The FBI Citizens Academy finished its first class with an all-star lineup of graduates, the class meant to teach citizens about the structure of FBI operations and investigations.
The class was the first of its kind in Dothan, 20 people meeting regularly for a seven-week program.
Timothy O’Malley is the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Mobile Division, and he said the class had filled his entire department on the other side of the state with a great feeling, his home office pleased about the engagement from the Dothan class.
The class studied FBI investigations and learned more about previous cases, finding out more about how the high-profile agency goes about operations.
“It’s kind of a way that we share what we do, and to kind of take away a little bit of mystery about the FBI,” he said. “We want to pull back the curtain and let (citizens) see what we’re all about.”
He said citizens are recruited to attend the class — including those who may be skeptical of police work.
The people recruited are often influential leaders in the community. Some of the names from this graduating class include Dothan City Commissioners Aristotle Kirkland and John Ferguson, Houston County Emergency Management Agency Director Mark Powell and Dothan Police Foundation Chairman Wayne Palmer.
“I have not seen a single case where someone hasn’t walked away from class with a greater appreciation for going to work with law enforcement officers,” O’Malley said.
Some of the lessons included teaching on white collar crime, threats, violent crime, domestic and international terrorism, and crime scene investigations.
Dothan City Commissioner Aristotle Kirkland mentioned the fact the city had a great facility in the Wiregrass Public Safety Center on Ennis Road, calling the facility “top notch” and saying he believes more national law enforcement will be back.
He said the experience was “absolutely incredible,” saying he took away lessons he could apply with his job as one of the top men for the city of Dothan.
“What’s exciting is this is the first year that this can start some collaborations with the community, so the next big thing would be to get people more involved for the next class,” he said.
Dothan Police Foundation Chairman Wayne Palmer also came away with a greater appreciation for law enforcement.
“I think this is going to make us appreciate and notice the things that go on. Some of the stories they’ve told us about some events and how they handle it, how their crisis people work with the victims to help them, those kind of things you don’t forget,” he said.
He stressed the fact people in law enforcement were normal people trying to do their jobs.
“They’re doing their job, and they take it serious, and every one of them without question love what they do,” he said. “They’re common people that lead.”
