The streets and community will be in good hands with recent Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) academy graduates from Sandhills Community College. The students received their cadet awards and certificates from the senior administrative team, as well as President Sandy Stewart and BLET Director Ron Turk, at the ceremony held on Dec. 16 on the Pinehurst campus.
“After a long five-month course of basic law enforcement skills, Sandhills Community College is proud to recommend that this fine group of cadets be certified as law enforcement officers in North Carolina,” said Turk. “As the next generation of sworn officers and deputy sheriffs, we are confident that they will well represent the cities, county and state professionally.”
Graduates included John Cavallo, John Harrison, Keith Horner, Brad Huizinga, William Jacobs, Javon Nigel Johnson, Trevor Jones, Chelsi Lopresto, Jay McCraw, Matthew Rebuck, Kenneth Reed, Liam Thayer, and Nathan Trueblood.
Many of the students are headed to or already in the field of practice. Deputy Freeman gave the invocation and gave the benediction. The Moore County Sheriff’s Department presented the colors.
Joining the celebration were representatives from the Moore County Sheriff’s Office, N.C. State Highway Patrol, Aberdeen Police Department, North Carolina State Parks, Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, Southern Pines Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Whispering Pines Police Department, Pinehurst Police Department, and the Foxfire Police Department.
The guest speaker was Chief Nicholas Polidori of the Southern Pines Police Department, who expressed the importance of character and integrity that must be upheld at all times to remain successful in their roles while serving the public.
To learn more about the BLET program at Sandhills Community College, visit: https://www.sandhills.edu/programs/law/blet.html.
Students participate in hands-on and practical scenarios, including firearms, defensive tactics, law enforcement driving, and traffic law enforcement; experience a state-of-the-art virtual simulator using the Virtra 300; and receive hands-on training from experienced faculty. New classes will start in the spring semester on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. Future students may register at www.sandhills.edu/apply.
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