Hampton police partner with FBI to offer future-agents camp

Katie Zaszewski, a Virginia Tech student who participated in an FBI camp, said wrapping her head around all that special agents do — forensics, stopping cybercrimes, evidence response, investigations, to name a few — was tough.

For Jayden Griggs, a Hampton teen, the physical fitness training was more difficult.

“Basically, all the running and the exercise. All my energy disappeared today,” Griggs said. “If I had more time to prepare for it, I would have been fine.”

Participants, about 30 teens from 16 to 19, spent Thursday morning doing pushups, sit-ups, sprints and laps during Day 4 of a five-day camp that began Monday for potential future agents, hosted by the Norfolk FBI.

This year, the federal agency partnered with the Hampton Police Division, splitting the week between the Chesapeake FBI field office and Hampton’s police training facility on Butler Farm Road. The camp culminated Friday with graduation ceremonies in Hampton. The program offers a sample of what recruits do at the FBI academy in Quantico.

The camp focused on life skills, demonstrations and interactions with FBI agents on topics in terrorism, public corruption, polygraph exams, and agents who are intelligence analysts and language specialists. They also learned about investigative tactics such as gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and assisting with cases. Along with Hampton police, participants worked with SWAT and K9 teams and performed traffic stops.

The physical fitness aptitude is something special agents — typically recruited between the ages of 23 and 37 — do annually. It’s scaled by age, so it’s required of agents — even agents older than 37.

“It’s really a pipeline,” Pullen added, as some students from the camp later apply for internships. “Part of the point of the program is to dispel some of those myths that the kids come in (with).”

Many of those myths come from television, which is glamorized, said Vanessa Torres, the community engagement lead. Part of the week was spent learning things very specific to the FBI: counterterrorism, counterintelligence and cybercrimes. They also spent time on the firearms training simulator.

“What we’re trying to teach them is that sometimes what they see on television is only part of the story,” Torres said. “Put yourself in the law enforcement position where you’re the one that has to actually pull the trigger. Now they’re seeing how quickly that decision has to be made. It’s very serious.”

Another myth is that a degree in criminal justice is required. That is not the case, Torres said. The agency seeks candidates with bachelor’s degrees, but in any subject matter.

Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell this year sponsored the camp and said it’s another opportunity to reach youth and for them to see positive interaction with law enforcement. There are some youths who are in crisis, but are afraid to speak up. If they’re at the camp, it may encourage them. Bell also hosts a criminal justice camp for middle school-aged children. Most youth are good and are trying to do the right thing, but Bell believes there also needs to be opportunities to help those youths who may really need it.

“We have to intersect that timeframe where some of these young kids are at a crossroad, to make those bad decisions, and then, give them the tools to be successful,” Bell said. “You have a choice to be successful in life, or to get caught up in the crowds and the temptations that are out here.”

Teen participating this year hail from all around Hampton Roads. Applications come out in January, but it’s a very selective process and requires an essay with an interest in law enforcement. Students pay for their uniforms and applications are posted on the Norfolk FBI website. Mostly, students are hearing about it through word-of-mouth or referrals, Torres said.

Griggs, 17, is a Bethel High School graduate studying computer science at Thomas Nelson Community College. He heard about the camp through a military recruiter, but otherwise is working at a fast food restaurant this summer.

“I’m getting like a paid vacation at the moment. Might as well use those hours,” he said.

Zaszewski, who is studying cognitive and behavior neuroscience, applied early last year. Then the pandemic hit and everything was on hold. The 19-year-old from Virginia Beach figured it wasn’t meant to be.

“I didn’t even think about it after COVID. Then I got an email like five or six weeks ago that was saying like, Hey, you were selected from the following years,” she said. “I was sitting in the car. I was like, hold on, I need to pull over. It was a complete surprise.”

Applications for FBI camps for teens and the times when they are being accepted are available at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/norfolk/community-outreach. Information for the Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorney criminal justice camps for middle school students is available by calling 757-727-6442.

Lisa Vernon Sparks, 757-247-4832, lvernonsparks@dailypress.com