It’s a pretty big deal when law enforcement officers receive their certificates of advanced law enforcement training in front of the Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission. Two lieutenants in the Vance County Sheriff’s Office recently achieved that distinction, but with a twist – they presented the award to each other.

Lt. Ray Shearin and Lt. Billy Gooch drove to Wilmington for the June 11 ceremony. Shearin said recipients have the option to have the certificate mailed to them, but “it was just an honor to get it in front of the commission,” to be told ‘job well done’ in front of  former and current sheriffs.

Normally, Gooch said, the sheriff or a senior deputy would be called in to present the certificate. But when Sheriff Curtis Brame said he had a conflict, Gooch said he told Brame they’d just present it to each other.

“It was great going down there with him,” Shearin said. “Lt. Gooch has been a friend of mine for a long time – we’re good friends off the job as well.” He said it felt good for his friend to present him with the award and to say the kinds words he did in front of the commission.

Likewise, when it was Shearin’s turn to present Gooch with his certificate, he said “it was my honor. I told the commission that Lt. Gooch had been with the sheriff’s department for a good number of years.”

Since 2002, to be exact.

Gooch started out in the patrol division and spent 12 years with K-9. “The dog is your first backup. I knew I had somebody in the back of my car that would back me up 100 percent,” he said.

Law enforcement officers must have at least 12 years on the job and accrue at least 69 points, half of which must be law enforcement training points, to earn the advanced certificate.

And one point is equal to 20 classroom hours of instruction. That’s a minimum of 1,380 hours of instruction.

“It’s an honor to get, no matter how long you’ve been in law enforcement,” Shearin said, who has served for 26 years. “Having that piece of paper saying I accomplished my advance certificate…is a great keepsake.”

Both officers said they encourage all law enforcement officers to look into earning their advanced certificate.

Law enforcement has changed dramatically since he began his career, Gooch said. In today’s society, “somebody’s always recording something,” he said. “You get the training and then do what you’re supposed to do – you won’t have a problem.”

Shearin said he was humbled by the experience. “We all try to treat people like we want to be treated,” he said. “I think that’s the bottom line…we are no better than anybody else – we just have to enforce the law.”