VGCC Graduates 8 New Law Enforcement Officers in School’s 82nd BLET Class

Eight cadets graduated Dec. 19 from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) course at Vance-Granville Community College. After passing the state certification exam, all eight are authorized to work in any law enforcement agency in North Carolina.Graduates of the 82nd BLET class at VGCC are Michael Collins of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Cornelius Davis of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Ryne Ford of the Roxboro Police Department, Justin Long of Roxboro, Jeffrey Macialek of the Henderson Police Department, Kendall Mangum of the Granville County Sheriff’s Department, Sharon Smith of the Roxboro Police Department and Michael Wells of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.Sgt. Matthew Nies of the Henderson Police Department, who is also a BLET instructor, was the guest speaker for the graduation. Nies congratulated the students on their achievement and on their choice of a career that serves others. Wells spoke on behalf of his fellow students. Tony Pendergrass, the coordinator of law enforcement training at VGCC, praised the class for completing 624 hours of grueling training over 16 weeks. Nies and VGCC Dean of Applied Technologies and Public Service Bobby Van Brunt presented certificates to the graduates.The ceremony, which was held in the Civic Center on VGCC’s main campus, was dedicated in memory of Michael Leonforte, who was a member of the class and a Warren County Sheriff’s deputy until he was killed on September 5. Graduates wore black ribbons in honor of their fallen classmate, and Pendergrass presented Leonforte’s certificate to his widow, Cynthia. Pendergrass also read aloud a letter from Leonforte’s mother. Pendergrass handed out awards to the top students in the class in three categories. Jeffrey Macialek won the Academic Achievement Award for having the top grade average in the 36 tests each cadet must take and pass. Macialek also won the Top Gun Award for having the highest score in weapons firing, and Ryne Ford took the Physical Fitness Award for scoring highest in the various fitness tests the cadets undergo.For more information on the BLET program, contact Tony Pendergrass at (252) 492-2061, ext. 3263.Pictured above: Graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Class 82 are, front, from left: Justin Long, Kendall Mangum, Jeffrey Macialek and Sharon Smith; back row, from left: coordinator Tony Pendergrass, Michael Collins, Michael Wells, Ryne Ford and Cornelius Davis. (VGCC Photo)