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Featured Photo: Members of Blue Ridge Community College’s Public Safety Training team stand with area law enforcement leaders.
Left to right: Capt. Rob Cantwell, Hendersonville Police Department; Capt. Trae Laws, Hendersonville Police Department; Kevin Holden, Blue Ridge Community College BLET coordinator; Rich Olsen, Blue Ridge Community College BLET school director; Dr. Monica Carpenter, Blue Ridge Community College vice president of Economic and Workforce Development and Continuing Education; Chris Williams, Blue Ridge Community College dean of Public Safety; Garrett Gardin, Blue Ridge Community College faculty coordinator of Law Enforcement and Public Safety Training; Eden De Los Rios, Blue Ridge Community College program assistant for Law Enforcement and Public Safety Training; Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin; and Hendersonville Police Chief Blair Myhand. (Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Community College.)
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FLAT ROCK, N.C.- This August, Blue Ridge Community College received accreditation for several law enforcement training courses through the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission (CJ Standards), expanding the College’s ability to serve law enforcement agencies, officers and students across the region. Following a successful application and inspection process, the Commission’s decision on August 14 authorized Blue Ridge to add Basic Law Enforcement Training, General Instructor, and Speed Measurement Instrument courses to its commission-approved training repertoire.
Since 2024, the College has heavily updated its law enforcement program procedures and personnel. Notably, the accreditation allows Blue Ridge to offer Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) beginning in January 2027, helping prepare new law enforcement officers to meet North Carolina’s certification requirements and enter the field.
“We take seriously our responsibility to provide high-quality training that meets and exceeds the rigorous standards established for law enforcement education in North Carolina,” said Chris Williams, Blue Ridge’s dean of Public Safety Training. “With valuable input and encouragement from our agency partners, we have rebuilt our program from the ground up, preparing to better serve our region with excellence, accountability, and integrity.”
In light of personnel and safety concerns in 2023, the College and CJ Standards paused and later suspended the BLET course in 2024. Since that time, Blue Ridge has employed a new staff and oversight team, from classroom-level qualified assistants ensuring accountability and compliance, through the area’s vice president. To instill best practices and prepare for reaccreditation, this year the College commissioned a months-long assessment through the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police (NCACP). On June 22, an on-site inspection by CJ Standards found Blue Ridge in full compliance.
The College expects and welcomes continued CJ Standards inspections throughout the year and invites agency partners to engage and participate in program activities, helping ensure compliance and guide the program’s continued positive development.
“We’ve taken a comprehensive approach to rebuilding our instructional team,” added Williams. “Our efforts have focused on ensuring these new instructors are fully certified, qualified and in good standing with the Department of Justice. This includes not only classroom instructors, but also assistant instructors and training scenario role players.”
Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood emphasized the value of consulting with law enforcement partners and the NCACP for guidance while rebuilding the program. This guidance is shaping the development of a new, program-specific strategic plan for law enforcement training that will include enhanced oversight and an annual internal review process.
“Under the experienced leadership of our new dean of Public Safety Training, the valuable input of our partners will help shape our practices and strengthen our approach to law enforcement education,” she said. “By embracing their recommendations, we are laying a strong foundation for continuous improvement and demonstrating our commitment to the highest standards of excellence, positioning Blue Ridge and our students for long-term success.”
This fall, Blue Ridge expects to hire more than 60 experienced instructors to teach a range of law enforcement courses. This process includes engagement with community partners across the region to ensure instructors are hired that meet agency needs. Positions will also be posted on the Blue Ridge website at www.blueridge.edu/careers, and information about all law enforcement training activities will be posted to www.blueridge.edu/law-enforcement.
Blue Ridge’s New Law Enforcement Training Team
From 2024-2026, Blue Ridge hired several highly qualified and well-respected leaders from the law enforcement community to guide the College’s rebuilding of the program, to include Basic Law Enforcement Training among an extensive list of training opportunities.
Christopher Williams, MPA, serves as Dean of Public Safety, providing leadership for law enforcement, fire service, and emergency medical services education, as well as workforce training programs. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session 279, a recipient of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) Spotlight Award, and he served a 30-year law enforcement career in El Monte, Los Angeles County, California, retiring as police captain.
Richard S. Olsen has been hired as Blue Ridge’s School Director for BLET. He is a graduate of Western Carolina University and well known in Western North Carolina’s law enforcement community due to his three decade career with the Hendersonville Police Department. Prior to his retirement, he served in positions including police officer, master police officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain, playing key roles in criminal investigations, departmental operations, officer development, and community policing initiatives. In addition to law enforcement service, Olsen honorably served 20 years in the United States Army, retiring with the rank of sergeant first class. He has demonstrated leadership locally and abroad, deploying to combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Michael “Kevin” Holden is slated to serve as the assistant school director of BLET, pending expected renewal of instructor certifications. Meanwhile, Garrett Gardin will initially serve as assistant school director, as well as one of several qualified assistants, providing program oversight and ensuring compliance with law enforcement standards.
Holden is a veteran law enforcement professional and former US Marine, who served honorably from 1987 to 1994. He served the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years, advancing from patrol officer to patrol lieutenant. He joined the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office as lieutenant of special operations, and served as a K-9 handler and trainer, and SWAT commander until his retirement in 2022. He is an expert in patrol operations, K-9 programs, and firearms instruction.
Gardin currently serves as the College’s Public Safety Training department chair and the overall director of criminal justice training. He served the Hendersonville Police Department for 13 years, including roles as a police officer and police sergeant. He specializes in criminal justice, public administration, fire rescue education, officer development, and leadership training, and holds instructor certifications in numerous specialized disciplines. Gardin is currently pursuing a doctorate in strategic leadership at Liberty University.
Overseeing the Public Safety Training and all Workforce Continuing Education programs, Dr. Monica Carpenter joined Blue Ridge as vice president for economic and workforce development in January 2026, having also served as the school director for Blue Ridge’s Fire Academy. She has served 26 total years in the North Carolina Community College System, 12 of which involved supervising EMS, Fire, and Criminal Justice programs at Mayland Community College. She holds a business administration degree from Mayland Community College; a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Gardner-Webb University; and both a two-year college administration masters degree and doctor of education in community college leadership from Western Carolina University.
Please direct media inquiries about this announcement to pio@blueridge.edu.