TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Students Sworn In As FBI Agents

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOSE PATINO GIRONA

jpatino@tampatrib.com

Published: March 18, 2009

TAMPA - After completing a six-week FBI course, students were pumped about what they had learned and their standing as the first Tampa graduates of the agency's Junior Special Agent Academy.

"It's an excellent way to get teens on track - off of drugs and gangs and peer pressure and all of that stuff," said Trey Williams, 15, an eighth-grader at Greco Middle School.

Salvador Monroy, a Van Buren Middle School eighth-grader, said he didn't know much about the FBI's role before he entered the program. Now he is considering becoming an agent.

"I just find it interesting to solve cases that other people couldn't solve," said Monroy, 13.

Twenty-two students from Greco and Van Buren middle schools were sworn-in as FBI junior special agents and graduated from the course. The ceremony was held March 11 at the FBI's Tampa field office, 5525 W. Gray St.

Classes were held weekly for one hour at Greco Middle, 6925 E. Fowler Ave. FBI agents spoke to students about gang violence, Internet safety, exercise, the role of law enforcement and remaining drug-free.

Ross Anderson, a Van Buren Middle teacher, said the program motivated the students. They researched the topics before meetings to be prepared for question-and-answer sessions, Anderson said.

"It definitely empowered them," Anderson said.

Karen Willis-Barrett, a Greco Middle teacher, said it increased students' self-esteem and gave them insight on law enforcement officers.

"That law enforcement is there to protect their community rather than being an adversary," Willis-Barrett said.

The program was sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice, Project Safe Neighborhoods, Gulf Coast Community Center and Hillsborough County Criminal Justice.

Students received a motivational book, framed certificate, backpack and FBI Junior Special Agent credentials.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT