Police Officer
Salary: $52,098.00 – $83,356.00 Annually
Position Summary:
This position performs protective service work enforcing laws, investigates criminal activity, ensures safety of public, collects evidence, testifies in court, maintains files and records, prepares reports, serves the public with dignity and respect, promotes community policing. An employee in this class performs a full range of general law enforcement duties. Work includes patrolling the Town during an assigned shift in a police car or on foot preventing, detecting, and investigating disturbances and crimes; performing traffic control work; apprehending suspects; and executing related assignments. An employee must exercise judgment, initiative, and calm control when performing duties. Work involves frequent public contact which requires tact, firmness, and decisiveness. Work is performed in accordance with departmental policy and State and Federal law, supplemented with specific directions from superior officers. Employees are subject to hazards associated with law enforcement work including working in both inside and outside environments in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as dangerous persons, loud noises, and hazardous spills with fumes, oils, gases, or flammable liquids. Work is subject to the final OSHA standards on blood borne pathogens. Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Police Sergeant and is evaluated through observation, monitoring radio traffic, discussion, proper judgment, community involvement, review of reports for adherence to laws and departmental policies and procedures, adherence to Town policies and procedures, quality and effectiveness of work completed, ongoing and timely feedback, and scheduled performance evaluations.
Essential Functions:
- Patrols streets; checks doors and windows; examines premises of unoccupied residences or buildings; detects unusual conditions; may maintain surveillance and observation for stolen cars, missing persons, or suspects; reports dangerous or defective streets, sidewalks, traffic lights, or other hazardous conditions.
- Responds to calls for assistance, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, loud and disruptive behavior, and other needs; completes calls by determining true nature of the situation and taking whatever legal or persuasive action is warranted.
- Investigates traffic accidents, issues traffic citations, directs traffic, and participates in other emergency operation activities.
- Performs investigations of accidents and possible crimes through observation, questioning witnesses, and gathering physical evidence; performs investigative tasks; arrests and processes criminal suspects.
- Advises the public on laws and local ordinances, testifies in court, executes search warrants, serves papers as needed, transports to magistrate and/or County detention facilities as needed.
- Regulates and directs vehicular traffic at busy times or when traffic signal malfunctions or accidents require, maintains order at public gatherings.
- Performs funeral and bank escorts and other special projects as assigned.
- Operates two-way radio to receive instructions and information from, or to report information to, police headquarters or other relevant personnel.
- Prepares detailed records and reports of activities.
- Logs and secures custody of evidence and destruction or disposition of evidence after exhaustion of court system use.
- Uses a variety of software to prepare incident reports, perform research, check drivers’ licenses and vehicle registrations, check for outstanding warrants and related research, etc.
- Approaches job with a community policing mindset and participates in community policing efforts.
- Serves as evidence officer responsible for logging and securing custody of evidence and destruction or disposition of evidence after exhaustion of court system use.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
- High school diploma or high school equivalency.
- Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license or ability to obtain.
- Completion of Basic Law Enforcement Training with current certification (transfers from other agencies or out-of-state must meet NC Training and Standards criteria for a Police Department).
- Possession of Radar, Intoxilyzer, Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), and DCI I certifications within 12 months of hire.
- Maintain Radar, Intoxilyzer, Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), and DCI I certifications at all times with no lapse.
Preferred Requirements:
- Possession of Radar, Intoxilyzer, Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), and DCI I certifications upon hire.
- Bilingual in both written and spoken English and Spanish.