FBI Citizens' Academy Teaches Community About Law Enforcement

I was lucky to attend a panel about the FBI and its role in film and television. One thing I learned at the seminar was about the existence of the FBI Citizens' Academy.

The FBI Citizens' Academy was initiated in 2000 by the Los Angeles Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as part of its Community Outreach Program. It's an eight week (ten session) program that gives business, religious, civic, and community leaders an inside look at the FBI.

The Academy is designed to promote a more informed community through educating business, labor, media, minority, government, religious and community leaders in the Los Angeles area about federal law enforcement issues and challenges.

The goal of the Citizens' Academy is to foster a greater understanding of the FBI's role in the community through open discussion and to support the FBI's efforts to deliver information about their role, tools, tactics, jurisdiction and vision for the future in national law enforcement, homeland defense and counter terrorism on all levels.

If you'd like to participate, or just want more information, go to www.fbicaa.org/academy.html. It explains the program and offers a downloadable application form.