Police Officer I, II, III (Lateral)

The Gastonia Police Department is seeking dedicated individuals to join our team as Police Officers I, II, and III. We offer a rewarding career where you can make a positive impact on the lives of others while upholding the highest standards of professionalism. 
 
As a Police Officer with the City of Gastonia, individuals are tasked with community policing responsibilities such as building relationships with residents, deterring crime through patrols, and responding to calls for service, as well as professional law enforcement tasks like enforcing laws, conducting investigations, making arrests, and providing testimonies in court. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the assigned department supervisor and may include additional job tasks as required to ensure public safety for the citizens of the City of Gastonia.The following job functions are typical for a position of this nature. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each function satisfactorily.  Other job functions and duties may be required as assigned.  

• On an assigned shift, operate a patrol car or walk to observe all 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 advice, serving warrants and making 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 

• Working knowledge of police methods, practices and procedures; thorough knowledge of the geography of the City and location of important buildings; 
• General knowledge of the rules and regulations of the Police Department; 
• General knowledge of the principles and techniques of emergency care; 
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and to prepare clear, comprehensive reports; 
• Ability to deal courteously but firmly with the public; 
• Ability to analyze situations and adapt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action with due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances
• Ability to use firearms and operate motor vehicles.

Police Officer I Qualifications 
Minimally qualified starting pays: $25.7988hourly 

• High School diploma or the equivalence there of 
• BLET certified by the NC Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission 
• DCI certification from the State of NC within 120 days of being a sworn law enforcement officer.

Police Officer II Qualifications
Minimally qualified starting pays: $27.0889hourly

• Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice or closely related field
• Or a High School diploma with 7 years’ law enforcement experience and an Intermediate Certificate
• BLET certified by the NC Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission 
• DCI Certification from the State of NC

Police Officer III Qualifications
Minimally qualified starting pays: $29.1561 hourly

• Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice or closely related field
• Or Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice or closely related field with 7 years’ experience in law enforcement and an Advanced Certificate 
• BLET certified by the NC Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission 
• DCI Certification from the State of NC

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be 20 years of age or older
• A valid Driver’s License with an acceptable driving history 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

• Intermediate Certificate: 2.5% Pay Incentive
• Advance Certificate: 2.5% Pay Incentive 
• NC and SC Certified Officers with 2 years of sworn service may qualify for a $15,000 sign-on bonus 
• Gastonia City Limits Relocation: $1,500 One-Time Pay Incentive
• 3rd Shift Differential: 5% Pay Incentive
• Bilingual Pay Incentive: 2.5%

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, legs, and/or hands and arms.   This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceed those required for ordinary locomotion.
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces.  This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceed what is needed for ordinary locomotion and the maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Stooping:   Bending body downward and forward by bending the 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 the knee to come to rest on the knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the 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.
• 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 the upper extremities to exert force 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 the skin, particularly the fingertips.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas using 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 discriminations 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 include:
Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, /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, include:
The work requires close visual acuity to perform one or more of the following:

• Preparing and analyzing data and figures
• Transcription
• Computer terminal
• Extensive reading

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

• The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes
• The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions. There is 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 to be heard above the ambient noise level.
• The worker is subject to hazards: Including various 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 affect the respiratory system of the skin:  Fumes, odors dusts, mists, gases, or poor ventilation

Drug screening, criminal background and reference checks are required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform 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)

Salary : $53,664 - $85,446