MISSION

The FBI Cleveland Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBICLECAAA) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that supports local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.  The goal of the FBICLECAAA is to promote public safety and security through its two pillars of Community Engagement/Awareness and Education/Training which promote a greater understanding of the FBI mission by organizing various community programs.

Night to Reunite – November 14

Speaker – Donna Congeni Fitzsimmons – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Donna has served as Judge of the Rocky River Municipal Court since 1994. She worked as an Assistant County Prosecutor in Cuyahoga County from 1977-1980. In 1980, she was the first woman appointed as Special Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime Strike Force in Cleveland.  As the lead prosecutor in United States v. Lonardo, Gallo, et al., Fitzsimmons successfully convicted Cleveland Mafia boss Angelo Lonardo and five of his subordinates. Based upon her work in that case, Fitzsimmons was appointed Deputy Counsel to President Reagan’s Commission on Organized Crime in Washington D.C., where she served from 1984-1985. She was a partner with Arter & Hadden prior to being elected to the bench in 1993. Fitzsimmons earned her undergraduate degree from Boston College, summa cum laude, and her law degree, cum laude, from George Washington University.

In 1997, Judge Fitzsimmons was named a “Gem of Cleveland” for her civic service in the furtherance of women’s causes. She has chaired the Break the Silence luncheon benefit for The Domestic Violence Center. Since 1997, the Judge has chaired Cuyahoga County’s Violence Against Women Act Committee. Judge Fitzsimmons created the Stalking Victim Support Group and a training course for law enforcement officers, probation officers, and court personnel involved in handling stalking cases. She has lectured nationally on Stalking and Domestic Violence issues to law enforcement officers as well as to her judicial peers. In 2007, the Women’s Center of Greater Cleveland, upon their 20th anniversary, recognized Judge Fitzsimmons for her leadership and dedication to the safety of women and their families. The Cleveland Italian American Heritage Foundation awarded her their Community Service Award in 2011. In 2012, Judge Fitzsimmons received the Recovery Resources Exemplar Award.

In 2018, Judge Fitzsimmons was appointed to the Advisory Council of the Mob Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada. The museum houses an exhibit that pays tribute to the successful prosecution of the Cleveland Mafia Family.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Fifth Annual “FLAGS FOR HONOR 2024” – Edgewater Park

More than 700 American flags are on display every year during the Flags for Honor event. This year will be held at Edgewater Park from September 11-15.  The annual event honors hundreds of servicemembers, first responders, medical professionals, teachers, and other “loved ones, family, mentors, and friends.”

The Flags for Honor will be displayed from Wednesday, September 11, 2024, through Sunday, September 15th, 2024,  along the south walking path of Edgewater Park, visible to westbound traffic and all visitors to the beach area. Parking is free, and there will be an Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, Sept 11th, 2024, at 12 Noon.

This will be the Fifth year for the Flags for Honor, which are dedicated to honoring both Active and Fallen FBI Agents, military, law enforcement officers, firefighters, medical professionals, teachers, coaches, employees, friends, and family. Anyone can dedicate a Flag with a Medallion honoring their personal HERO or loved one. The deadline for dedicating a Flag is Friday, August 30, 2024, and the form must be received on or before that date.

For more information, click here

FBICLECAAA 2024 Scholarship Program

The FBICLECAAA  announced the winners of the 2024 Scholarship Program on Saturday July 20th with FBICLECAAA Board Members Dr James Long and Steve Rothenberg in attendance. Steve Rothenberg, Scholarship Chairman, and his committee selected the five winners of the $1,000 scholarships and the final winner of the $2500 scholarship.

Dr Beejadi Mukunda and his family attended the presentation and announced that they will again be donating $2500 to the Flags for Honor  in support of the $2500 Scholarship Winner. The following student received the scholarships and the colleges they will be attending in the Fall:

$2,500 Beejadi Mukunda Family Scholarship – Julia Breen – Tulane University, LA

$1,000  FBICLECAAA Scholarships:
Makayla Fein – Kent State University, OH
Wyatt Gillespe – Miami University, OH
Jessica Leshner- University of Cincinnati, OH
Tessa Lisy – University of Cumberlands, KY
Leyna Swanson – Canisius University , NY

All scholarships winners families are members of the law enforcement community and were very appreciative of the FBICLECAAA scholarship program.  Thanks to the support of the Flags for Honor Program your FBICLECAAA was also able to fund donations to several Police Academy and Police Dispatch graduates.

Thanks to Scholarship Chairman Steven Rothenberg and committee members Amanda Totten and Sygi Berman for their support and involvement in the Scholarship Program.

Over the summer, there were also scholarship winners from the Tri-C academies. Sherry Rouse received $250 for the Tri-C Dispatch Academy. We continue to support the cadets at Tri-C year round, and we are also in the process of having Kent State University Police Academy added to our list of schools to have cadets submit applications for scholarships.

FBINCAAA

The FBI Cleveland Citizens Academy Alumni Association is a member of the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association.  The FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association is a community-based and supported organization, distinct and separate from the FBI, designed to promote a safer community through community service projects and a process of educating business, labor, media, medical, minority, religious, government, senior citizens, and other community leaders about law enforcement, with particular emphasis on the mission, resources, and limitations of the FBI.

For more information, click here.

FBI Citizens Academy

Want to find out firsthand how the FBI works? Hear how the Bureau tracks down spies and terrorists. Learn how to collect and preserve evidence. See what it is like to fire a weapon and put yourself in the shoes of a Special Agent making a split-second, life-or-death decision? If you are a leader in your community, you just might be able to do that and more––through an FBI Citizens Academy.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FBI CITIZENS ACADEMY