On Friday, April 19, 2024, FBI Director Christopher Wray presented Mr. Peter Guzman with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for his unwavering commitment to Nevada businesses and their success. Mr. Guzman believes strongly in youth mentoring and inspiring young people to follow their passion, offering several scholarships each year. He continuously promotes the economic health of the most under-resourced neighborhoods by aiding with caretakers of our senior citizens as well as providing resources to educate them on fraud and scams.

The FBI established the DCLA in 1990 to publicly acknowledge the achievements of those working to make a difference in their communities through the promotion of education and the prevention of crime and violence. Each year, one person or organization from each of the FBI’s 56 field offices is chosen to receive this prestigious award.

“Our success as both a law enforcement and an intelligence agency hinges on our ability to foster and maintain genuine partnerships with people in all communities,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “People like this year’s Leadership Award recipients not only identify what others need, but they are willing to roll up their sleeves and provide services. They are building bridges and relationships while putting in the work to have hard conversations and find common purpose. They do it out of kindness and compassion with a sincere belief that justice—in its many forms—requires all of us to do the right thing in the right way.”

“Because of Mr. Guzman our relationship has strengthened, and our outreach was broadened in the Hispanic/Latin communities. He sees the importance of building strong partnerships and connecting the community with law enforcement partners to promote dialogue and foster a relationship of positivity and understanding,” said Spencer L. Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “For any community to rely upon the service and protection the FBI is sworn to provide, the community must trust and believe that local agents and other personnel are committed to providing services and protection that are equitable and safe. Our office is proud of the mutually respectful and professional interactions we regularly engage in with Mr. Guzman & the Latin Chamber of Commerce.”

Director Wray hosted the 2023 DCLA winners in a special ceremony at FBI Headquarters today, emphasizing the importance of community partnerships in keeping our shared communities safe. These partnerships—as exemplified by the breadth of the work by the DCLA recipients—have led to a host of crime prevention programs that protect the most vulnerable in our communities, educate families and businesses about cyber threats, and work to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods.

Learn more about the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award program and the FBI’s general outreach efforts.