The FBI Tampa Field Office is proud to announce the creator of “Smiles Fur Miles”, Jena E. McKinstry with her service dog “Koda the Fluff”, as the recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for 2022. McKinstry’s innovative and creative public service announcements for social media highlighting community law enforcement programs have earned millions of fans worldwide.

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. The FBI’s 56 field offices each select a recipient annually for this honor.

“Like the 38,000 employees of the FBI, you don’t do what you do for fame—and certainly not for fortune. You do it out of kindness, out of compassion for others, out of hope and a dream for safer communities… to leave your towns and cities better places than when you got there. And that’s how I’ve defined success here within our organization, too. Success to me is if everyone leaves the FBI a better place than they found it,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray.

With community in mind, McKinstry created innovative public service announcements starring “Koda the Fluff” to help drive home the message of law enforcement efforts in topics such as pedestrian safety, driving-under-the-influence prevention, and traffic safety.

“Our winner truly exemplifies compassion and concern for a better future. You can’t help but to smile after watching Koda cruise through a community highlighting the work law enforcement is doing to protect and serve,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker.

Learn more about the Director’s Community Leadership Award Program

The FBI’s general outreach efforts and the Tampa Field Office online. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/tampa