Basic Law Enforcement Training spring course at WPCC announced

Nov. 2, 2020 – The next Basic Law Enforcement Training course at Western Piedmont Community College will begin Jan. 7, 2021. The course is designed to give students essential skills required for entry-level employment as law enforcement officers.

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

“Law enforcement is a career that’s more than a job,” said Steve Warren, Law Enforcement Training director. “It’s a profession that utilizes your mental and physical skills to positively impact the lives of others in your community. We are seeking motivated individuals with a strong commitment to helping others and the ability to work as a team.”

To enroll in the course, applicants must be at least 20 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, and meet all minimum standards for employment and certification in criminal justice employment. Applicants must also obtain sponsorship from an organized law enforcement agency.

The BLET course is offered through WPCC’s Law Enforcement Training Center. It utilizes State Commission mandated topics and methods of instruction. General subjects include, but are not limited to: criminal, juvenile, civil, traffic and alcohol beverage laws; investigative, patrol, custody and court procedures; emergency responses; and ethics and community relations.

Upon successful completion of the BLET course, students will receive credit for the following courses, which can be applied toward the Associate in Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice Technology: Criminal Law, Court Procedures and Evidence, and Investigative Procedures.

“I can personally attest to the quality of education that I was given at WPCC in the early 1990s,” said Thurman Whisnant, Hickory Police Department chief of police. “I still see first-hand how prepared our recruits are that have completed the BLET program offered by WPCC. In the challenging times that are facing modern policing, we trust and rely heavily on the high standards and quality of training our recruits receive at WPCC.”

For more information about the BLET, visit wpcc.edu/blet/ or contact Law Enforcement Training Center staff at 828-448-3135.