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Law Enforcement Academy Graduates 13 Students at Sandhills Community College

Dec 16, 2025
Graduates of the Sandhills Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy stand with faculty outside a campus building.

Image caption | Graduates of the Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy pose with Sandhills Community College faculty and staff prior to their Dec. 16, 2025, graduation ceremony on the Pinehurst campus.

The streets and community will be in good hands with recent Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) academy graduates from Sandhills Community College. The students received their cadet awards and certificates from the senior administrative team, President Alexander “Sandy” Stewart, and BLET Director Ron Turk during a ceremony held Dec. 16, 2025, on the Pinehurst campus.

“After a long five-month course of basic law enforcement skills, Sandhills Community College is proud to recommend that this fine group of cadets be certified as law enforcement officers in North Carolina,” said Turk. “As the next generation of sworn officers and deputy sheriffs, we are confident that they will well represent the cities, county and state professionally.”

Graduates included John Cavallo, John Harrison, Keith Horner, Brad Huizinga, William Jacobs, Javon Nigel Johnson, Trevor Jones, Chelsi Lopresto, Jay McCraw, Matthew Rebuck, Kenneth Reed, Liam Thayer, and Nathan Trueblood.

Many of the graduates are already serving or preparing to enter the field. Deputy Freeman delivered the invocation and benediction, and the colors were presented by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office.

Representatives from the following agencies joined the celebration:

  • Moore County Sheriff’s Office

  • North Carolina State Highway Patrol

  • Aberdeen Police Department

  • North Carolina State Parks

  • Harnett County Sheriff’s Office

  • Southern Pines Police Department

  • Lee County Sheriff’s Office

  • Whispering Pines Police Department

  • Pinehurst Police Department

  • Foxfire Police Department

The guest speaker was Chief Nicholas Polidori of the Southern Pines Police Department, who expressed the importance of character and integrity that must be upheld at all times to remain successful while serving the public.

To learn more about the Basic Law Enforcement Training program at Sandhills Community College, visit:
https://www.sandhills.edu/programs/law/blet.html

Students participate in hands-on, practical training scenarios, including firearms, defensive tactics, law enforcement driving, and traffic law enforcement. The program also features training using the VirTra 300 virtual simulator and instruction from experienced faculty in state commission-mandated topics and methods. New classes begin in the Spring Semester on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. Prospective students may register at www.sandhills.edu/apply.

 

Chief Nicholas Polidori of the Southern Pines Police Department speaks at a podium during a graduation ceremony at Sandhills Community College.  Sandhills Community College President Alexander “Sandy” Stewart speaks at a podium during a graduation ceremony.  BLET Director Ron Turk speaks at a podium during a graduation ceremony at Sandhills Community College.  Basic Law Enforcement Training graduates present a framed class gift to BLET Director Ron Turk during a ceremony at Sandhills Community College.  Members of a local law enforcement color guard presenting flags during the BLET graduation ceremony.  Basic Law Enforcement Training graduates in khaki uniforms pose with local law enforcement leaders, including Sheriff Ronnie Fields, Major Eric Galloway, and Chief Deputy Andy Conway, at a Sandhills Community College ceremony.