Six students graduated from Beaufort County Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training program on June 23. Tracy Cowan Jr. of Greenville, Adam Cox of Washington, Matthew Hassel of Pinetown, Milton Long of Blounts Creek, Jordan Paniagua of Bath and George Stokes III of Washington were honored at the ceremony.

Clifton Hales of the Washington Police Department was the guest speaker for the graduation. Jordan Paniagua delivered remarks on behalf of his class. Larry Barnes, director of the BLET program, acknowledged members of local law enforcement departments, such as the Washington Police Department and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office in the audience. Many of them are instructors or former graduates of the program.

The BLET program is designed to give students essential skills required for entry-level employment as law enforcement officers with state, county or municipal governments, or with private enterprise.

The program uses state commission-mandated topics and methods of instruction.

General subjects include criminal, juvenile, civil, traffic and alcoholic beverage laws; investigative, patrol, custody and court procedures; emergency responses; and ethics and community relations.

Successful graduates receive a curriculum certificate and are qualified to take certification examinations mandated by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and/or the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission.

The training program at BCCC is currently open for enrollment. The start date for the fall 2016 BLET Academy is Aug. 16. Pre-orientation will be Aug. 3 by which time students should have filled out their BLET packet.