Thirteen students graduate from Basic Law Enforcement program

Thirteen 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 six 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 Marita J. Grindley, Amanda Brooke Greene, Mason T. Jolley, Lance Johnson, Amanda Lynn Jipson Olfano, Sherice Logan, Nickolis Thomas Kerrigan, Rachael Lee-Anne Poston, Christopher Eddie Willis, Jackson Price, Mark William Abercrombie, Micah Leann Brooks and Joshua Cody Thomas.

After an invocation and the National Anthem led by Isothermal VP Stephen Matheny, the audience was welcomed by Dr. Johnny Smith, dean of Health and Public Services. An overview of the program was given by instructor Thomas Tarker before the commencement address from Rutherford County Sheriff Chris Francis. BLET director Philip Bailey presented the awards.

Abercrombie earned the Top State Exam Award. Olfano earned the Top Academic Award. Jolley received the Top Firearms Award. Thomas was named the winner of the Standard of Excellence.

This is the 73rd 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.