The UNC System has opened its first unified Basic Law Enforcement Training academy at the Samarcand Training Academy in Moore County, partnering with Sandhills Community College to provide instruction to campus police cadets from across the state.
Seventeen cadets make up the inaugural class, making this the first time the system has brought its campus police recruits together for a single, centralized training program. Previously, recruits trained at various academies statewide, often separated from peers who would later serve on similar campuses.
“This is the first time the UNC System has been able to train our officers together from the start,” said Frederick Sellers, the system’s vice president for safety and enterprise risk management. “It gives us the opportunity to prepare officers with a common understanding of the campus environment and the expectations that come with serving our students, faculty, and staff.”
The academy meets the state’s requirement of 868 hours of BLET coursework for law enforcement certification. Sandhills Community College oversees the instructional program, while Samarcand provides the training environment and facilities. Cadets study criminal law, firearms, driving, ethics, physical skills, and crisis response.
Much of the teaching comes from certified UNC System officers who bring campus-specific experience to the classroom and training grounds. This approach reportedly helps prepare cadets for the unique demands of policing in higher education settings.
The UNC System plans to hold one or two academy sessions each year as it works to strengthen recruitment and retention within campus police departments.
Want Moore news that matters? Please click here to sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel e-newsletter.
Photo via North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
