CVCC Celebrates One of the Largest BLET Graduating Classes in Program History

Class 78 was honored at its formal graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

05/29/2024

HICKORY, N.C.—On the evening of Wednesday, May 22nd, Catawba Valley Community College recognized the graduates of its Basic Law Enforcement Training program, Class 78.

This is one of the largest BLET graduating classes of the program’s history.

Graduates included Michael Benfield (Hickory PD); Kyle Bennett (Lincolnton PD); Timothy Buchek (Hickory PD); Marcelo Castillo Manzanares (Catawba County SO); Michael Dyson (Alexander County SO); Sandra Flores-Zaragoza (Newton PD); Wyatt French (Catawba County SO); Barrett Geyer (Hickory PD); Justin Hallman (Lincolnton PD); Cole Honnila (Hickory PD); Richard Hughes (Hickory PD); Brandon Josey (Stanley PD); Willie Lane (Hickory PD); Tore Ledford (Hickory PD); Dexter Ly (Catawba PD); Sage Peyton (Lincolnton PD); Timothy Reed (Catawba County SO); Justin Rogers (Hickory PD); Vidalia Smallwood (Lincolnton PD); Alyssa Sronce (Lincolnton PD); Caleb Travis (Catawba County SO); Sharon Vasquez Santos (Conover PD); and Anna Wike (Newton PD).

“Having graduated from CVCC Basic Law Enforcement program in 1985, it makes me extremely proud to see the program continue to produce well-trained, highly motivated and dedicated officers that are ready to serve the citizens,” says Clyde Deal, Chief of Security and Law Enforcement Education at CVCC. “This group of graduates understands that the path they have chosen is not just a job, but a calling. Our communities will be better places to live and work thanks to the dedication and effort that these graduates will continue to show every day as they arrive to work.”

The BLET course was 711 hours. Training consisted of practical exercises, academics, physical fitness testing and a State of NC administered examination.   

Catawba Valley Community College and The School of Community Development and Public Services would like to formally congratulate each person for their dedication to the program and their commitment to serving our region.

For more information about the BLET program at CVCC, please contact Clyde Deal, Chief of Security and Law Enforcement Education, at cdeal@cvcc.edu or call (828) 327-7000 ext. 4573. For more information about Catawba Valley Community College, please visit www.cvcc.edu.

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