Twenty-one Complete BLET at ECC
The largest graduating class of cadets has completed Edgecombe Community College’s Basic Academy of Basic Law Enforcement Training. From left are (front) BLET School Director Bernie Taylor, Ismail Fletcher, David White, Kendal Baker, Crichton Smith, Dylan Pruett, Tajeldin Alshohatee, Timothy Eagleson, Tamia Odom, Patrick Ellis, Breanna Artis, Trevor Briley, April Medina-Zarate, Donovan Pugh, Seth Dail, Alexander Hopper, Jordan Arrington, Daniel Webb, Devin Ivey, Colby Peele, Daniel Flynn, and Aaron Davis.
Edgecombe Community College has graduated its largest class of Basic Law Enforcement Training cadets in the program’s history.
On March 8, twenty-one cadets graduated from ECC’s 12th Basic Academy of Basic Law Enforcement Training. All but several of the graduates have been hired and will be taking their oaths of office soon.
The college’s first Basic Academy of BLET was held in 2015.
The graduation ceremony featured comments by Lieutenant Shane Guyant of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office along with Patrick Ellis, squad leader of the 12th Basic Academy.
Graduates and their sponsoring agencies are:
- Tajeldin A. Alshohatee, Tarboro Police Department
- Jordan B. Arrington, Pitt County Sheriff’s Office
- Breanna M. Artis, Pinetops Police Department
- Kendal C. Baker, Stantonsburg Police Department
- Trevor C. Briley, Winterville Police Department
- Seth P. Dail, Pinetops Police Department
- Aaron J. Davis, Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office
- Timothy I. Eagleson, Goldsboro Police Department
- Patrick B. Ellis, Winterville Police Department
- Ismail J. Fletcher, Tarboro Police Department
- Daniel C. Flynn, Nash County Sheriff’s Office
- Alexander L. Hopper, Winterville Police Department
- Devin C. Ivey, Winterville Police Department
- April Medina-Zarate, Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office
- Tamia Z. Odom, Pinetops Police Department
- Colby A. Peele, Nash County Sheriff’s Office
- Dylan S. Pruett, Greenville Police Department
- Donovan H. Pugh, Greenville Police Department
- Crichton V. Smith, Farmville Police Department
- Daniel K. Webb, Tarboro Police Department
- David A. White, Pitt County Sheriff’s Office
ECC’s BLET Academy prepares students for entry-level employment as a law enforcement officer with state, county, or municipal governments. The cadets completed an intensive 22-week program and have passed the certification exam mandated by the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
The BLET program is unique in that it includes training in high-risk calls and certification in tasers, expandable batons, and pepper spray. The program recently added Crisis Intervention Team Training, better known as CIT, a 40-hour national certification that focuses on advanced methods of de-escalation. Graduates also receive 18 college credit hours toward an associate degree in criminal justice.
The college’s next Basic Academy for BLET begins June 5. To learn more, please contact (252) 618-6613 or taylorb@edgecombe.edu.