Back in 1993, Jim Ahearn, then-Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s Phoenix Division, began looking for ways to strengthen the field office’s relationship with the community. He decided on a “citizens’ academy” modeled after one run by a local police agency.

Since then, the Citizens’ Academies have made their mark—both on the FBI and on their communities. For example:

• In Phoenix, alumni of the Academy have taken part in a reverse boiler room. They call potential victims of telemarketing fraud to warn them that their names were found on “mooch” lists maintained by fraudulent telemarketers. Citizens’ Academy alumni also take part in the Phoenix Office’s Adopt-A-School Program, and they often refer names of potential Special Agent applicants to the office.
• Some participants of the Philadelphia Citizens’ Academy gained a deeper understanding of FBI operations after a trip to the FBI Academy, where after classroom instruction, tours of the facilities, and practical exercises, they put everything they learned to the test at Hogan’s Alley. Especially memorable for some of the participants was a turn at FATS (Firearms Training System), which exposes the students to virtual reality “life-and-death” situations - and helps them experience what Special Agents in real life-and-death situations experience.