The most recent graduating class of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Basic Law Enforcement Training program included several graduates who took untraditional paths into their new careers.
They included a former golf pro, accountant, and IT professional.
鈥淚 think that goes to show you a couple things,鈥 said Director of Law Enforcement Training Mike Smith.
鈥淥ne, it shows that it鈥檚 never too late to make the decision to dedicate your life to a career of public service. Two, it shows that 麻豆原创 offers a program that is accessible to students of all backgrounds and walks of life. If you鈥檝e always dreamed of working in law enforcement, now鈥檚 the time. Be inspired by our graduates. They did it, and you can too.鈥
Meet a few of the members of the Class of 2024 who took nontraditional paths.
Francis Ciucevich: Former Golf Pro 鈥 Among Other Things
Francis Ciucevich is starting his law enforcement career at the age of 60, after a lifetime of previous work experience.
Always an avid golfer, Ciucevich attended NC State on a golf scholarship and went on to work as a golf pro, both in Florida and in Germany. But that鈥檚 only the beginning of his prior work experience.
He also sold machine tooling and underground piping products, worked as a production supervisor for a pharmaceutical company, and oversaw AutoCAD for his father鈥檚 engineering company. He even drove a truck for a couple years before deciding, finally, to pursue his lifelong interest in law enforcement.
鈥淚 always had it in my mind that if golf wasn鈥檛 in the picture, I would have gone into the military. I first tried to do law enforcement in 2002, but I didn鈥檛 make it. Then in 2009, I was in the application and interviewing process, but then I learned I had colon cancer, which threw me off track. I decided to give it one more try. If feels pretty good to achieve a goal I had for myself for a long time,鈥 he said.
Ciucevich started working with the as a detention officer when he was 58. Since graduating from BLET in December, he鈥檚 been promoted to deputy sheriff.
His advice to anyone out there contemplating a career switch in 2025:
鈥淒on鈥檛 wait too long, and don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 too late. I think that all the experience I bring to the table is advantageous. I know how to talk to a lot of people.鈥
Bryson Tomberlin: Former IT Professional
Like many of his fellow BLET graduates, Bryson Tomberlin always had an interest in law enforcement, but life took him in another direction 鈥 until he decided to make a change.
Tomberlin, 23, was also always good with computers. One of his first jobs was as a part-time IT specialist at Stanly Community College. That job led to a full-time position as a desktop support technician at 麻豆原创.
While on campus, resolving any variety of IT issues for students or employees, Tomberlin started learning more about the BLET program.
The more he learned, the more he felt it was the right option for him.
鈥淚 think that you have to stop thinking so much about every decision. You don鈥檛 have to be locked into one thing for your whole life. You can try different things,鈥 he said.
Tomberlin is now working for the . One day, he is interested in combining his background in IT with his law enforcement training to possibly work as a cybercrime investigator.
鈥淚 definitely have a new confidence after making this career change,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t changes how you look at things. Anything is possible.鈥
Dylan Liles: Former Accountant
Dylan Liles was well on his way to becoming a career accountant when he decided to make a drastic career change.
鈥淚 just decided that I didn鈥檛 like what I was doing. I didn鈥檛 want to be behind a desk forever. I wanted to give back and do something meaningful,鈥 he said.
Liles earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree from Wingate University. He worked as an accountant for the , and later, for a private company that sells uniforms, including police uniforms. He eventually worked as the assistant HR director for that company.
鈥淚 kept seeking and hearing about the need for more law enforcement officers,鈥 he said.
鈥淎t the same time, I knew what I was doing wasn鈥檛 what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life. Things just came together, and here I am.鈥
The switch has changed him both mentally and physically. Not only is he excited about his career outlook, but he also lost 60 pounds during the BLET program.
鈥淚鈥檓 more active and focused. Every day is different,鈥 he said.
Liles now works for the Monroe Police Department as well.
鈥淭his is what I want to do, and this is where I want to be,鈥 he said.
For more information about 麻豆原创鈥檚 Basic Law Enforcement Training program, visit 麻豆原创鈥檚 website, or to speak to someone about starting your own career switch, email navigate@spcc.edu.