Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET)

 

Are you ready for a career that’s more than just a job? Do you desire to make an impact in your community and be part of a profession that utilizes your mental and physical skills to impact the lives of others positively?

If you’re looking to dedicate your working life to something challenging that you can be proud of, then a career in law enforcement might be a perfect fit. The Sandhills Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training program is an excellent place to begin your career. The State of North Carolina will pay the tuition for students who are sponsored by a local law enforcement agency. The remaining cost to the students is estimated to be $1000.00. This includes books and uniforms. Students can contact Mrs. Coffey (coffeym@sandhills.edu) or Bob Kehoe (kehoer@sandhills.edu) if they have a financial concern about attending Basic Law Enforcement Training. We may have resources available to assist students with this cost. To learn more about a career in law enforcement, please click here.

The Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program is designed to give students the essential skills required for entry-level employment as law enforcement officers with a state, county, municipal agency, or in the private sector.

This program utilizes State-Commission-mandated topics and methods of instruction. General subjects include, but are not limited to, criminal, juvenile, civil, traffic, and alcoholic beverage laws; investigative, patrol, custody, and court procedures; emergency responses; ethics and community relations. In addition, students participate in numerous hands-on and practical scenarios such as firearms, defensive tactics, law enforcement driving, and traffic law enforcement. To enhance the training, students will train in the Virtra 300, a state-of-the-art virtual simulator. Watch this video and see the simulator in action.

Students must complete and pass all the units of study mandated by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the North Carolina Sheriffs Education and Training Standards Commission to receive a certificate.

 

 

**Students successfully completing a Basic Law Enforcement Training course will receive credit for CJC-113 Juvenile Justice, CJC-120 Interviews and Interrogation, CJC-131, Criminal Law, CJC-132 Court Procedure and Evidence, and CJC-221 Investigative Principles, and CJC-231 Constitutional Law toward the Associate in Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice Technology.

 

Special Requirements

POPAT
Each potential student is required to complete a two (2) phase physical fitness test. Phase one (1) must be completed within six (6) minutes, and phase two (2) must be completed within three (3) minutes. The physical fitness testing date will be scheduled close to the packet due date. Students will be notified by e-mail when the date is set. All prospective students will meet in blue hall room 128. Students should dress in exercise clothes and running shoes.

TABE
Students entering BLET must demonstrate reading proficiency at the tenth (10th) grade level within twelve months of the start of the course. To accommodate this requirement, Sandhills Community College will offer the TABE reading test. The date of the test will be scheduled close to the packet due date. Students will be notified by e-mail of the starting date. The test will be administered in Blue hall room 128.

All trainees must be 20 years of age at the time of course completion. Applicants who are 19 years old may be accepted with a waiver.

Sponsorship by a North Carolina Law Enforcement Agency is required to waive the student’s tuition.

Sandhills Community College offers the BLET program three times per year. Additionally, the program may operate on several different schedules (i.e., daytime, nights/Saturdays, etc.) to accommodate student schedules.

Students must purchase the required textbooks before the first day of class.

All trainees must be enrolled the first day of course delivery (no enrollment after the first class begins).

Partial or limited enrolled students can enroll with a letter of authorization.

At the conclusion of BLET, students must complete all performance and attendance requirements to be able to take the comprehensive written exam administered by the Criminal Justice Standards Division (must score 70 percent on each unit to pass the exam.

Background check
Applicants must, in addition to the required certified background checks from every place you have lived since 16 years of age, obtain a background check from the .FB.I. The following website will walk you through the steps needed to get the required background check, https://www.edo.cjis.gov/#/. The F.B.I background report is due at least 30 days before the start of class.

 

Class Locations and Times

The Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) class is CJC 110. It awards 20 semester hours credit upon successful completion.

BLET offers a night class that begins in January at the beginning of the Spring Semester and is held on the Pinehurst Campus in Blue Hall.  Classes are held Monday through Friday from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm and alternating Saturdays from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm.

The day program will begin this year at the start of the Fall semester in August. and is held on the Pinehurst Campus in Blue Hall. Classes are held Monday through Friday from 8 am-5 pm. Some Saturday classes and night hours are required.

 

Forms for Application

The linked forms are required for admission to the BLET program. The completed forms are expected to be submitted no later than 45 days before the class start date. The seats are available first come, first serve based on completed packet and confirmation from the school director. Trainees do not have to be present for registration.

Click on the complete packet link, save the pdf to your computer.  Print out each form.  Complete and sign each form where required, and mail or hand deliver to Bob Kehoe, School Director BLET, Blue Hall Room 127, Sandhills Community College, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC  28374.

Complete Packet

Physicians Certification of Fitness

 

Program Oversight

Regulated by the North Carolina Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the North Carolina Sheriffs Education and Training Standards Commission.

 

Estimated Program Expenses

*Program credit hours: 20 – $76.00 per credit hour in-state tuition. Tuition for BLET is paid by the sponsoring law enforcement agency. All students must be sponsored.

 

Contact Information

Bob Kehoe
127 Blue Hall
910.693.2667
kehoer@sandhills.edu

Mary Lou Coffey
Records Management Specialist, Basic Law Enforcement Training
910.693.2667
coffeym@sandhills.edu