Has anyone completed (BLET) alone?

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Brenainn

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Has anyone here completed Basic law enforcement training? (BLET)

I was just wondering...

I may consider taking it, although I am not even sure if I will carry on with it to become a LEO yet. I plan on POSSIBLY majoring in criminal justice at the local community college soon.

If you have done it, what is the next step generally after the completion? I suppose it would be to interview at a department somewhere, right?

Would it be possible to take the BLET and afterwards, only work a few days a week in law enforcement, so I could go to college at the same time?

Thanks for the help!
 
Ummmm... I didn't know that

Wow, really? I didn't know that. Glad you told me that. Thanks for the info. Now I need to go read up on it some more. From what I had found/read, my community college offers the course. I just thought I had to pay for it on my own though. Here is some stuff that I just found on it all:


QUESTION: Do I need a NC law enforcement agency "sponsorship" before I can enroll in a community college BLET course? And what does "sponsorship" mean?

ANSWER: It depends. Many community colleges require applicants to obtain "sponsorship" from law enforcement agencies before being allowed to enroll in their BLET program. In summary, the sponsoring law enforcement agency must attest, usually in writing, to the applicant’s moral character, integrity and honesty. Some agencies actually conduct background investigations on applicants prior to granting sponsorship.

QUESTION: Do community colleges charge tuition for BLET? If so, how much does it cost.

ANSWER: Most Community Colleges charge tuition for individuals enrolling on their own accord. Tuition fees vary. Contact your local community college for more information. Furthermore, students may need to purchase books, supplies and other required equipment (ammunition, weapons, clothing, etc.), in addition to tuition fees.

QUESTION: After graduating from BLET, does the certification last indefinitely?

ANSWER: No. Graduates must be hired or "sworn-in" by a law enforcement agency within 12 months from their graduation date or the certification will expire. In summary, ANYONE who does not maintain a "sworn" status with an agency for a period of 12 months will see their BLET certification expire. BLET must be taken again in its entirety for re-certification.

source
 
Generally you have to be sponsored by a department /agency to go to BLET.
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It depends on the state. In California, there are several community colleges that host basic police academies. Most cadets are sponsored by a law enforcement agency, but there are openings for cadets without sponsorship who are willing to pay their way through.
Would it be possible to take the BLET and afterwards, only work a few days a week in law enforcement, so I could go to college at the same time?
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In California, you could work as a reserve peace officer which would give you some flexibility in work schedule, but is no guarantee you would have much of an income.

My former department expected its reserves to work one free shift per two week pay period. After that you might get paid if there are manpower shortages that can't be made up with overtime. I know of some small town departments that scheduled its reserves to fill gaps and paid them to do it.

In California, you had to be hired full time within three years of completing a basic police academy or you had to go back through the academy again. The completion certificate was only good for three years. Things may have changed. I retired in 1999.

Pilgrim
 
Hmm... I don't much like the idea of being a reserve police officer. Doesn't seem secure or something... I dunno, I am weird that way.

So, is there no such thing as working part time in a department somewhere? Or is it just not common?

I am just trying to figure out a good way to be employed with a department and go to school at the same time to get my Criminal Justice degree... I don't think I could handle working full time and going to college at the same time.

All of this is totally new to me. I have always thought I wanted to go to college to do Criminal Justice, and am just now starting to take it serious!
 
How about getting an office/clerical job with a local department? Maybe they need a desk-jocky to sort files and such. It's probably not what you're hoping to do, not "on the beat," but maybe that would allow more schedule flexibility, or at least the option of taking evening/night classes. And "get your foot in the door."

That is, if it is even possible at all to get a desk job. At least, at my local PD the folks at the front desk during business hours look like that is their primary job, not like they're regular beat cops doing a rotation in the office or something.
 
Yeah, that's an idea. I never thought of that. Although, I would like to do SOMETHING half way interesting, but I suppose I can't be too picky!

Any other ideas?
 
a lot of the departments in central FL dont do sponsorships any more... you have to go to the class on your own dime, then you apply during your last few weeks...
 
