FBI Recruitment Event in Portland, Oregon

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Video Transcript

Loren Cannon, Jr., special agent in Charge, Portland Division: As the United States becomes more and more diverse, our goal is to make sure that we become more diverse with it. We need to reflect the community that we serve so we can serve it better.

Interviewer: So, there’s big emphasis on bringing women in tonight. Why is that?

Caryn Ackerman, special agent: We need to have more women in the FBI because we have 50% of the population made up of women, but also because diverse backgrounds contribute to our ability to complete the mission and that’s serving the American people.

So tell us why you’re here tonight.

I’m here because I’ve been interested in the Bureau for the past 10 years and I’m really excited to learn more about the application process, meet agents, talk to different squads, and just learn more and absorb everything I possibly can.

Interviewer: What would you like to do in the FBI?

I would say terrorism, or anti-terrorism. So, I think that’d be cool and that really intrigues me.

Interviewer: Why is it important that the FBI has a diverse work force?

Pete Collier, retired special agent: Well diversity is...I mean it’s critical.  Especially in law enforcement.  Because there’s not a boilerplate for police officers, or FBI agents.  That we all come from different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different experiences.  And I think the totality of those experiences makes us better and stronger.

Cannon: We really appreciate all of the candidates who came out tonight and all of the community partners who helped us to make tonight a great event. But if you weren’t able to come out tonight then check our webpage. Just because you couldn’t get to the Diversity Agent Recruiting event doesn’t mean that you might not want to be an agent with the FBI. So check us out and apply.