As a little girl, Paige Mitchell watched her dad as he left for work each morning as a sheriff's deputy. She also heard her grandfather's stories about his time in the Army as a Military Police Officer. She decided that she would like to follow in their footsteps and enter a career in law enforcement.
Mitchell graduated from Sandhills Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) in August 2022. "I only heard great things about their BLET program," she said. Describing her time in the program, Mitchell said, "The instructors were great. Throughout the program, we simulated real-life scenarios. I felt prepared upon graduation."
After graduating, Mitchell began working as a police officer for the Carthage Police Department. "I have exceeded my own expectations within law enforcement, and I think people have noticed," she said. Mitchell has continued her education and completed the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) training and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) detection. As she progresses in her career, she hopes to work in law enforcement at the state or federal level.
Mitchell encourages others to consider a career in law enforcement. "If this is truly something you want, you're going to want it with your whole heart," said Mitchell. "Through your training in the Sandhills SCC BLET program, you will have all the skills you need to begin your career. "When you get out there, and you're on your own, it can be scary, but don't run away from that nervousness," adds Mitchell.
Sandhills Community College BLET graduates fill numerous roles in law as law enforcement officers with a state, county, municipal agency, or in the private sector.
The next BLET course takes only three and a half months to complete. The next class will begin on August 28 and end the first week of December. It will meet Monday-Friday from 8 AM to 5:30 PM and several Saturdays. There is no cost to take the class; the State of North Carolina will pay tuition. There are out-of-pocket expenses for textbooks and uniforms, but the College may have resources to assist with such costs. All trainees must be 20 years of age at course completion. Applicants who are 19 years old may be accepted with a waiver.
Those interested in BLET should complete and submit their registration packet as soon as possible. For further information or to obtain registration material, contact Robert Kehoe at (910) 693-2666 or kehoer@sandhills.edu or Mary Lou Coffey at (910) 693-2667 or coffeym@sandhills.edu.