Police Officer Job Description

Description:  A Police Officer within the Town of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina is responsible for the enforcement of state and local laws within the Town.

 Job Responsibilities: 

• Answers police calls for service
• Responds appropriately to critical situations; applies police procedures
• Investigates crimes and accidents
• Prepares incident, accident and arrest reports
• Processes minor crime scenes for fingerprints
• Serves arrest warrants and criminal summons
• Conducts follow-up investigations on case assignments
• Serves subpoenas
• Works traffic details and assignments
• Attends and testifies in court
• Investigates narcotics and criminal activities
• Writes and serves search warrants
• Works varied shifts as required
• Operates, inventories and/or calibrates equipment such as breath alcohol sensors, Tasers, cameras, computers, weapons and other equipment
• Participates in and organizes community-oriented policing activities
• Performs the duties of patrol officer, traffic safety officer, school resource officer, criminal investigator, recruitment officer, community service officer, narcotics officer, or other position as assigned
• Performs other related duties as assigned 

Knowledge Requirements: 

• Be a high school graduate or have passed the General Educational Development Test indicating high school equivalency.  Diplomas earned through correspondence enrollment are not recognized.  Some college preferred.
• Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with completion of specialized training in the field of work, in additional to basic skills typically associated with a high school education.
• Be able to furnish documentary evidence showing the applicant has met the education requirements for the criminal justice field of expected employment.
• Sufficient experienced to understand the basic principles relevant to the major duties of the position, usually associated with the completion of an apprenticeship/internship, B.L.E.T. or having had a similar position or experience for one to two years.
• Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid driver’s license issued by the State of North Carolina for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.
• Ability to meet current requirements set forth by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission
• Must possess a valid or current Basic Law Enforcement Training (B.L.E.T.) certificate or must be currently enrolled in a B.L.E.T program.  Candidates must provide documentation of B.L.E.T. certificate.  Applicants need to provide a letter from the B.L.E.T. Director or Coordinator if currently enrolled in a B.L.E.T. program.  Out of state applicants must be able to transfer law enforcement certification and training as approved by the N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission. 

Other Specific Requirements: 

• Must be 20 years of age.
• Must have U.S. Citizenship.
• Must possess good moral character (as determined by an extensive background investigation).
• Not have been convicted of a felony crime, a crime punishable by more than two year imprisonment, a Class B Misdemeanor within the past 5 years, a Class A misdemeanor within the past 4 years, an offense involving moral turpitude (anything done contrary to justice, honesty, modesty or good morals), traffic violations in the past 3 years in which driver’s license has been revoked or suspended, a DUI or DWI in the past 5 years, and any involvement in the sale and/or distribution of illegal drugs (prior usage of illegal drugs is evaluated for the extent of the use and how recent the usage has been.  Use of “hard drugs” is an automatic disqualifier.
• Obtain clearance from N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
• For applicants with military service, possess honorable discharge from any military service.  Less than honorable discharge will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
• Demonstrate employment stability through past work history.
• Pass an interview, a polygraph examination given by a licensed polygraph examiner, a psychological test, a drug screen and a medical examination.
• Untruthfulness or the intentional withholding of information on any application, interview, polygraph examination or paperwork associated with the position will result in disqualification. 

Supplemental Information:

• Knowledge of relevant federal, state and local laws and ordinances
• Knowledge of law enforcement vehicles, equipment, tools and technology.
• Knowledge of criminal investigation tools and techniques.
• Knowledge of department policies and procedures.
• Skilled in the interpretation and application of federal, state and local policies, codes and laws.
• Skilled in analyzing problems and identifying solutions.
• Skilled in preparing clear and accurate reports.
• Skilled in establishing cooperative and productive working relationships.
• Skilled in performing mathematical calculations.
• Skilled in operating computers and other standard office equipment.
• Skilled in interpersonal relationships.
• Skilled in oral and written communication. 

Supervisory Controls:  A police supervisor assigns work in terms of general instructions.  The supervisor inspects completed work for compliance with procedures, accuracy and the nature of propriety of the final results.  The police officer reports to a police supervisor. 

Guidelines:  Guidelines include local, state and federal laws; Town ordinances; Town administrative and personnel policies; Police Department General Orders, Policies and Procedures, Standard Operating Procedures, Rules of Conduct and Duty; and N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards.  These guidelines are generally clear and specific, but may require some interpretation in application. 

Complexity:  The work consists of related law enforcement duties.  Potentially life-threatening situations contribute to the complexity of the position. 

Scope and Effect:  The purpose of this position is to assist in the enforcement of local, state and federal laws.  Success in this position contributes to the enforcement of local, state and federal laws and to the effectiveness of department operations. 

Personal Contacts:  Contacts are typically with other Town staff, court officials, representatives of other law enforcement agencies, crime victims, suspects, prisoners, inmates and members of the general public. 

Purpose of Contacts:  Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, resolve problems, provide services and motivate and influence persons. 

Physical Demands:  The work is typically performed while sitting at a desk, table or within a vehicle while intermittently sitting, standing, walking, running, bending, crouching or stooping.  The employee occasionally lifts light and heavy objects, climbs ladders, and uses tools and equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity. 

Work Environment:  The work is typically performed in an office, a vehicle and outdoors.  The employee may be exposed to potentially life-threatening situations.  The work requires the use of specialized law enforcement protective devices.

 Supervisory and Management Responsibility:  None. 

 Benefits:  Full-time positions are provided Town Benefits.

 Other Opportunities:  The Police Department has a progressive training and career development program as well as a take home vehicle program for officers that live in the Town limits.