Basic Law Enforcement Training pilot program at Durham Tech posts strong results
Durham Tech, in partnership with the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, posted one of the best success rates of 15 sites chosen to pilot new curriculum for Basic Law Enforcement Training.
The state did an overhaul of BLET curriculum, the first time the curriculum has been redone in 20 years, piloting at the 15 selected institutions, Human Service and Public Safety Dean Justin Long said. Hours for completion went from 640 to 868 hours.
The new curriculum includes updating best practices, an increased focus on skills practices and scenario-based practices instead of classroom and book work, Long said.
Scenarios class participants run include handling situations involving domestic violence.
Instructors had to adapt quickly. Participants had to complete 39 learning modules in the course. The North Carolina Justice Academy administered all the testing. The course previously lasted 16 weeks and now it is 22.
The Sheriff’s Office and Police Department are certified to run their own training programs, but Durham Tech provides the training facilities and financial support for the training programs.
Both Long and Assistant Dean Charminique Williams said the new curriculum will benefit the community.
“In some of the practicum, they have incorporated more training hours,” Williams said.
Long agreed that the increase in practical skills training is important.
“The main portion of the changes, the increase in practical skills training, including firearms training that focuses on when to shoot and when not to shoot,” Long said. “There’s an increased focus on communication skills. Part of the scenario increase is working with recruits on their communication skills, which is going to help them when dealing with people out on the street.”
The new curriculum also includes a revamped portion on mental health response, Williams said.
“This will help create stronger law enforcement to use updated skills to better serve our community,” Williams said.