On Monday, December 18th, the Walker Center hosted Wilkes Community College’s 100th Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) class graduation ceremony. Over 300 people were in attendance to watch the 27 cadets as they were certified as law enforcement officers. Among those in attendance were sheriffs and their deputies from four different counties, as well as chiefs of police and police officers from at least seven different towns. State park rangers, highway patrol troopers, and SBI special agents were also present to show their support for the graduates.
This year’s class was the second largest class to start the BLET program in the history of Wilkes Community College’s program, with 32 cadets. Of those 32 cadets, 27 took and passed the exam, making it the largest class to ever sit for the exam.
The keynote address was given by Chris Laws, Special Agent in Charge, Northwestern District, State Bureau of Investigation; and Cadet Lieutenant Bayle Wood delivered remarks on behalf of her classmates.
Cadets from eleven different agencies, who had accepted job offers, were seen wearing their respective uniforms. One cadet is set to attend the Highway Patrol’s “Short School” in January, while another has received a conditional offer from the State Bureau of Investigation.
Kenneth Graybeal, director of BLET stated, “Once the picture was taken, handshakes and hugs were exchanged, and a few old friendships renewed, the cadets and guests began to leave. Together, they have completed the first step in their law enforcement careers, and we expect to hear great things about them in the future.”