COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM (COP)

"Working for A Safer Tomorrow"

MISSION:

The mission of the Buffalo Field Office's Community Outreach Program (COP) is to provide outreach to the community it serves through the FBI's established partnership, community, and school-based programs. The FBI's COP assists in the reduction of crime, drugs, terrorism, hate/bias gangs, and violence in schools and the community. Our programs include the following:

FBI Citizens' Academy - The Buffalo Citizens' Academy (CA) was initiated in September 1998. The goal of the CA Program is to foster a greater understanding of the FBI's role in the community. The Buffalo Field Office normally offers two sessions per year that meets one night a week for eight weeks. The class runs from 6:00 pm - 9 :00 pm with an average of 25 participants. Interested participants must be a recognized business or community leader, live or work within Western New York, consent to a criminal record check, and be at least 21 years of age. To date there are over 300 graduates from the program.

Director's Community Leadership Award - A national initiative since 1990, the FBI has annually recognized the achievements of individuals or organizations who promote drug education and prevention by the presentation of a Director's Community Leadership Award. This Award is given to individuals or organizations actively involved in gang, crime, and violence prevention. The Buffalo Field Office has participated since 1993 and makes an award in the Fall of each year.

Recipients Include:

$ 1993 JoAnne Hudecki, Capital Campaign Coordinator

Kids Escaping Drugs, West Seneca, New York

$ 1994 No Submission

$ 1995 No Submission

$ 1996 Gregory R. Hill, Community School 53 Coordinator

Buffalo Public School 53, Buffalo, New York

$ 1997 Vincent Spadorcia, President

Middle City Neighborhood Association (MCNA), Niagara Falls, New York

$ 1998 Michael Dundon, Employee Assistance Program Coordinator

Town and Village of Hamburg, Hamburg, New York

$ 1999 Donald Dade, Executive Director (Deceased)

Coalition for the Redevelopment of Unified Community Involvement and

Leadership Inc. (C.R.U.C.I.A.L.) Buffalo, New York

$ 2000 City of Rochester Youth Anti-Violence Initiative

Rochester, New York

$ 2001 Richard J. Gallagher, Director

Alcohol and Drug Dependency Services, Inc., Buffalo, New York

$ 2002 Mary Regan, Project Coordinator

State Incentive for Community Action (SICA)/

WNY United Against Drug and Alcohol, Buffalo, New York

$ 2003 Danis Gehl, Director

University Community Initiative (UCI) Regional Community Policing Center

(RCPC), Buffalo, New York

$ 2004 Leonard Lane, President

The Fathers Armed Together to Help Educate Restore and Save Group

(F.A.T.H.E.R.S), Buffalo, New York

Speakers Bureau - Special Agents and professional support employees participate in the speakers bureau upon request. FBI personnel provide information regarding FBI matters to schools, businesses and the community. Written requests must be received at least four weeks prior to the event and on official business/organization letterhead to ensure a speaker. The field office will make every effort to ensure a speaker, but, due to the volume of requests and availability of personnel, honoring all requests may not be possible. Each year the Buffalo Division provides approximately 200 speeches.

Youth Initiatives - The COP hosts two special initiatives each year. The brutal murder of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Agent assigned to a case in Mexico, angered young people in his hometown of Calexico, California. As an outward sign of honoring the fallen hero, red ribbons are worn in October of each year. In keeping with this theme, the Buffalo Office 's COP, the Buffalo Citizens' Academy Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo, Inc. also invite children in grades kindergarten through eight to participate in a "Red Ribbon Coloring/Poster and Essay Contest" to encourage a drug fee community. Nine prizes are awarded in three different age categories each year.

March 2nd of each year is the National Read across America Celebration Day in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday. On this day parents, teachers, agencies, and others pledge to read with a child. The COP locally provides volunteers from the FBI and members of the FBI Citizen’s Academy Foundation to area hospitals to read to children in Western New York. Since the program began in 2003, dozens have volunteered to assist hundreds of hospitalized children.