The Cleveland Division Community Outreach Program (COP) works to assist in the reduction of crime, drugs, hate/bias, gangs, and workplace, school, and community violence. Our mission is to provide outreach to the community through the FBI's established community-based, school-based and partnership programs as well as to work with communities and schools in developing programs that meet their individual needs, such as truancy reduction, youth gang recognition and awareness programs, and other related school violence topics.
Northern Ohio Hate Crimes Working Group
Major projects offered by the Cleveland Division COP include the opportunity for community organizations to work with others in developing hate crime prevention initiatives through the Northern Ohio Hate Crimes Working Group (HCWG). In 1998 the Attorney General mandated that there be one HCWG in each U. S. Attorney's District in partnership with the local FBI Division. Cleveland was one of the first starting up in March 1998, and it remains the most active. There are three subcommittees; Law Enforcement; Legislation and Community Outreach/Education. Cleveland COP chairs the Community Outreach/Education subcommittee.
To date this subcommittee has:
-- created a hate crimes brochure available through this web page. The brochure can be used as a model to develop your own resource list for your community
-- created two posters that bring awareness to hate also available at this website.
-- sponsored a three-day hate crimes workshop in June 2002 for anyone interested in learning more. Each day covered a different topic. Day one covered the multicultural experience; Day two covered hate crimes/bias incidents and Day three-covered multicultural conflict resolution. This program will be offered again in the Cleveland area based on the number of people interested in attending. If interested please fax your name, address and zip code, organization name and telephone number to 216-622-6898.
-- established quarterly meetings of the HCWG, with more frequent meetings for the subcommittees.Citizens' Academy
COP offers a nine-week Citizens' FBI Academy in Cleveland Division territory once a year. The mission of the Citizens' Academy is to provide education and awareness of Bureau operations and jurisdiction, and to build relationships and partnerships in outreach and crime prevention efforts. The academy accepts approximately twenty people making this a networking opportunity for its attendees. Participants must commit to attending at least seven of the nine sessions and must agree to a limited background investigation. This is necessary in order for attendees to be able to participate fully in the academy. Pictured are our 2002 program graduates and FBI representatives.
Top Row: SA Tom Rasch, former SAC Mark Bullock, COS Linda Schmidt, former ASAC Keith Slotter
Junior Special Agents Program
The Junior Special Agent Program is offered during the full school year and during the summer. The goal of this program is to teach children crime prevention. It is similar to the Citizens' FBI Academy in that students have an opportunity to meet the professionals who make up the Cleveland Division of the FBI. Students learn about the history of the FBI, the types of crimes the Bureau handles, and the jurisdictional territory that the Cleveland Division serves. Students have the opportunity to ask questions of FBI personnel and to consider the FBI as a potential career choice in the future. Lessons covered include drugs, gangs, anger management and respect for others as well as other crime prevention topics. They discuss hate/bias and how to prevent them from happening. Students also learn about safety on the Internet and how to help a friend who has been a victim of crime.
Cleveland COP has adopted Waterloo Middle School's Fifth Grade classes. These students go through training as Junior Special Agents for the full school year. In May of each year those students completing all assignments are awarded their FBI credentials at a graduation celebration. Last year's class is pictured on the front steps of the Cleveland FBI's office.
Waterloo Middle School's JSA graduates and teachers, Jeff Matthews, Bob Hamilton, Melissa Dyrlund, and Doris Yerkey.
During the summer months COP offers the Junior Special Agent Program to 40 children attending ASIA, Inc.'s summer program in Cleveland as well as 60 children in their International Community Empowerment Project in Akron. Below, a graduate is shown receiving his credentials from the Acting Special Agent in Charge, Joseph Persichini, Jr. His graduating class is also pictured below with their credentials.
ASAC Joseph Persichini, Jr. awarding Junior Special Agents their credentials Junior Special Agent graduates from Asia, Inc.
Community Outreach Specialist
Cleveland Community Outreach Specialist is a FBI certified police instructor and as such conducts training on street gangs, graffiti interpretation, cultural diversity, the effective response to the scene of a hate crime, hostile school environments and peer sexual harassment.
COP also offers speakers on a wide-range of FBI related topics. For those interested in requesting a speaker please send or fax a letter on your organizations letterhead with name of contact person, their phone number, topic interested in, number of attendees, possible dates and location. Please send your request at least two months in advance.
Thank you for your interest in our Community Outreach efforts. If you have any questions or comments about the Community Outreach Program, please feel free to fax or email us.
Community Outreach Program
Cleveland Division, FBI
Linda M. Schmidt, Community Outreach Specialist
Phone: 216-622-6615
Fax: 216-622-6898
Email address: Cleveland@fbi.govNote: When emailing the Community Outreach Program you must put either my name in the subject line or Community Outreach. That will speed its delivery.
