Basic Law Enforcement

Cape Fear Community College curriculum admission requirements apply to the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program. In addition, the College requires each applicant to (1) be sponsored by a law enforcement agency or pay tuition and (2) meet minimum standards for employment as established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and/or the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission.

Applicants for admission to the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Program must:

1. Have graduated from High School, have an Adult High School Diploma, or have passed the GED with an equivalency certificate which meets the minimum requirements set by the State of North Carolina.
2. Meet the minimum standards for employment as established by the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and/or the NC Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission which include being:
• A citizen of the United States;
• At least 20 years of age (Applicant must be 20 years of age as of the first day of class or have written authorization from the Director of the Criminal Justice Standards Division if less than 20 years old.);
• Of good moral character;
• Examined and certified by a licensed physician or surgeon to meet the physical requirements necessary to perform the functions of a law enforcement officer.
3. Have not ever committed or been convicted of any of the following:
• A felony; a crime for which the punishment could have been imprisonment for more than two years; or
• A crime or unlawful act for which the punishment could have been imprisonment for more than six months but less than two years and the crime or unlawful act occurred within the last five years; or
• Four or more crimes or unlawful acts described in “b” above regardless of the date of occurrence; or
• Four or more crimes or unlawful acts for which the punishment could have been imprisonment for less than six months except if the last conviction date occurred more than two years prior to the date of enrollment; or
• A combination of four or more unlawful acts described in “b” or “d” above regardless of the date of conviction.
4. Possess a valid North Carolina driver’s license.
5. Reading test. The NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Commission requires all enrollees to take a nationally standardized reading test prior to being admitted to a BLET course. Scores indicating being proficient in reading will meet reading test requirements.
6. Applicants that are or have been CFCC students that are on academic probation must sign a waiver. Please note that in order to receive a certificate, the student must achieve an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Each applicant is interviewed by the BLET Director or designee. The interview is used to determine if the applicant meets the minimum standards for employment as established by the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and/or the NC sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission.

1. Final approval to enroll in the program is contingent upon meeting admissions requirements, acceptable health certification, and proof that you meet all minimum standards of the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and/or the NC Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission and have the School Director concurrence.
2. Obtain a BLET application packet from the BLET Office at time of interview.
3. Along with completed application paperwork, provide the following supporting documentation:
• A certified copy of GED or high school transcript. Some high school diplomas earned through correspondence enrollment are not recognized toward the educational requirements, this is reviewed by North Carolina Training and Standards on a case-by-case basis.
• Copy of birth certificate.
• Copy of Social Security Card
• Obtain Medical Examination Report, obtained less than one year prior to the class starting date, (Form F-1 and F-2) which is included in the application packet to be completed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina.
• Obtain a certified copy of your arrest and driving history record from the Office(s) of the Clerk of Court in every county in which you have resided since the day you turned 18 years of age. The history/histories must be dated, by the generating agency/agencies, no more than ninety (90) days prior to the class starting date.
• Copy of North Carolina driver’s license.
• Copy of CFCC reading placement test results, taken less than one year prior to the class starting date. The NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Commission requires all enrollees to take a nationally standardized reading test prior to being admitted to a BLET course. Scores indicating being proficient in reading will meet reading test requirements.
• Obtain a Sponsorship Form which is included in the packet. *(See TUITION BELOW)
• Veterans are required to supply a copy of their DD-214, “Member 4” page.

Tuition is waived with a Sponsorship Form (background check) completed by a North Carolina law enforcement agency. Without a Sponsorship Form, applicants must pay in-state or out-of-state tuition. In addition, the Sponsorship Form does not constitute any responsibility to the law enforcement agency to hire or pay any costs associated with Basic Law Enforcement Training. Applicants may attend BLET training without a Sponsor Form but must pay full cost of in-state or out-of-state tuition.

Books and uniforms are not purchased until the first day of class (orientation).

Each student in the BLET program is required to provide for the following estimated BLET costs:

Training Book List: Cape Fear Community College – Bookstore: Estimated Cost – $800.00

1. NC Justice Academy Book Bundle
2. NC Arrest, Search & Investigation
3. NC Crimes
4. NC Criminal Law & Procedure
5. NC Motor Vehicle Law

UNIFORMS: Estimated Cost $300

1. One (1) Black Baseball-Style Cap with CFCC Logo & BLET Monogram, @ 16.00
2. Four (4) Gray T-Shirts with CFCC Logo & BLET Monogram, @ $15.00, Total $60.00
3. Two (2) Pair of Black Shorts with CFCC Logo & BLET Monogram, @ $13.00, Total $26.00
4. One (1) Black Sweatshirt with CFCC Logo & BLET Monogram, @ $15.25

Items that do not have the required CFCC logo and BLET monogram may be purchased from other stores; however such items must not have any logos.

