBI.  Phoenix Division hosts one academy per year, eight weeks in length.  Candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Have an interest in community affairs & current issues that affect the state and union,
• Live and/or work in Arizona,
• Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age,
• Have no prior felony or serious misdemeanor convictions,
• Have no misdemeanor or felony arrests,
• Consent to a background investigation sufficient to afford a security clearance, and
• Sign a non-disclosure of information agreement.

This program is designed to reach “at risk” youth and encourage them to stay away from drugs, gangs and violence.  In 1998, the Phoenix Division adopted a fifth grade class at Nevitt Elementary and two years later, a group of sixth graders at Sacaton Middle School.  Special Agents and numerous Professional Support staff, along with the Community Outreach Specialist, travel to the schools to conduct the lessons.  The lessons include topics such as Physical Fitness, Drug Prevention, Gang Prevention, Description of each Squad, Agent Qualifications, Fingerprint Identification, Internet Safety, Anger Management, Self-Esteem, Teasing & Rumors, Polygraph, & Bullying.  The Jr. Special Agents make a special trip to the Field Office for an office tour and end the program with a Graduation ceremony.
 

The Teen Academy provides teens between the ages of 13 – 18 an inside look at the FBI and offers a glimpse into the field of law enforcement as a career choice.  During this one day academy, Phoenix Division employees give presentations on Terrorism, Evidence Response Team, Internet, Applicants, Polygraph and SWAT.
 

Director’s Community Leadership Award – 2005

The recipient of the Director’s Community Leadership Award 2005 was Officer Daniel W. Elting. Officer Elting, a fourteen year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department, has been instrumental in promoting Anti-Terrorism Training to law enforcement throughout Arizona since shortly after 9/11/01. He has also promoted Anti-Terrorism awareness throughout the civilian population of Phoenix and the surrounding communities. By adapting the law enforcement training to be suitable for the general public, Officer Elting has spoken to hundreds of citizens, educating them on the threat of terrorism and the role they can play to assist the authorities.