Workforce Continuing Education
New Law Enforcement Cadets are Ready to Serve
RALEIGH, N.C. (June 12, 2019) - Twenty-three students were honored at today’s graduation ceremony for Wake Tech Community College's Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Academy. The event took place at the Public Safety Education Campus. Wake Forest Police Chief Jeffrey Leonard served as the keynote speaker, and outstanding members of the class were recognized, including the "top gun," the top fitness record and the student with the highest academic average.
Among the graduates was Class Sergeant of the Night Academy Katie Foley, an animal lover with a bachelor's degree in psychology and many other credentials under her belt. She is passionate about police canine training and decided to become a law enforcement officer so she could work with a K9 unit – and she’s been hired by the Cary Police Department to do just that!
"I can’t emphasize just how much Wake Tech has taught us and believes in us," said Foley. "Now that I've completed BLET, it feels like I’m finally getting into something that I truly enjoy."
Wake Tech has offered its BLET Academy for more than 45 years. The rigorous program includes 768 hours of training and more than 40 exams. Trainees also must pass the Police Officers Physical Ability Test (POPAT), which includes an intense, timed series of search and rescue, physical agility and mental alertness activities.
Class Sergeant of the Day Academy Stephen James, age 49, described Wake Tech's BLET as "the toughest in the state. I came here for a reason – because I knew my instructors would push me to the limit."
During the ceremony, several awards were given out:
Highest Academic Average
- Katie Foley, night academy
- Ian David Wesley Fuller, day academy
Highest Firearms Average "Top Gun Award"
- Joshua Ryan Colman, night academy
- Nathan Own Davis, day academy
Johnny Blackmon Physical Fitness Award
- Johnathan Thomas Frazier, night academy
- Mark Tyler Pearce, day academy
Monique Mitchell Memorial $800 Scholarship
- Mark Tyler Pearce
200 Club $800 Scholarship
- Nicholas Allen Sparks
Bob Barker Endowed $800 Scholarship
- Cameron Steven Bell
Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls shared a final word of gratitude for the cadets, "We celebrate you because you make the choice to serve."
Wake Tech was the first community college in North Carolina – and the second in the nation – to earn CALEA® accreditation for its Public Safety Training Academy. CALEA®, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, recognizes best practices and professional excellence in policy and practice. To learn more about Wake Tech’s BLET program, visit blet.waketech.edu.