1. Two (2) Pair Black B.D.U. (Fatigue Style) Pants
2. One (1) Black Nylon Belt with Open Buckle
3. One (1) Pair Soft-Sole Sneakers
4. One (1) Pair Black Military-Type Boots

Persons employed by a law enforcement agency may wear that agency’s training uniform with school director’s approval.

Student Activity, Technology Fee, Parking, and Security total of $325.00.

Note: BLET students are encouraged to apply for financial aid to cover books and supplies. Apply for aid by calling the CFCC Financial Aid Office or apply online .

The purpose of BLET instruction is to prepare participants for employment as law enforcement officers. Because of the special nature of the BLET program, students are expected to meet high standards of personal behavior and performance. Behavior standards are detailed in the “Student Rights and Responsibilities” and “Code of Conduct” sections of the CFCC Catalog/Student Handbook and the orientation information provided at the beginning of each BLET program. Any conduct that constitutes a criminal offense will be referred to appropriate law enforcement agencies. The following activities are examples of the kind of performance standards that students in the BLET program will be required to perform in order to successfully complete the program. If an accepted applicant believes that he/she cannot meet one or more of the standards without special accommodations of modification, the applicant should consult the BLET director. The examples given are representative of those activities required and are not all-inclusive.

Interpersonal abilities are sufficient to interact with individuals and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.

Example: Demonstrate the ability to establish appropriate relationships with victims and citizens of the community

Communicate with others orally and in writing.

Example: Exhibit the ability to communicate orally with others and provide satisfactory written reports as required in the performance of assigned duties.

Hearing ability sufficient to monitor radio communication/oral communication.

Example: Hear and monitor alarms, radio communication, and oral communication or cry for help assistance. Hear instructions by instructor, such as firearm commands.

Vision sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in law enforcement.

Example: Observe suspects and others, see to drive, and have an adequate vision for surveillance and for protecting self and others.

Sense of touch sufficient to perform a physical examination and to detect movement.

Example: Detect pulsation.

Physical abilities to defend themselves and others and maintain physical control of a suspect.

Example: Apply handcuffs, leg irons, and waist chains/belts and gain physical control of a suspect.

The ability to manipulate equipment.

Example: Be able to properly and safely use firearms (handgun) ad drive a vehicle under various conditions (such as maneuvering between objects) with a minimum score of 70. Be able to qualify with a handgun using both the strong and support hand from the standing, kneeling, prone positions, and achieve a minimum score of 70. Be able to properly use a gas mask and riot baton.

Although the course has 54 hours of physical fitness training, part of the requirements for Basic Law Enforcement Training is passing a validated physical abilities test at the end of the course. It is important to start a physical fitness program now to prepare to meet the physical demands of the course and being a law enforcement officer.

At the end of the 19 weeks of training, each student must complete the Chase and Apprehension and the Rescue scenario portions of the POPAT in the prescribed time limits.

Chase and Apprehension Scenario (6 minute time limit.)

1. Start Position in Chair
2. Advance 40 feet and back two (2) times
3. Advance 60 feet while completing the following obstacles:
4. 4 food broad jump
5. 4-foot “fence climb”
6. Crawl under 2-foot obstacle
7. Advance to 60 feet to mat, grab and roll with a 100-pound heavy bag three (3) times
8. Conduct 20 proper push-ups
9. Return to the mat and grab and roll with a 100-pound heavy bag three (3) times
10. Advance 60 feet while completing the following obstacles:
11. 4-food broad jump
12. 4-foot “fence climb”
13. Crawl under 2-foot obstacle
14. Advance 60 feet to step box and perform 30 steps
15. Move to the mat, grab and roll with a 100-pound heavy bag three (3) times
16. Conduct 20 proper push-ups
17. Return to mat and grab and roll with a 100 pound heavy bag three (3) times

Rescue Scenario (3-minute time limit.)

1. Advance 50 feet and back two (2) times
2. Move to step box and perform thirty (30) steps
3. Advance 50 feet and back two (2) times
4. Drag 175-pound dummy 25 feet and then back