FBI GRADUATES 2008 CITIZENS’ ACADEMY CLASS

Birmingham – Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Carmen S. Adams announced today that the FBI Citizens’ Academy Birmingham class of 2008 will graduate tonight at 6:00 p.m. This year’s class is comprised of 21 business and community leaders as well as members of the media.

The program, which began in 1993 in the Phoenix, Arizona office of the FBI, has expanded to all 56 FBI field offices across the country. Nearly half opened after September 11, 2001 – a clear sign of how much the FBI values community partnerships in this era of homeland security and increasingly complex crime. The program provides attendees insight on the structure and operations of the FBI, as well as practical problems involving evidence collection and intelligence gathering. The goal of the FBI Citizens’ Academy is to foster relationships and understanding between the local FBI field office and the community.

SAC Adams stated: “I want to thank the members of the Citizens' Academy Class of 2008 for taking time out of their busy schedules and participating in this exciting nine-week program. The newly established partnerships with these graduates will serve as a voice within the communities we serve.”