黑料正能量 has graduated its 76th Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) class. The eight cadets who completed the college鈥檚 academy received certificates to work as sworn law enforcement officers in North Carolina.
Certificates were conferred on
Blake Ryan Davis, Goldsboro,
Estefan Antonio Daza of Fremont,
David John Gravatt of Pikeville,
Timothy Jacob Gray of La Grange,
Stephen Timothy Harper of Kinston,
Todd Michael Jessee of Goldsboro,
Dioselina Maldonado Osorio of Walstonburg, and
Hunter Derrick Walker of La Grange.
Awards were presented for outstanding performance and leadership.
Davis garnered the Major J. Memmelarr Student Excellence Award. In addition to being the overall top graduate, WCC Public Safety Division Chair Beverly Deans said that 鈥渆very situation [Davis] was put into, he always came out with a positive and professional attitude鈥� and he demonstrated a 鈥渢rue and sincere dedication鈥� to the law enforcement profession.
Formerly the valedictorian award, it has been renamed to honor Jay R. Memmelarr Jr., an officer with the Goldsboro Police Department who died in the line of duty in 2017. He had been the valedictorian of his WCC BLET class and later became an instructor for the academy.
The Physical Fitness Award went to Walker. He excelled in all activities designed to prepare the recruits for the Police Officer鈥檚 Physical Ability Test and timed runs.
Gray was presented the Top Gun Award for demonstrating the most overall proficiency in use of firearms. Cadets complete 40 hours of firearms work in both the classroom and on the firing range.
Daza earned the Leadership Award. According to WCC Law Enforcement Coordinator Angie Blizzard, he 鈥渆xemplified the definition of leadership.鈥�
Davis and Walker were selected by their peers to speak during the ceremony. Both talked about the rigors of the program, the dedication and sacrifices of their loved ones and friends that allowed them to complete it, and the respect they have for their instructors and their new profession.
鈥淚t was a long and tiring eight months, but I would not trade it,鈥� Davis said.
Davis and Walker praised their classmates and instructors for their 鈥渁daptability鈥� when program formats changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Blizzard agreed, saying, 鈥淭his class learned what it meant to be fluid.鈥�
Davis, Walker, and their instructors noted that the cadets were 鈥渢he quietest class鈥� in academy history. 鈥淲e were a very serious class,鈥� Walker said. 鈥淚t was time to get down to work.鈥�
Deans acknowledged the mental and physical challenges the cadets had faced during 702 hours of training covering a minimum of 39 aspects of law enforcement. She congratulated them for the commitment that got them through all of it and will continue to serve them in the service profession they are entering.
鈥淭he first line of defense for your community lies with you,鈥� Deans said. 鈥淲e are the 24/seven helpline and defense to our streets and neighborhoods. It is your responsibility to protect and serve the citizens of our communities.鈥�
鈥淵ou now have a unique opportunity because you can dramatically change someone鈥檚 life for the better by taking the time to care, truly protect, and serve,鈥� Deans said.
鈥淵ou have learned a lot about the words 鈥榠ntegrity,鈥� 鈥榟onor,鈥� and 鈥榙iscipline,鈥� and now it is time to go out and not just speak those words, but live those words,鈥欌�� Blizzard said. 鈥淯phold the sense of duty, dignity, and discipline that you feel today. Keep your head high, your boots shined, and your badge untarnished.鈥�
With this graduating class, the school has produced 1,170 graduates since its establishment in 1983. Currently, WCC graduates work for 52 different law enforcement agencies in this state and more elsewhere.
WCC鈥檚 academy is accredited by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and North Carolina Sheriffs鈥� Education and Training Standards Commission through the N.C. Community College System.
黑料正能量 is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 11,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 140 college credit programs. WCC鈥檚 mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.
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