Denver FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association

 FBI Denver Division Honors Colorado Community Leader Ms. Susan C. Smith with

2019 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

Ms. Susan C. Smith of Pueblo, Colorado was selected as the FBI Denver Division’s 2019 recipient for the Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA).  She will receive her award at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 2020.  The FBI Denver Division held a local ceremony to honor Ms. Smith in Denver, Colorado on January 23, 2020.

The Director’s Community Leadership Award is a prestigious award presented annually to one recipient in each of the 56 FBI field offices to recognize extraordinary citizens throughout the nation. The FBI has presented the DCLA award for more than two decades to publicly recognize outstanding citizens and organizations that help make our communities safer today and in the future.  Ms. Smith was recognized by the FBI Denver Division for her dedication and positive impact on communities throughout the states of Colorado and Wyoming

Ms. Smith significantly contributed to the FBI Denver Division’s mission in Colorado and Wyoming in 2019.  She helped fight the war on drugs in the community by presenting numerous public screenings of an FBI documentary designed to combat the opioid epidemic. Ms. Smith initiated the presentation of the documentary, Chasing the Dragon, in tandem with the FBI Denver Field Office. This included fostering panel discussions with various law enforcement officers, medical staff, fire and health departments, and educators.  Her innovation led to the FBI Denver Chapter Citizens Academy Alumni Association (CAAA) being the first chapter to present screenings of Chasing the Dragon on a military base and academy, and to lead Teen Academy graduates in hosting a peer-to-peer discussion and video viewing where students moderated and presented the issue of the opioid epidemic to their friends and social circles.  As a result of her efforts, Ms. Smith directly impacted the FBI's mission to combat opioids in our community.  Approximately 1,000 community leaders, members, and youth, were educated on the opioid epidemic.

FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Dean Phillips regularly meets with Ms. Smith and the FBI Denver CAAA Board of Directors. As a result of this engagement, Ms. Smith learned of the FBI’s desire to make others aware of intellectual property theft and national security concerns. She proactively connected FBI Denver with community counterparts so the FBI could present issues and concerns.