Law enforcement officers are in high demand, and Beaufort County Community College sent three more graduates out into the community to begin their careers. The college held a graduation ceremony for the Spring 2019 Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy on June 20. Jameson Seth Broadway of Washington, Ronda Janis Byrd of Greenville and Justin Lilley of Pinetown were honored at the ceremony.

BCCC Police Chief Todd Alligood spoke at the graduation, and J. Seth Broadway, as president of his law enforcement class, also delivered remarks. The BLET program gives students essential skills for entry-level employment as law enforcement officers with state, county or municipal agencies, 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 certificate and qualify 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.

A new program from the N.C. Justice Department hopes to get more rural positions filled by offering forgivable loans in exchange for employment commitments in rural counties. The Criminal Justice Fellows program can provide a way for students to earn an Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice at minimal cost to them. While students do not need an AAS in Criminal Justice to start as a police officer, they may need the degree to advance in the field. CJ fellows are also guaranteed a seat in a training academy in their field.

In exchange for up to $6,300 in forgivable loans, students will commit to working in criminal justice positions at law enforcement agencies in eligible counties including Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington, as well as other rural counties across the state. This could be a police department, sheriff’s department or state prison, including Hyde Correctional Institute, Tyrrell Prison Work Farm, Pamlico Correctional Institute or Bertie Correctional Institute.

The next BLET academy starts on Aug. 19. The program will hold an informational session on Aug. 5 where instructors will answer questions and hand out packets that applicants will need to fill out before admission into the program. For more information, contact Larry Barnes at 252-940-6228 or larry.barnes@beaufortccc.edu. Contact Crystal Watts at crystal.watts@beaufortccc.edu with questions about the CJ Fellows program.