Posted on the WLOS website on June 20, 2024
Asheville, N.C. (WLOS) — On Thursday morning, June 20, A-B Tech 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.
“We’re just so thankful to have them with us at the police department and be able to increase our staffing,” he said.
Lamb said that with these 5 recruits joining, APD is still 58 officers down from being fully staffed.
“We’re hoping to make that up more and more with each academy,” he said.
Over the last few years, Lamb said they’ve 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’s 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.
“I was young, 21; it was a dream that I’ve always had,” 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.
“This is probably one of the greatest accomplishments that I’ve done so far,” he said.
Being able to join APD, he said, is just the beginning for him.
“There’s just so much opportunity with APD," he said, "that I can’t 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.
“If you have a dream, if you have a goal, chase it, don’t give up on it,” he said.
“There’s things that they’ll go through, things that they’ll 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."