SANFORD - Thirteen individuals are among the most recent graduates of the Central Carolina Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program.

The graduates - with hometowns listed -- are Arnold Richard Banks III of Raleigh, Christopher Michael Cary II of Sanford, Damien McCoy Eason of Bunnlevel, Matthew David Ehrlich of Pittsboro, Juan Camilo Fernandez of Cary, Zackary William Gross of Apex, Brandon Scott Mayer of Lillington, John Caleb Norris of Angier, Brannon Scott Rhodes of Sanford, Bailey Mitchell Riddle of Broadway, Silvia Rocha of Siler City, Samuel James Truelove of Sanford, and Glenn Taylor Twigg of Cameron.

A ceremony to honor the graduates was held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center in Sanford.

Several of the graduates were recognized for outstanding achievement during their training. They were: Fastest Police Officers Physical Abilities Test (POPAT) - Chase/ Apprehension - John Caleb Norris; Fastest Police Officers Physical Abilities Test (POPAT) - Rescue - John Caleb Norris; Jimmy Collins Top Gun Award - Arnold Richard Banks III; Highest Class Average - Arnold Richard Banks III; and Highest State Exam - Arnold Richard Banks III.

Sgt. Scott Meulendyke of the Chatham County Sheriff's Office was guest speaker. Class Response was by Damien Eason, Class Leader. Welcome was by Neil Ambrose, CCCC BLET Program Director, who also awarded the graduation certificates. Salutation was by Percy Crutchfield, CCCC Department Chair, Public Safety, Emergency Services.

Class sponsors were the Broadway Police Department, Chatham County Sheriff's Office, Coats Police Department, Dunn Police Department, Holly Springs Police Department, Lee County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina Parks and Recreation, Sanford Police Department, and Topsail Beach Police Department.

To learn more about the Central Carolina Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training program, visit www.cccc.edu/blet.