On an assigned shift, operates a patrol car or walks to observe the violations of traffic laws, suspicious activities or persons and disturbances of the law and order; responds to radio dispatches and answers calls and complaints; assist citizens by supplying information or advise; serves warrants and makes arrests, testifies in court; provides police escorts, directs traffic; investigates automobile accidents; reports unsafe conditions existing in the street or other public facilities; maintains records and prepares detailed reports; may be assigned to Investigations or Patrol. Performs related task as required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school. Completion of the basic law enforcement training. Possession of a Basic Law Enforcement Certificate issued by the State of North Carolina.

Must be able to perform duties involved in apprehending suspects, operating motor vehicles, and using firearms. Must possess cognitive skills. Work environment includes office setting and outdoor work. Must be able to withstand exposure to adverse elements such as those associated with weather, crime scenes, accidents, and other disasters. Division of Criminal Information (DCI) operators permit.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical activity of this position includes:

Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.

Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or couching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.

Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.

Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.

Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal spoken word levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discrimination in sound, such as when making fine adjustments on machined parts.

Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

The physical requirements of this position:

Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision:

The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform one or more of the following: preparing and analyzing data and figures; accounting; transcription; computer terminal; extensive reading.

The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position:

Theworker is subject to inside environmental conditions; Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions: No effective protection from weather.

The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.

The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.

The worker is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.

The worker is subject to noise: There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.

The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.

The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system of the skin: Fumes, odors dusts, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.

Must be 20 years of age and possess a valid appropriate driver’s license with acceptable driving history. Drug screening and criminal background check required. 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE MADE TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS.

The City of Gastonia is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that is inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We value diversity and promise to honor your experiences, perspective and unique identity.

The City of Gastonia is an Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/H