VGCC Graduates 14 New Law Enforcement Officers
Fourteen cadets graduated May 29 from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) course at Vance-Granville Community College. After passing the state certification exam, all 14 are authorized to work in any law enforcement agency in North Carolina.Graduates of VGCC’s 83rd BLET class included Andre Maurice Alston of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Clarence Franklin Bowen III of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office, Robin Andrew Cone, Kenneth Michael Dalton, Steven Parham Frazier of Butner Public Safety, Shawn Cornelius Hawkes of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Lamar Krider of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Dwayne Louis Morton of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office, Gregory Shaun Purdy of N.C. Parks and Recreation, Steven Michael Soppa of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office, Gerald Lloyd Thorne of the Oxford Police Department, Talaya Dee Vaughn of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office, Christopher Mark Welborn of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and Kandi Cheree Zinn of N.C. Parks and Recreation.VGCC President Randy Parker welcomed those gathered to congratulate the graduates at a ceremony in the college’s Civic Center. He particularly thanked representatives of the law enforcement community who were in attendance, as well as the family members who supported the students. Parker wished the graduates luck, adding, “We appreciate you working on the front lines protecting and serving the citizens of our four counties in these tumultuous times.”BLET students chose Melvin G. Smith, a retired chief of the Henderson Police Department as well as an instructor for law enforcement and detention officer training at VGCC, to be their guest speaker. Smith, a 33-year law enforcement veteran, urged graduates “to keep your badge untarnished, and stand for what you know is right.” He also encouraged the new law enforcement officers to get to know the people they serve, and to keep abreast of changes in technology.Shawn Hawkes spoke on behalf of his fellow students. “To become a law enforcement officer is an honor and a privilege,” Hawkes said. “We don’t aspire to be superheroes. We have just chosen this way to serve our communities.”Tony Pendergrass, the coordinator of law enforcement training at VGCC, praised the class for completing 624 hours of grueling training over 16 weeks. Pendergrass said that Henderson Police Chief Keith Sidwell attended many of the classes during this session, but was unable to attend the ceremony due to his son’s Air Force Academy graduation.Parker and VGCC Dean of Applied Technologies and Public Service Bobby Van Brunt presented certificates to the graduates.Pendergrass handed out awards to the top students in the class in three categories. Purdy won the “Top Gun” Award for having the highest accuracy score in weapons firing, and Hawkes took the Physical Fitness Award for scoring highest in the various fitness tests the cadets undergo. Dalton was presented with the Academic Achievement Award for having the top grade average in the 41 written tests each cadet must take and pass. Dalton accomplished this feat, even though his wife delivered a baby on the day of his state exam.In closing remarks, Pendergrass thanked the 45 instructors who helped train the class, and the local chiefs of police and sheriffs who support the program.For more information on the BLET program, contact Tony Pendergrass at (252) 492-2061, ext. 3263.Above: Graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Class 83 are, front, from left: Lamar Krider, Dwayne L. Morton, Talaya D. Vaughn, Kenneth M. Dalton, Gregory S. Purdy, Robin A. Cone and Kandi C. Zinn, with coordinator Tony Pendergrass; back, from left, Christopher M. Weldon, Shawn C. Hawkes, Steven P. Frazier, Steven M. Soppa, Clarence F. Bowen III, Gerald L. Thorne and Andre M. Alston. (VGCC Photo)
