Police Cadet

Salary: $23.04 Hourly

Closing Date: 5/15/2026

Position Summary:

The City of Asheville is dedicated to providing quality service for the residents and visitors of our beautiful city, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Asheville, NC is a thriving mountain city that has a culture enriched in diversity.

The City of Asheville values and respects a diverse community, workforce and ideas, and is committed to promoting an equitable, fair, and just employment environment. Our organization seeks to create and provide access and opportunities to employees, residents and visitors to fulfill their potential through inclusive engagement practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status.

Essential Functions:

• Attends training sessions as required to gain skills and knowledge regarding department operations, job performance, and policies, procedures, codes, and criminal/civil case law; reads professional literature and training materials; completes tests and skills assessments; and obtains and maintains professional certifications.
• Enforces all applicable codes, ordinances, laws, and regulations (both traffic and criminal) to protect life and property, prevent crime, and promote security.
• Detects and deters criminal activity and traffic violations: patrols designated areas; responds to calls relayed by dispatchers; writes citations; apprehends, arrests and processes criminals, fugitives, and offenders as appropriate; and provides assistance and backup support to other officers and agencies, as necessary.
• Conducts preliminary investigations: interviews victims, complainants and witnesses and takes statements; gathers information and evidence; secures crime scenes; prepares investigative reports and sketches; participates in court activities; and testifies in judicial proceedings.
• Performs rescue functions at accidents, emergencies, and disasters, which may include lifting, dragging, or carrying people away from dangerous situations, securing/evacuating people, administering first aid, or extinguishing small fires.
• Performs other law enforcement duties including monitoring and responding to calls for assistance, investigating accidents and reported crimes, interviewing citizens, conducting searches, pursuing fleeing and subduing resisting suspects, impacting arrests, and processing and transporting prisoners.
• Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals: performs driving functions in a safe and efficient manner under various conditions, including day/night hours, in congested traffic, in adverse weather conditions, and in emergency situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits; and inspects and maintains assigned police vehicle, uniform, weapons, and equipment.
• Attends shift meetings, training sessions, and seminars as required to remain knowledgeable of departmental operations, to promote improved job performance, and to stay current with changing policies, procedures, codes, and criminal/civil case law: reads professional literature; and maintains professional affiliations.
• Operates or uses various equipment associated with law enforcement to complete work assignments; operates and maintains police vehicle, firearms, electronic control device, emergency equipment, radio/communications equipment, and other law enforcement tools and equipment.
• Communicates with supervisor, other City employees, the public, outside agencies and organizations, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Processes a variety of documentation associated with department/division operations, within designated time frames and per established procedures: receives, reviews, prepares, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate various forms, reports, correspondence, citations, incident and accident reports, time sheets, and other documentation; compiles data for further processing or for use in preparation of department reports; and maintains computerized and/or hard copy records.
• Operates a personal computer to enter, retrieve, review, or modify data, utilizing word processing, database, Internet, e-mail, or other software; and operates general office or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions.

Requirements:

• Educational requirement is minimum high school diploma and/or GED. Preference will be given to applicants with advanced degrees and/or military service with an honorable discharge.
• Police Officer Trainee must have the ability to obtain certification as a Police Officer through the Criminal Justice Education and Standards Commission of North Carolina within six (6) months of assignment to class.
• At least 20 years of age at time of application.
• Be in good physical condition.
• Must pass a physical examination, and physical fitness assessment.
• Must meet vision, hearing, and other physical requirements.
• Must be a United States citizen.
• No felony convictions
• Valid driver’s license required; no suspensions of driving privileges in the past three years.
• Completion of a thorough background investigation.
• Completion of a polygraph examination.
• Completion of a psychological evaluation.
• Completion of a screening test for drugs.