Ceremony Honors Spring 2018 Law Enforcement Graduates | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    WASHINGTON, N.C.     Beaufort County Community College sent five more graduates out into the community to start careers in law enforcement. The college held a graduation ceremony for the Spring 2018 Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy on May 17. Matthew Clark of Washington, Austin Mahlandt of Hubert, Dylan West of Fairfield, Nick Wibbeler of Williamston and Blake Whitehurst of Chocowinity were honored at the ceremony.

    Daniel Cahoon of the NC State Highway Patrol spoke at the graduation, while Dylan West delivered remarks on behalf of his class. West has already joined the Hyde County Sheriff's Department. Larry Barnes, director of basic law enforcement training, recognized representatives of law enforcement departments who were present, including local police departments and county sheriffs. Many of them are instructors or former graduates of the program.

    "The local departments are always eager to hire our graduates," said Barnes. "They know the caliber of student we put out through our program at BCCC."


The Spring 2018 BLET Class: Matthew Clark, Blake Whitehurst, Dylan West, Nick Wibbeler and Austin Mahlandt stand with Larry Barnes (right), director of basic law enforcement training, and Todd Alligood (left), BCCC police chief.
    The BLET program is designed to give students essential skills required for entry-level employment as law enforcement officers with state, county or municipal governments, or with private enterprise.

    The program uses state commission-mandated topics and methods of instruction. General subjects include criminal, juvenile, civil, traffic and alcoholic beverage laws; investigative, patrol, custody and court procedures; emergency responses; and ethics and community relations.

    Successful graduates receive a curriculum certificate and are qualified to take certification examinations mandated by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and/or the North Carolina Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission.

    The next BLET academy starts on August 15. The program will hold an informational session on June 11 where instructors will answer questions and hand out packets that applicants will need to fill out before admission into the program. For more information, contact Larry Barnes at 252-940-6228 or larry.barnes@beaufortccc.edu.

• Contact: Attila Nemecz
•     Attila.Nemecz@beaufortccc.edu