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| A graduation ceremony was held on June 20 at the Jerry Sutton Public Safety Training Center in Franklin for Southwestern Community College’s BLET Class #75. Pictured are front row, left to right: Matthew Reynolds, NC law enforcement certification program coordinator/instructor; James Bethea of Franklin, Conner Wilson, Sylva; and Austin Hill, Robbinsville. Back row, left to right: Curtis Dowdle, SCC’s dean of public safety training; Hunter Gass, Sylva; Jesse Henkel, Dillsboro; Anthony Momphard Jr., Whittier; and Mitch Boudrot, SCC’s law enforcement training program director/coordinator/instructor. |
For BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) Class #75 graduate Conner Wilson of Sylva, the reason he chose the program at Southwestern Community College was not because he had heard it was easy.
“The reason I chose the BLET program at SCC was because I knew from its reputation that it was one of the harder BLET programs available and I would get the best possible training,” said Wilson. “While the first part was mainly classroom time, once we got past our midterms is when the hands-on training really began. I will say that being pepper-sprayed was one of the worst experiences I ever had, but it is part of the intense training you receive at SCC to get you ready for this job.”
The North Carolina BLET is a state-accredited program designed to prepare entry-level individuals with the cognitive and physical skills to become certified police officers and deputy sheriffs.
Wilson, along with the other five graduates, James Bethea of Franklin, Hunter Gass, Sylva; Jesse Henkel, Dillsboro; Austin Hill, Robbinsville; and Anthony Momphard Jr. Whittier; were honored during a graduation ceremony held on June 20 at the Jerry Sutton Public Safety Training Center in Franklin.
“It's always an honor and privilege to work with individuals who are seeking positions within the public safety field,” said Curtis Dowdle, dean of public safety training. “BLET Class #75 is a dedicated group of individuals who will serve their communities to the best of their ability. Four of the six have already proven that by serving our country in various branches of the military. We at Southwestern Community College's division of public safety training are proud of BLET Class #75 and all of their accomplishments.”
After the certificates were given, Dowdle asked the law enforcement representatives from the surrounding counties if they had any advice for the latest generation of law enforcement officers.
The resounding words of encouragement were to find a mentor to push and encourage them and to rely on one another as they are now part of a brother/sisterhood that spanned across departments and county lines.
The graduates began to have an understanding of this unique bond during their time at SCC as Hunter Gass spoke about the comradery of the group and Wilson added that they had all grown really close in the more than 700 hours of training they completed together.
For more information about SCC’s public safety training, call 828.306.7041 or visit www.southwesterncc.edu/pstc.
