Maire O’Neill
Staff Report
Los Alamos Daily Post Public Safety Reporter Maire O’Neill is participating in the 14th Annual Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Albuquerque Division Citizens Academy.
The Citizens Academy is a nine-week program designed to promote a more informed community by educating community representatives including media about the mission, resources and jurisdiction of the FBI. Classes meet in the evening at the FBI field office in Albuquerque.
Candidates are nominated by FBI employees, former Citizens Academy graduates, and community leaders. Participants are selected by a panel under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade and undergo background checks. O’Neill was nominated by Los Alamos Daily Post Publisher Carol A. Clark, a 2008 alumni of the Citizens Academy.
During the Academy, O’Neill will participate in a wide range of activities to gain insight into the structure and operation of an FBI field office and resident agency. The classes are taught by FBI staff who have expert knowledge in their individual field and activities include visits to the gun vault, evidence room and the New Mexico Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory as well as a visit to the shooting range to participate in live fire.
More than two dozen FBI personnel met with the 36 participants during their first session March 1, including three Assistant Agents in Charge, Derek Fuller, Christine Paz and Robert White. Presentations for the evening included the History of the FBI given by Public Affairs Specialist Frank Fisher and two other presentations on Violent Crime and Indian Country by Supervisory Special Agent Ben Bourgeois.
“I feel so honored to have been selected to participate in the FBI Citizens Academy. Those who know me know that law enforcement and public safety are very close to my heart. I worked closely with law enforcement for many years in Nevada while writing for rural newspapers,” O’Neill said. “In the past 14 months while reporting on cops and courts for the Los Alamos Daily Post, I have had the privilege of working closely with our local law enforcement folks, which has been very rewarding.”