Sixteen students graduate from Basic Law Enforcement Training

Sixteen students graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Isothermal Community College recently.

The BLET program is the state-mandated course of study for anyone interested in becoming a certified law enforcement officer. The students who completed the program were trained in 36 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 training program are Christian Randle Allen, Hunter Douglas Bradley, Alexander Michael Buchanan, Taylor Madison Lampert, Austin Robertson Laughter, Aren Michael Messer, Alberto Augustine Cesante Jr., Aiden Charles Davis, Anna Grace Morton, Rianna Renee Reynolds, Colin Lucas Sarratt, Ashley Nicole Foster, Robert Randolph Hooper Jr., Seth Alan Jackson, Tyler Maurice Simmons, and Mark David Zimmerman.

The students were honored in a ceremony that began with an invocation by Leon Godlock, a BLET instructor, who also sang the National Anthem. President Margaret Annunziata welcomed the audience.

Cpl. Clint Tuttle of Rutherford County Sheriff's Office - who also serves as one of ICC's campus resource officers - delivered the commencement address to the students.

Then, Philip Bailey, the BLET program director, and instructor Chris Francis presented certificates and awards.

All graduates earned certificates in Basic Law Enforcement Training, ASP/Baton, Taser and Pepper Spray.

Seth Alan Jackson earned the Top Academic Award while Ashley Foster garnered the Most Improved Police Officer Physical Aptitude Test (POPAT) Award. Rianna R. Reynolds earned the Highest State Exam Award. Colin Sarratt earned the Top Firearms Award. Aren Messer was recognized with the Top POPAT Award.

This is the 88th BLET class to graduate from Isothermal Community College since it began conducting the training in the late 1970s.

Spindale Police Department, Forest City Police Department, Lake Lure Police Department, Rutherfordton Police Department, Polk County Sheriff's Department, Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Henderson County Sheriff's Department, and Shelby Police Department were all sponsoring agencies.

The next BLET class begins soon. Many local law enforcement agencies are providing financial assistance for students. For information, contact Brenda McFarland at 828-395-1668 or Bailey at 828-395-1644.