Top Cops in Training
By Melissa Pendergast

If weeknight Prime Time is any indicator, America is tuned into crime. Judging Amy, DragNet and NYPD Blues are just a few of the growing number of criminal justice-based T.V. shows entering Americans' homes each night. And, although local law

enforcement careers may not be as glitzy or glamorous, they provide a career with a lot of rewards and a lot of options.

SCC Alumni: Franklin Police Sergeant:      Devin Holland NC Wildlife Resource Commission Hunter Education Specialist:      Josh Stephens U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer:       Charlie Blaine

Over 95% of law enforcement officers in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties have been educated at Southwestern. We provide multiple options for you in various aspects of criminal justice, including degrees in Cyber Crime and Criminal Justice, a certificate in Basic Law Enforcement Training and update courses for law enforcement officers.

CSI: Cyber Scene Investigation
Three years ago, Southwestern Community College embarked on the first-ever associate degree program in Cyber Crime Technology. The program's popularity has literally grown like wildfire, doubling anticipated enrollment and allowing the college to duplicate the program on-line. So what's all the fuss about?

Cyber criminals are on the rise, and so is the need for agents who can nab them. What began with computer viruses has evolved to kidnappings and terrorism. At a recent visit to Southwestern, NC Attorney General Roy Cooper said his office is seeing a growing number of cyber crime offenders. His staff recently assisted with the return of 12-year-old girl who had been lured to Louisiana through the use of an on-line chat room. Because agents were trained to recover deleted computer data, officers were able to track down the predator, leading to the recovery of the young girl. Graduates of the cyber crime program are prepared to deal with similar data recovery situations.

Bob Jones, a recent graduate of the Cyber Crime program recently worked with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Department. During his internship, Jones assisted officers with a three-month old cold case involving a female's disappearance. One hour into investigating computer files found on her computer, Jones was able to give the Department two viable leads. So how do students acquire the knowledge they need to perform these duties in just two years?

Enter "Partners in Crime," a.k.a. Mike Burnette and Kirk Stephens. The duo has a unique chemistry that simply cannot be replicated.

Burnette, who also doubles as Southwestern's Criminal Justice Technology Coordinator, brings with him over 25 years of criminal justice experience, and Stephens, who also serves as Southwestern's Information Systems Program Coordinator, offers over 20 years of experience in the computer industry.

"When you have two instructors in the classroom, team teaching, there has to be a chemistry and a high degree of respect between them," said Stephens. "One of my main areas of interest has always been social issues with computers. Likewise, Mike has always had an interest in technology. His 'Selected Topics' Criminal Justice course requires students to use all Microsoft Office programs. It's coincidental that our personal interests overlapped, creating a pretty unique situation."

Their students agree.

"It's obvious that they're friends outside the classroom," said Bruce Jones, a recent graduate of the Cyber Crime program. "And that makes the learning environment more comfortable. The class definitely has a more personal relationship with these instructors because of that environment."

But if you're looking to wear the blues, you'll need to earn your Basic Law Enforcement Training Certificate first.

The District
Reta Hamilton, SCC's Law Enforcement Training Coordinator, has one thing she wants anyone considering a job in law enforcement to know, "it's not as racy or exciting as the Prime Time cop shows--it's the real deal. But it is a rewarding career for those who have a desire to serve their community."

Twice a year, SCC's Public Safety Training Complex in Franklin offers Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET)--a State accredited program designed to prepare entry-level individuals with the cognitive and physical skills to become certified police officers and deputy sheriffs.

The spring day program meets all-day, five days a week for fifteen weeks with occasional evening classes. The fall evening program meets Monday through Thursdays, 6 - 10 p.m., with Saturdays prevalent throughout the program.

"It's physically and mentally rigorous," said Hamilton. "Upon successful completion of BLET, our graduates have a solid foundation in law enforcement which can be enhanced with experience and advanced training throughout their careers."

Students receive training in various aspects of law enforcement including, driver training, physical fitness, crime prevention, ethics, first responder, domestic violence, controlled substance, traffic enforcement, motor vehicle laws, firearms, explosives and hazardous materials, note taking and more.

"The hardest part for most people seems to the physical aspect," said Hamilton. "I try to encourage people who are interested in taking BLET to start doing military style pushups and sit-ups before entering the program."

During their training, students must successfully complete a Police Officer Physical Abilities Test (POPAT). The obstacle course is a timed, continuous sequence of actual and simulated tasks that measure basic individual abilities directly related to law enforcement.

POPAT begins with a student and a "victim" buckled in a four-door sedan. The student is given the names of two street numbers to remember. He must then get out of the car, run 200 yards, come back to the car, retrieve the victim from the passenger side and drag him, dead-weight, 50 yards. The student must then run the equivalent of three flights of stairs, bust through a door with 50 pounds of constant resistance, immediately fall to the ground and perform 20 military-style push-ups followed by 20 sit-ups. The student must then return to the staircase and run the equivalent of three flights of stairs again, and then progress to a 40' culvert. The student must make his way through the culvert and immediately perform another 20 military-style push-ups and 20 sit ups, then run 200 yards, grab the victim and drag him another 50 yards. Last, the two street names given at the beginning of the course must then be repeated in the same order they were given, or the student must run and additional 200 yards.

"It's harder than a lot of people think it's going to be," said Hamilton. "I watched 23 fitness instructors go through the POPAT course. Some of them did not successfully finish."

Upon successful completion of the BLET program, graduates can be employed as deputy sheriffs or police officers.

Murphy Police Officer, Jeffrey Postell, apprehended Eric Robert Rudolph just one year after graduating from Southwestern Community College's Basic Law Enforcement Training Program. ( . . full story)

Law and Order
One hundred and ten percent.

According to Josh Stephens, Hunter Education Specialist for the NC Wildlife Resource Commission and SCC alumnus, that's what you must give to be successful in Southwestern's Criminal Justice Technology program.

Stephens, a 1997 graduate of Southwestern's Criminal Justice program, went on to further his education at WCU before taking his current position with the Wildlife Commission. Stephens currently coordinates all hunting and boating education courses and fishing program in the 12 western North Carolina counties.

"The classes are no picnic. I worked hard for every grade I received in the program," said Stephens.

"Mike [Burnette] made it clear right from the beginning that my success in the program was up to me, not him. When I graduated, I was extremely proud. I had always heard that SCC had one of the best Criminal Justice programs in the State, and after attending, I couldn't agree more."

The Criminal Justice Program at SCC provides students with a solid foundation in law enforcement, courts and corrections topics, offering numerous career options. Graduates are prepared for careers as a law enforcement officer, corrections officer, deputy clerk of courts, security guard, surveillance officer and more. Law enforcement agencies may require additional certifications, such as the BLET for deputy sheriffs and police officers.

Another SCC alumnus, Charles Blaine currently works as a U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer in South Carolina. Blaine spends his days patrolling 87,000 acres of federal land.

"I do foot patrol, vehicle patrol, ATV patrol, public education, some wildlife and fishing enforcement," said Blaine. "I went into this side of law enforcement because of the broad range of work I get to do."

Franklin Police Sergeant Devin Holland, a 1994 graduate of SCC's Criminal Justice Program now works within the city limits of Franklin performing traffic enforcement, drug interdiction, accident investigations, domestic disturbance calls, public relations and criminal investigations.

"The program gave me the hands-on experience I use on my job, but it also made me explore other areas in law enforcement to make me more well-rounded," said Sgt. Holland.

With an investment of your time and dedication, you can turn your criminal justice career dream into a reality. Tune in for more information on these programs by calling the SCC's Admissions Office today.

Career Focus Table of Contents - Summer 2003

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