Asheville, N.C. (WLOS) 鈥 On Thursday morning, June 20, 男人藏精阁held its Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program graduation for its newest class of cadets.
Sixteen cadets finished the program and received their certifications of completion.
All 16 recruits had a 100% passing rate on the state exam and will all go into jobs with local law enforcement agencies. Five of those cadets have already secured jobs with the Asheville Police Department.
Asheville Police Chief Mike Lamb said that these recruits are vital to public safety within this city.
All 16 graduates of A-B Tech's BLET program headed to local law enforcement agencies
In order to go out into the field at APD, Lamb said these recruits will go through a bit more training -- which includes about a month more of classroom training and then field training.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just so thankful to have them with us at the police department and be able to increase our staffing,鈥 he said.
Lamb said that with these 5 recruits joining, APD is still 58 officers down from being fully staffed.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping to make that up more and more with each academy,鈥 he said.
Over the last few years, Lamb said they鈥檝e seen smaller classes graduating from the BLET programs, so to see a larger class this go-around was reassuring.
He said this job is truly a calling and he鈥檚 thankful that these recruits are feeling that call to serve their community.
That includes Lenny Wynkoop, a BLET graduate, who originally went through the program 10 years ago.
鈥淚 was young, 21; it was a dream that I鈥檝e always had,鈥 he said.
He said he ended up failing his final exam and lost his passion for the career for a while, but after the birth of his son, he felt that passion begin to rise again knowing that someone was looking up to him.
He not only completed the program but was promoted to class president.
鈥淭his is probably one of the greatest accomplishments that I鈥檝e done so far,鈥 he said.
Being able to join APD, he said, is just the beginning for him.
鈥淭here鈥檚 just so much opportunity with APD," he said, "that I can鈥檛 wait to find out what all they have and to be a part of it."
Wynkoop said it's truly a privilege to join the force at APD.
"What law enforcement really have to go through, what it really takes, how it builds character, how it shapes the person they become," he continued.
鈥淚f you have a dream, if you have a goal, chase it, don鈥檛 give up on it,鈥 he said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 things that they鈥檒l go through, things that they鈥檒l see that are tough to deal with," Lamb said, "but the positive impact they have on the community, the lives they save, the situations they make better is more than worth it."