Here in NC, a lot of departments will scholarship you in exchange for an agreement to work for them full time when you're finished.

I would go ahead and attend classes fulltime and work whatever job you can while attending. Once you have at least one semester under your belt of better than good grades and attendance, you can approach your community college's career/vocational liason for some help finding a job in the field. They have access to a lot of information you'd find difficult to locate on your own.

There are a lot of local departments these days who are finding it difficult to recruit quality applicants. They are more than willing to do tuition reimbursement of scholarship for the right people.

However, if you continue on with your education past the 2 year level and work a 4 year degree, you'll be in a good position for a state or federal level LEO job. Not to mention that you will have more upward mobility in a local or county department such as promotions or the opportunity to get more pay for the same job.
It just depends on what you want for yourself.
There are a lot of choices in the Law Enforcement field.
 
Here in NC, a lot of departments will scholarship you in exchange for an agreement to work for them full time when you're finished.

I would go ahead and attend classes fulltime and work whatever job you can while attending. Once you have at least one semester under your belt of better than good grades and attendance, you can approach your community college's career/vocational liason for some help finding a job in the field. They have access to a lot of information you'd find difficult to locate on your own.

There are a lot of local departments these days who are finding it difficult to recruit quality applicants. They are more than willing to do tuition reimbursement of scholarship for the right people.

However, if you continue on with your education past the 2 year level and work a 4 year degree, you'll be in a good position for a state or federal level LEO job. Not to mention that you will have more upward mobility in a local or county department such as promotions or the opportunity to get more pay for the same job.
It just depends on what you want for yourself.
There are a lot of choices in the Law Enforcement field.
Click to expand...

Yeah, actually my ideal goal would be to get my 4 year and go into SBI and maybe even into something federal. I'd rather do that than respond to domestic disturbances and give speeding tickets my whole life. From what I hear, it's not incredibly rewarding after a while... besides, I think the SBI would be more interesting.
 
In my experience, reserve police officers do not have police powers. In other words, you are not really a cop. Just know what you are getting into. The criminal justice thing sounds like more fun. Take a look here:
http://ctuonline.edu/ and here: http://apus.edu/index.htm

Depending on your schedule, online schools offer some time-flex options. good luck.


Hmm... I don't much like the idea of being a reserve police officer. Doesn't seem secure or something... I dunno, I am weird that way.

So, is there no such thing as working part time in a department somewhere? Or is it just not common?

I am just trying to figure out a good way to be employed with a department and go to school at the same time to get my Criminal Justice degree... I don't think I could handle working full time and going to college at the same time.

All of this is totally new to me. I have always thought I wanted to go to college to do Criminal Justice, and am just now starting to take it serious!
Click to expand...
 
In my experience, reserve police officers do not have police powers. In other words, you are not really a cop. Just know what you are getting into.
Click to expand...
It depends on the state. In California, reserve peace officers have police powers of arrest when on duty. In certain circumstances, their employing government agency can grant them 24 hour peace officer status.

Pilgrim
 
Oh, yeah, that's why I don't like the idea of reserve Police. I remember hearing that a while ago... I don't think that's for me! It's not worth putting my life in danger to not have the same powers as a normal cop.
 
If you are in NC, reserve officers have all police powers of a full time officer. Lots of police officers work full time and go to college, but it sounds like you don't want to do that. From your post it appears you equate "police work" as a menial job that would do until you can become a SBI agent. Perhaps it would be better to just concentrate on your education and work at whatever you can find that fits your schedule.
 
It sounds to me like you'd be beter off just going for your BA or BT and applying for a federal or SBI job. I'm about another 1.5 years shy of my BA in Criminal Justice and plan to go on to my Master's after that. However, I don't want to go Federal... maybe SBI/SLED, but I'd rather work my way up in the ranks of a local deptartment. I want some street time behind me before I even think about transfering anywhere.


It's not worth putting my life in danger to not have the same powers as a normal cop.
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What do you define as "worth putting" your life in danger?
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$35K per year. ;)
 
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