Blog - Community Policing & Neighborhood Watch

Minneapolis, like each of the FBI’s local field offices, has a community outreach program that complements and strengthens our many efforts to protect you, your businesses, and your families in concrete ways through a range of activities and initiatives. FBI Citizens’ Academy A program offered in each of the FBI’s field offices, the Citizens’ Academy provides community leaders with an inside look at the structure and operations of the FBI. Through presentations by special agents and other FBI experts, participants learn more about our mission, our methods, and our work to protect the community. Details Special Agent in Charge Donald Oswald (left) receives a Challenge Coin from the president of the Citizens’ Academy (right) Special Agent in Charge Donald Oswald (left) receives a Challenge Coin from the president of the Citizens’ Academy (right). Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST) The CREST program enables the FBI to partner with organizations in the community to develop specialized training seminars helpful to the group and its members. The program is a shorter, more focused version of the Citizens’ Academy and is led by FBI special agents and professional staff. Presentations can include topics such as identity theft, cyber security, counterterrorism, gangs and violent crime, evidence recovery, or other subjects of interest to the host organization. An FBI special agent discusses the FBI during a recent CREST. An FBI agent presents information to business leaders on the mission of the FBI’s Sioux Falls Resident Agency. This training provides an overview of the FBI, its jurisdiction, and issues relating to the community. A CREST serves as a catalyst for improving the quality of life within the community and reinforcing existing relationships by establishing an exchange of information between the FBI and the communities we serve. The training is typically eight hours in length, and enrollment requires a minimum of 25 students. The organization requesting the training is responsible for providing a venue, identifying all participants, and identifying any specific community concerns. Details Enhanced Engagement with Arab and Muslim American Communities The Minneapolis Division—in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota—has established local engagement with leaders from the Somali-American community. This group was formed to foster dialogue between the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and members of the Somali-American community. Details Civil Rights Advisory Council (CRAG) The Civil Rights Advisory Group (CRAG) is an initiative of law enforcement and community groups. As the lead agency for investigating violations of federal civil rights laws, the FBI works closely with ethnic, religious, and minority groups to help prevent civil rights abuses. The Minneapolis Division believes it is important to actively facilitate conversations on these issues while working to uphold the constitutional rights and civil liberties of all U.S. residents. Interest Form Director’s Community Leadership Award Each year, the Minneapolis Division presents this prestigious award to an individual or organization that has worked to combat crime, terrorism, drugs, and/or violence in America. List of award recipients FBI-SOS The FBI-SOS (Safe Online Surfing) Internet Challenge is a free, online educational program available to public and private schools nationwide. Designed to meet federal and state Internet safety mandates, students take web-based quizzes to learn important Internet safety and cyber citizenship concepts. The program is easy to implement, allowing teachers to work it into their curriculum when it is most appropriate. Visit https://sos.fbi.gov for details. Community Events Our office participates in a number of special community events each year. Special agents and professional staff give public speeches, presentations, and demonstrations to groups around the division. We visit schools, businesses, community centers, and other venues to talk about the work we do and ways members of the community can partner with us to help keep our neighborhoods safe. Details Among our other ongoing efforts: Meeting with a number of civic organizations, religious, ethnic and minority groups to discuss issues in the community and ways the FBI can work with community leaders to help make our neighborhoods even more safe; Sending our special agents and others from the FBI into schools, businesses, and civic meetings to explain emerging crime and security threats and to provide specific advice on how to prevent being victimized by these threats; Supporting the graduates of our Citizens’ Academy program, who work together in local alumni chapters to create crime prevention programs and other initiatives that benefit the community; Serving on committees and boards for businesses, schools, community groups, and social service organizations to help make our community an even better place in which to live; and Partnering with the American Football Coaches Association and its National Child Identification Program to distribute Child ID kits at football games and other events. For more information about these programs, contact the Minneapolis Division Community Outreach Specialist at (763) 569-8000.

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