Skip to main content

Navigation

Quicklinks


Isothermal Community College logo
Isothermal Community College
A group of individuals, including men and women, standing on brick steps outdoors for a formal group photo. Most wear black uniform shirts and khaki pants, while two men in the front row wear suits and ties, and one woman on the far right wears a light blue coat. A tree and building are visible in the background.

Twenty students graduate from Basic Law Enforcement Training

By: Mike Gavin
Published: December 20, 2024

SPINDALE (Dec. 20, 2024) – Twenty students graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Isothermal Community College on Friday afternoon. 

The BLET program is the state-mandated course of study for anyone interested in becoming a certified law enforcement officer. The students who completed the program were trained in 36 topics including criminal law, arrest, search, and seizure, driver training, defense tactics, firearms, and other related law enforcement topics. 

The students who earned a graduation certificate for the 640-hour training program are Emilee G. Barrella, Riley N Belue, Joshua D. Carter, Michael M. Cope, Marshal A. Deval, Eric D. Dover, Alexis M.  Dubay, Samuel E. Garrett, Jacob R.  Hamrick, Samantha N.  Herrington, Logan R Hudson, Nelia Napora, Shane A.  Parris, Daisy Perez-Jimenez, Nicolas C.  Perrin, Antonio C. Soriano, Grant J. Stratman, Thomas P. Verri, Jesse V. Wallin, and Kiefer S.  Whitener. 

The students were honored in a ceremony that began with an invocation by instructor Leon Godlock followed by the National Anthem, led by Officer Samantha Smith of the Spindale Police Department.  President Margaret Annunziata welcomed the audience.

Michael Benfield, a BLET instructor and retired trooper with the North Carolina Highway Patrol, gave the commencement address to the students.

Benfield was also given a special award of recognition for his devotion to the program. He has been an instructor as ICC for more than 30 years. In addition to serving on the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners, Benfield also was sworn in this week to a seat on the Isothermal Community College Board of Trustees.

“Mr. Benfield’s unwavering dedication to public safety, education, and his community reflects his deep sense of service and integrity,” said Dr. Annunziata as she presented the award. “We honor his legacy as a role model and leader, whose efforts continue to make an enduring impact.”

Philip Bailey, the BLET program director, and instructor Chris Francis presented certificates and awards.  Donna Hood, dean of Health and Public Services, made the closing remarks.

All graduates earned certificates in Basic Law Enforcement Training, ASP/Baton, Taser and Pepper Spray.

The individual awards were: Top State Exam Score- Eric Dewayne Dover; Top Academic-  Eric Dewayne Dover; Police Officer Physical Aptitude Test (POPAT) Top Score- Nicholas Perrin; Most Improved Physical Training- Daisy Perez; Top Firearms- Logan Hudson.

This is the 87th BLET class to graduate from Isothermal Community College since it began conducting the training in the late 1970s. 

The next BLET class begins soon. Many local law enforcement agencies are providing financial assistance for students. For information, contact Brenda McFarland at 828-395-1668 or Bailey at 828-395-1644.