15 BLET Graduates Prepared for a Career in Law Enforcement

Aug. 22, 2019 - Fifteen students completed the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Richmond Community College on Aug. 19 and have committed themselves to a career in law enforcement.

Family and friends, as well as law enforcement officers from multiple agencies, attended the graduation ceremony that recognizes these students for completing the six-month program, which includes training in firearms, driving, motor vehicle law, arrest search and seizure.

The BLET course is also filled with practical exercises and an extensive ethics section that is woven throughout the training experience.

The 2019 Summer BLET graduates include Mandala Barber, Jeremy Benoist, Jason Brock, Jacqueline Brown, Tina Crifasi, Heather Eddins, Justin Freeman, Christopher Gaskill II, Jeffrey Hulon, Jessie Miller, Brent Robinson, Heather Smith, John Tarlton, Jeremy Webster and Mitchell Woods.

Receiving awards for BLET achievements were Jessie Miller for best time in physical fitness, John Tarlton for firearms and Brent Robinson for academics. Jeremy Webster was named the top overall cadet for the class.

This six-month program utilizes N.C. Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission mandated topics and methods of instruction. Every law enforcement officer employed by an agency in North Carolina must successfully complete BLET and pass the BLET state exam. This evening program gives students essential skills required for entry-level employment as law enforcement officers with state, county or municipal government — or with private enterprises.

Outside of classroom lecture, students participate in physical training, which culminates in a challenging test of strength, endurance and agility while maintaining mental alertness. Commonly referred to as the POPAT (Police Officers Physical Abilities Test), many of the exercises and obstacles involved relate to physical and mental tasks they might face on the job.

Students completing the BLET course and passing the state exam are eligible to receive 13 credit hours towards a Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice from RichmondCC. Currently, there are 466 openings for law enforcement officers on a yearly basis within a 50-mile radius of Hamlet. The average median salary is $42,568 per year.

The next BLET class begins February 2020. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply early, as space is limited. For more information about the upcoming BLET class, contact Devon Hall, Dean of Applied Sciences & Engineering, at (910) 410-1912 or email, dghall@richmondcc.edu.