Two students graduate from Basic Law Enforcement Training
By: Mike Gavin
Published: June 22, 2022
The 82nd BLET class graduated earlier this week. Pictured are Ava Yamouti, dean of Health and Public Services (left to right), Robert Mitchel Ives, Xavier T. Christman, and BLET Director Philip Bailey.
SPINDALE (June 15, 2022) – Two students graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Isothermal Community College on Tuesday evening 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 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 660-hour training program are Xavier T. Christman and Robert Mitchel Ives.
The students were honored in a ceremony that began with an invocation by Stephen Matheny, Isothermal’s vice president of Administrative Services. Ava Yamouti, dean of Health and Public Services, welcomed the audience.
Leon Godlock delivered the commencement address to the students. Godlock, a recently retired veteran of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, was named Isothermal Community College’s 2022 Outstanding Alumnus at last month’s graduation ceremony. He is also an Isothermal BLET graduate and chairman of the Isothermal Community College Foundation.
Then, Philip Bailey, the BLET program director, presented certificates and awards.
Yamouti made the closing remarks.
Both graduates earned certificates in Basic Law Enforcement Training, ASP/Baton, Taser and Pepper Spray.
This is the 82nd BLET class to graduate from Isothermal Community College since it began conducting the training in the late 1970’s.
The next BLET class begins in August. Many local law enforcement agencies are providing financial assistance for student. For information, contact Brenda McFarland at 828-395-1668 or Bailey at 828-395-1644.