Yesterday, three Union County Sheriff’s Office detention officers were sworn in as deputy sheriffs after graduating from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Program at South Piedmont Community College.

The rigorous 872-hour program included classroom instruction, driving courses, firearms training, and scenario-based exercises, concluding with a state certification exam that all candidates successfully passed.

During a brief ceremony, Deputies Andrew Furguson, Michael Long, and Lydell White were celebrated by friends, family, and staff for their outstanding accomplishment. Captain Coppedge offered words of encouragement, expressing his pride in their achievement and urging them to continue learning and growing in their new roles. Each deputy began their career with the Sheriff’s Office as a detention officer at the Union County Detention Center before being selected for BLET.

Last night, during the BLET Graduation Ceremony, Deputy Andrew Furguson received special recognition for earning the highest score on the state certification exam. This prestigious award reflects his hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence throughout the program.

We are extremely proud of these men and are excited to see what the future holds for each of them as they continue their careers in law enforcement.

The Sheriff’s Office would also like to express its gratitude to South Piedmont Community College, as well as Mike Smith and John Rogers, who oversee the BLET program. Like any successful educational program, BLET relies on dedicated men and women who spend six months instructing, mentoring, and developing students into future law enforcement professionals. We sincerely thank them for their hard work, commitment, and dedication to the next generation of law enforcement professionals.

Please join us in congratulating our newest deputy sheriffs on this tremendous achievement and wishing them success as they begin the next chapter of their law enforcement careers.