FBI Washington Field Office Honors D.C. Parks Director Thennie Freeman with 2024 Community Leadership Award

The FBI Washington Field Office has named Thennie Freeman, director of the Washington, D.C., Department of Parks and Recreation, as the recipient of its 2024 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, recognizing her sustained efforts to reduce youth crime and strengthen community-based prevention initiatives across the District of Columbia.

The award was formally presented on January 6, 2026, by the assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office, who cited Freeman’s direct collaboration with federal community outreach teams as a key factor in expanding trust-based engagement with at-risk youth. Officials emphasized that her work has provided law enforcement with practical, non-enforcement pathways to intervene early in cycles of juvenile delinquency and neighborhood violence.

Freeman’s leadership has focused on using public recreation infrastructure as a stabilizing force in communities facing elevated crime risk. Through structured programming, extended hours at recreation centers, and targeted outreach to vulnerable youth populations, her department has created environments designed to divert young people away from gangs, drug activity, and repeat contact with the justice system. Law enforcement officials noted that these efforts complement investigative and enforcement strategies by addressing root causes rather than symptoms alone.

With more than 15 years of experience overseeing large-scale youth and young adult services, Freeman has led initiatives that expanded access to mentorship, job readiness programs, sports, arts, and conflict-resolution training. Under her tenure, the Department of Parks and Recreation increased operational capacity and broadened the scope of services offered in neighborhoods with historically limited access to structured youth programming.

Federal officials highlighted that the programs developed under Freeman’s leadership intersect with law enforcement priorities in several ways. By linking community services with crime prevention goals, the initiatives address overlapping issues tied to drugs, gang recruitment, violent crime, and long-term public safety risks. The Washington Field Office described this approach as particularly effective in jurisdictions where youth exposure to violence begins early and escalates rapidly without intervention.

The FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, established in 1990, is one of the bureau’s primary mechanisms for recognizing individuals and organizations that contribute to crime reduction and community resilience outside traditional law enforcement roles. Each of the FBI’s 56 field offices is authorized to nominate candidates annually, reflecting local priorities and community impact.

Officials noted that the Washington Field Office’s selection of Freeman reflects a broader emphasis on prevention-focused partnerships. Rather than relying solely on enforcement actions after crimes occur, the bureau has increasingly highlighted collaboration with civic leaders, educators, and service providers who help reduce the conditions that enable criminal activity to take root.

In presenting the award, the Washington Field Office underscored that sustained reductions in youth violence depend on long-term investment, consistent engagement, and trust between institutions and the communities they serve. Freeman’s work was described as an example of how municipal leadership and federal law enforcement can align efforts without blurring roles, preserving community trust while advancing public safety objectives.

The award places Freeman among a national group of honorees recognized for contributions to combating crime, drugs, violence, and extremism through community-driven solutions. Federal officials indicated that partnerships of this kind will remain a central component of future crime-prevention strategies in the nation’s capital.

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