Denver teacher Stacey Hervey was honored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Denver office Tuesday for outstanding contributions to the community and inspiring students to choose law enforcement as a career.
Hervey received the 2009 Director’s Community Leadership Award, signed by FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, during a ceremony held at the Denver bureau.
The award is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their communities.
Hervey teaches criminal justice at Career Education Center Middle College High School as well as Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Former students went to the FBI ceremony to thank her for her inspiration.
Jose Ruiz, a 26-year-old officer for the Cheyenne Police Department, said he came from a neighborhood in Denver with a heavy influence from gangs, and Hervey steered him away from that. “She helped me see the positive light of law enforcement and that I had other options,” he said.
Brandon Cameron, a 21-year-old Denver Police Department cadet, said at first he wasn’t sure about law enforcement, but Hervey encouraged him to pursue the career. “She got me into the DPD Explorer program, and that made me want to do it even more,” Cameron said.
Felisa Cardona, The Denver Post
