Sponsorship Process

Position:    B.L.E.T. (Basic Law Enforcement Training)

Location:   Haywood Community College campus, Student Services Building

Salary:       Unpaid

Dates:    The day BLET class begins June 9, 2008. Classes will be held Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm. A night class will be available Fall 2008.

For more information contact BLET Director Dee Parton at 828/627-4548 or dparton@haywood.edu.

Notice: Waynesville Police Department will stop accepting applications for BLET Sponsorship two weeks prior to the College cut off date. No further applications for sponsorship will be accepted after this period.

Thank you for your interest in sponsorship to Basic Law Enforcement Training from the Waynesville Police Department.  The following information is intended to answer questions about the Town of Waynesville’s sponsorship process. Provisions listed are subject to change at any time and are at the exclusive interpretation of the Town of Waynesville and the Waynesville Police Department.

The Waynesville Police Department offers a professional career in police service.  The highest ethics, dedication, values and integrity characterize WPD officers. When evaluating applicants, the Waynesville Police Department examines the candidate in a manner to ascertain those with the greatest potential for success.

The Town of Waynesville is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified candidates are considered for sponsorship without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, marital status, religion or disabilities unrelated to the essential function of the position.

B.L.E.T.: This stands for Basic Law Enforcement Training, academy training that is required for you to become a police officer in North Carolina.  Haywood Community College* is one of more than 70 accredited BLET delivery sites in North Carolina.  The curriculum averages around 730 hours, taking approximately 18 weeks to complete. BLET is designed to provide recruits with the physical and cognitive skills to become certified law enforcement officers in the state of North Carolina.  Such topics as: Motor Vehicle Law and Arrest, Community Policing, Search and Seizure, Defensive Tactics, Firearms, and Driver Training are among the 33 blocks of instruction taught during the course.  There are tests and practical exercises given throughout the course after individual blocks of instruction are thoroughly covered.

Haywood’s BLET course is continually updated and contains the most current law enforcement information available.  HCC employs only certified and professional Instructors.  Instructors must complete 80 hours of Instructor Training as mandated by the North Carolina Justice Academy.  Many instructors then have specialized Instructor training certifying them to teach given topics, such as Driver Training and Firearms. Specialized Instructors must complete on average 40-100 extra hours of training.

 *Note: Haywood Community College does not house students during training.

  Requirements:  Requires: sponsorship, graduation from high school/equivalent; at least 21 years of age; ability to deal with the stress under pressure; possess good oral and written communication skills, be able to attend class regularly and be on time to all scheduled activities, be physically able and willing to complete the physical fitness portion of the training, and have the desire and motivation to succeed in this program.

Basic Qualifications:

• Must be 21 years of age or older (unless already employed by a police department – in which case the applicant may complete B.L.E.T. while 20 years of age.
• Must be a citizen of the United States
• Must be a High School graduate or possess an equivalency certificate
• Must possess a valid North Carolina drivers license
• Must be of good moral character
• Have not committed or been convicted of a felony
• Have no more than 4 Class A misdemeanor convictions (within the last 5 years)
• Have no Class B misdemeanor convictions

I. Application Process

1. Town of Waynesville Applications may be obtained through the North Carolina Employment Security Commission located on North Main Street in Waynesville.  Applications will be accepted only for open positions.
2. Applications will be collected from the Employment Security Commission by the Human Resource Officer or his/her designee.
3. Town Applications will be evaluated by a panel of officers.  After evaluation, applicants will be requested to complete a Form F-3, Personal History Statement.
4. Applicants complete the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission Form F-3, Personal History Statement, and return it to the Waynesville Police Department.  At the time the Form F-3 is picked up the applicant will be given a list of documents which he or she will be required to furnish upon returning Form F-3. Applicants will then be required to sign a release of background information.

Documents Required:

1. Birth Certificate
2. Copy of Fingerprint Cards (3)
3. Proof of Education (High School transcripts/diploma)
4. Military Records (DD214)
5. Copy of Driver License and Social Security card
6. Recent photo of Applicant
7. Resumé (if available)
8. Job Reference Questionnaire
9. Family Information form

 A preliminary background investigation will be completed on the applicant prior to any interviews.  Once the preliminary background is complete, the applicant will be interviewed as applicable in part II (Interview Process).

II. Preliminary Background Investigation

1. Credit Check
2. NCIC/DCI Check
3. DMV Check
4. AOC Check (Criminal/Civil)
5. Job Reference Check
6. References Checked
7. Neighborhood Check (time permitting)

III. Interview Process

• An interview board of five officers will conduct interviews of each applicant. The interview board is responsible for ranking all applicants and making final recommendations to the Administrative Lieutenant or his or her designee for final sponsorship.

IV. Full Background Investigation

• Officer(s) will conduct background investigations on applicants receiving favorable recommendations from the interview board.  (Form F-4 and F-8).

V. Sponsorship

• Each applicant will be given copies of:
• Medical History Statement, Form F-1 (LE)
• Physical Examination Form F-2 (LE)

for completion and submission to the training facility.  The applicant will be financially responsible for costs associated with Forms F-1 and F-2.

 The applicant will be informed that the Waynesville Police Department will not provide equipment, uniform items or vehicles to the applicant for the purpose of B.L.E.T.

 The Waynesville Police Department will extend a letter of sponsorship to each applicant successfully passing Sections I-IV of the Sponsorship Process.

B.L.E.T. Program Contact information:

Diane Robinson, Waynesville Police Department: 828-456-5363 or e-mail: drobinson@waynesvillepd.com

Dee Parton (Program Director) 828-627-4548, or via e-mail: dparton@haywood.edu

Location of Haywood Community College: 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde NC 28721

Location of Classroom: Student Services Building