New daytime class of BLET starts soon
By: Mike Gavin
Published: December 15, 2021
High-demand careers in law enforcement are available
SPINDALE (Dec. 15, 2021) -- A new daytime Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program will begin in May 2022 at Isothermal Community College.
BLET is accredited by the North Carolina Justice Training and Standards Commission and is the required entry-level training program for anyone wishing to become a law enforcement officer in North Carolina. BLET consists of more than 660 classroom hours of training that provides the skill training to become a rookie law enforcement officer.
“Law enforcement officers are in very high demand,” said Philip Bailey, the BLET director at Isothermal. “All of the departments in the area and across the state are experiencing personnel shortages. There are a lot of reasons for that – retirements and the fact that it can be a challenging job that’s not for everyone.”
Bailey said, with the challenges, come great rewards.
“You’ve got a front row seat to the greatest show on earth,” said Bailey. “It’s an exciting and fulfilling job. You experience very interesting situations and have a chance to help people every day.”
BLET covers 35 topics including criminal law, ABC law, juvenile law, and laws of arrest, search, and seizure, driver training, firearms, defensive tactics, and vehicle stops. A topic recently added is human trafficking, reflecting the growing problem of human slavery for sexual purposes.
Admission requirements for BLET include a minimum age of 20 years old. Applicants must also possess a high school diploma or GED, and be a U.S. Citizen. In addition, students must take a reading test scoring at least a 10th grade reading level and obtain sponsorship from a local or area law enforcement agency. Students must also be in good physical condition and obtain a physical exam from a medical doctor.
Students who enter BLET must also have a background free of any felony violations or serious misdemeanor offenses. A review of past convictions, both criminal and traffic, is conducted for each student who applies to enter BLET. It is not necessary that a student have a clean or “unblemished” record. Some offenses may be on a student’s record but still make them eligible for admission.
An application packet is available for pick-up or mailing. Anyone wishing more information may call Brenda McFarland at (828) 395-1668 or by email at bmcfarland@isothermal.edu or Director Philip Bailey at 828-395-1448 or by email at pbailey@isothermal.edu . Enrollment is limited, and an application packet is required to be completed and returned prior to the start of training.