FBI urges academy grads to share expertise through InfraGard

Cynics might think the FBI Citizens' Academy is merely a public relations machine, a bragfest about how great the FBI is. Naturally, there's a bit of that.

But it is less about bragging and more about building relationships with community leaders so they'll be more open to cooperating with the bureau.

As part of the Las Vegas academy, the FBI made a pitch urging the 16 academy members to volunteer as experts in their fields and join InfraGard.

Never heard of InfraGard? Me neither. It's a private, nonprofit designed to create a membership of experts in specialized fields who would be willing to work with the FBI.

The Southern Nevada InfraGard group started in 2004 and has 370 members. It is concerned with protecting critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks, including agriculture, food, banking, water, energy, information technology, public health, telecommunication, transportation, and yes, the gaming/tourism industry.

Just like journalists, the FBI needs sources. The bureau hopes InfraGard members will reach out to the FBI when something looks out of whack.

In some ways, the purpose of the FBI Citizens' Academy and InfraGard is the same: to build trust with locals who could be helpful eyes and ears for the FBI.

Look at the numbers: There are only about 12,500 FBI agents nationwide.

But about 10,000 people have gone through the citizens' academies in offices all over the United States since the program began 15 years ago.

InfraGard has 37,457 members in 86 chapters since it formed in 1997.

"We can't do our job without information from the general public," said Special Agent David Schrom, who works with the InfraGard members and wants these people to feel comfortable calling FBI agents directly.

One member of the Citizens' Academy had previously joined InfraGard. She didn't want to be quoted by name but said as a result of the academy, "I think I'm a better citizen. I'm better educated. I didn't know all the things the FBI does, such as mortgage fraud. And now I have the opportunity to better educate other people."

As a result of her experience, "I'm going to be more alert, more aware. Before, I never would have called the FBI as an ordinary citizen, and I think now I would do that. I know now how I can better help them."

Foes of InfraGard call it an FBI-affiliated spy network, but as one more tool against terrorism, the majority of Americans probably support it. (Schrom assured me that there's no truth to the rumor that InfraGard members are authorized to kill.)

It's all about paying attention.

During the academy presentation about counterterrorism, Special Agent Angela Ketchum discussed how people reported their concerns about several Americans later convicted of spying for another country. But their concerns were first ignored or dismissed as unlikely.

Ketchum reviewed a handful of spying cases such as Ana Montes, a senior analyst from the Defense Intelligence Agency, who spied for Cuba. When co-workers raised doubts about her, they were discounted as jealous.

People noticed when CIA intelligence officer Aldrich Ames was living large on the extra millions the Russians paid him over six years. He said his Colombian wife, Rosario, came from a wealthy family. Nobody checked.

Observation is the first step in catching spies or terrorists. But Americans must first overcome that lesson learned in the schoolyard: Don't tell.

The FBI's mantra: Do tell. If you see something, say something.

Think how many people passed by that smoking SUV in Times Square and either didn't notice or didn't react. Not the kind of person I'd want to be.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.