Police Officer

National Police; Garner (NC); On-site; USD 62,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Take-home cars

Uniforms provided

5% career advancement increase

Job summary

Garner Police Department is hiring Police Officer candidates with a starting salary of $62,418 and a $3,000 hiring bonus. The department emphasizes community-oriented policing, offers a dual career path with salary increases at each advancement, and provides take-home cars and uniforms.

Promotional opportunities include Canine Handler, Traffic Safety Officer, School Resource Officer, Investigator, and more, with a competitive salary range and opportunities for merit and market adjustments.

Qualifications

• US citizen required.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Valid driver's license required.

Responsibilities

• Patrol designated sectors, observe activity, engage with the public, and check security of properties.
• Enforce traffic laws; monitor traffic, use radar, issue warnings and citations, and make arrests.
• Serve criminal summonses, subpoenas and warrants; transport detainees to processing.
• Respond to domestic violence, robberies, accidents; conduct investigations and secure scenes.
• Provide testimony in court and complete reports for review by superiors.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

The Garner Police Department is offering a $3,000 Hiring Bonus for Police Officer candidates who desire a community-oriented law enforcement career.

Police Officers are responsible for performing protective service work in the prevention, detection, and investigation of violations of the law. Officers are assigned to a patrol squad and work rotating shifts. Work is performed under the regular supervision of a Police Sergeant or Corporal. The Career Development Program offers an outstanding opportunity for professional enhancement and advancement in salary.

With tenure, training, and above-average levels of performance, officers can compete for a variety of specialized positions and promotions. They include Canine Handler, Traffic Safety Officer, School Resource Officer, Investigator, Special Response Team, Crisis Negotiator, Field Training Officer, Community Liaison, and others.

Officers are provided with state-of-the-art equipment, take-home cars (for those in compliance with Department policy), uniforms, and all related apparel.

The current starting salary for police officers is $62,418. However, salary incentives may be provided for the following credentials as determined by the Chief of Police:

• Prior sworn law enforcement experience (2.5% per year) – as determined by the Chief
• Specialized Skills/Experience (2%) – as determined by the Chief
• Certified Instructor (2%)
• Military experience (2%)
• Associates (1%), Bachelors (2%), or Master’s (3%) degree
• Foreign language fluency (2%)

The starting salary will be determined based on the selected candidate's skills and qualifications. The current hiring range is $62,418 - $90,320.

The Garner Police Department offers a robust dual career path. This program encourages professional development by providing a 5% increase with each advancement.

The steps included in the career path are as follows:

• Police Officer I
• Police Officer II
• First Class Officer
• Senior Officer

Career path salary increases would be in addition to any merit and market adjustments approved by the Town Council.

Examples of Duties:

• Patrols designated sector in assigned car; observes activity and intervenes as necessary; checks the physical security of businesses, homes, cars, etc.; gets out of car and closely inspects buildings; establishes contact with citizens for public relations;
• Enforces traffic laws; patrols or conducts stationary observation of traffic; utilizes radar to detect speed violations; stops suspicious vehicles for investigation; issues warnings, citations, and arrests for violations; uses standard field sobriety tests to determine impairment;
• Serves criminal summons, subpoenas, and warrants in assigned jurisdiction; makes arrests and transports suspects to the public safety center for processing;
• Responds to domestic violence incidences; provides assistance to reduce the risk of additional violence; conducts investigation if necessary;
• Responds to robbery calls; assesses crime scenes and calls for assistance; secures the crime scenes and interviews witnesses; apprehends suspects;
• Investigates accidents; gathers appropriate information and fills out reports; draws diagrams; charges drivers as necessary; calls wreckers, rescue personnel, utility companies as necessary;
• Conducts detailed investigation of crimes;
• Provides service to the public; advises citizens on departmental procedures and options available; Testifies in court on arrests made; presents evidence collected;
• Completes necessary reports for all actions taken and submits to lieutenant for review;
• Directs traffic as needed at traffic accidents and other incidents;
• Performs other job-related tasks as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must:

• be a US citizen
• have a high school diploma or equivalent
• possess a valid driver's license

Current status must include one of the following:

• Currently sworn as a law enforcement officer in the State of North Carolina; or
• Hold a current North Carolina Law Enforcement Certification; or
• Prior experience as a sworn law enforcement officer in a state other than North Carolina, a branch of the United States military, or with a federal law enforcement agency; or
• Currently enrolled in a North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Certification Program leading to certification.

Additional Information:

Candidates will be expected to have: thorough knowledge of police methods, practices and procedures; general knowledge of the geography of the Town; general knowledge of departmental rules and regulations; general knowledge of Town ordinances; ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and to prepare clear and comprehensive reports; ability to deal courteously but firmly with the public; ability to analyze situations and to adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action with due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances; skill in the use of firearms and the operation of motor vehicles; and the ability to render credible testimony in a court of law.

Training Evaluations for Out-of-State, Military, and Federal Law Enforcement Transfers

Applicants with prior experience as a sworn law enforcement officer in a state other than North Carolina, a branch of the United States military, or with a federal law enforcement agency must submit training records to the North Carolina Department of Justice to review the applicant's credentials and determine what additional training will be required during the applicant's probationary year, if hired. Submit records at https://ncdoj.gov/training-evaluations-for-out-of-state-military-and-federal-law-enforcement-transfers/.

PLEASE NOTE:

2) Conditional offers will be issued within a few days after the oral panel interview phase. Candidates selected to continue will be required to participate in an oral panel interview on Friday, September 11, 2026, sometime between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

• Copy of Birth Certificate, Driver's License, and Social Security Card
• Certified Criminal Records Checks from all counties you have lived in during the last 10 years. If you attended high school within those 10 years and the high school was located in a different county than your residence, you must include that county's criminal history check as well (DCI printout is not acceptable)
• Copy of your Law Enforcement Certificate
• Copies of any law enforcement training certificates (if applicable)
• Copy of full DD 214 (if applicable)
• Certified Driving History from all states in which you were issued a license in the past 10 years (DCI printout is not acceptable)
• Copy of your High School Diploma or GED
• Any other documentation you deem important as part of this process

The average length of this recruitment process is 6-8 weeks.

This position is open until Sunday, August 30, 2026, or until filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer