FBI Dallas presents 2023 Director's Community Leadership Award to Traffick911
Director’s Community Leadership Awards 2023 Winners
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough is pleased to announce the selection of Traffick911 as the Dallas Division’s recipient of the 2023 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA). SAC Yarbrough recognized Program Director Cristy Lopez on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the Traffick911 headquarters in Addison, Texas.
“Ms. Lopez and the entire Traffick911 team embody victim services by employing unique community-based approaches to trust-building in a way that law enforcement and the FBI would not be able to achieve alone. Their 24/7 crisis response posture meets victims when they need resources the most, and their advocacy continues until all needs are met. Their steadfast commitment to physically, mentally and emotionally freeing child victims makes them the Dallas recipient of the 2023 Director’s Community Leadership Award.” (FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Chad Yarbrough)
The FBI established the Director's Community Leadership Award (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. Recipients are recognized for their service above and beyond the call of duty to help keep America and its residents safe, and are selected based on nominations from each of the FBI’s 56 field offices.
On April 19, 2024, FBI Director Christopher Wray honored the 2023 DCLA recipients at a ceremony held at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. "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," Director Wray told the honorees. "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."
This year’s recipients were recognized for a broad range of efforts, including building bridges between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, combatting human trafficking and providing resources to victims, and supporting local youth programs.
The FBI is grateful for each of these individuals and organizations as they work to build stronger, safer, and more cohesive communities.
