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Six students recently graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Isothermal Community College after completing nearly ten months of training.
The BLET program is the state-mandated course of study for anyone interested in becoming a certified law enforcement officer. The three students who completed the program were trained in 35 topics including criminal law, arrest, search, and seizure, driver training, defense tactics, firearms, and other related law enforcement topics.
The students who earned a graduation certificate for the 673-hour training program are Jonathan D. Clayton, Robert Corbett, Justin Edwards, Christian Xiong Malendrez, Daniel Matz and Michael Ryan Reel.
After an invocation and the National Anthem led by Isothermal VP Stephen Matheny, the audience was welcomed by Ava Yamouti, dean of Health and Public Services. The commencement address was given by Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright. BLET director Philip Bailey presented the awards.
Edwards earned the Top Academic Award. Malendrez was awarded Most Improved Physical Fitness. Corbett was named the winner of the Standard of Excellence. Clayton earned the Top State Exam Award. Reel claimed the Top Firearms Award. Matz was named BLET Class Leader.
Jerry Brantley from Gideon's International gave a prayer for safety, graduate Matz gave the final roll call and Tom Tarker, director of the Criminal Justice program at Isothermal, dismissed the audience and new graduates.
This is the 77th BLET class to graduate from Isothermal Community College since it began conducting the training in the late 1970's.
For information about the next BLET class, contact Brenda McFarland at 828-395-1668 or Bailey at 828-395-1644.
