Police Officer I

City of Lincolnton; Lincolnton (NC); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Lincolnton is seeking dedicated individuals for law enforcement roles including patrol officer and detective. Candidates will perform a variety of tasks from traffic control to criminal investigations, ensuring public safety. The position requires strong judgment, communication skills, and a commitment to community service.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalency is required.
• Preference given to candidates with a degree in criminal justice or a related field.
• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License and Basic Law Enforcement Certificate (BLET) required.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine law enforcement duties including patrol and traffic law enforcement.
• Investigate crimes and gather evidence while complying with protocols.
• Maintain assigned police vehicle and ensure readiness.

Skills

Communication

Tact

Judgment

Education

High School Diploma or GED

College degree in criminal justice or related field

Tools

Firearms

Police Vehicle

Mobile Data Terminal

Job description

Attachments Must Be In PDF Format

Position open until filled or July 29, 2025, whichever comes first

The new payrate is effective 7/1/2025

Primary Reason Why Classification Exists
To perform routine law enforcement work of an assignment, such as patrol officer, detective, school resource officer, traffic officer, canine officer, or other assignment.

Distinguishing Features of the Class
An employee in this class performs a full range of law enforcement duties as a patrol officer, detective, school resource officer, traffic officer, canine officer, or other assignment of the city’s police department. Work includes routine patrol, traffic accident investigations, criminal investigation, processing crime scenes, collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, victim and suspects, police vehicle maintenance, serving criminal papers, traffic law enforcement, responding to domestic disputes, developing, and maintaining of rapport with citizens, students, teachers, parents, and community leaders. This employee must have the ability to develop a positive public image. Tact and firmness, sound judgment, and a positive attitude are required. Employees are subject to the usual hazards of law enforcement work including the potential for physical harm. Work is performed under the immediate supervision of a Police Sergeant or other senior law enforcement officer and is evaluated for effectiveness, visibility, compliance with standards, public support, and attainment of performance objectives.

• Participates in patrol functions such as responding to calls for service; enforce criminal and traffic laws; secure warrants and make arrests; serve criminal papers; locates people under indictment; serves warrants, orders for arrest, and criminal summons; perform or assist with traffic control; Assists victims of and witnesses to crimes.
• Investigates misdemeanors and felonies by gathering information, processing crime scenes, and interviewing victims, witnesses, and suspects; follows up on leads for additional information; gather, collect, analyze, and process evidence to comply with chain of custody procedures; Assist in the prosecution of offenders by providing reports, evidence, and testimony.
• Completes all reports, records and files as may be needed to meet all departmental requirements and assignments.
• Performs surveillance; obtains search warrants; responds to requests for additional police assistance.
• Maintains readiness of assigned police vehicle with fuel and air pressure; make sure vehicle is properly serviced.
• Depending on assignment, may patrol high and low crime areas; checks security of buildings and residences; attempt to resolve conflict by recommending solutions;Investigates traffic accidents; uses measurement devices and eyewitness accounts to determine violators; assists motorists in filling out or exchanging insurance information;Observes and follows people violating traffic laws, vehicle registrations and inspections laws, and other traffic offenses; enforces speed limits.
• Depending on assignment, may investigate criminal acts such as homicides, sexual assaults, armed robberies, home invasions, larcenies, burglaries/breaking or entering, and other misdemeanors and felonies; prepares sketches and diagrams of crime scenes; processes crime scenes; collects evidence at crime scenes such as fingerprints, clothing, footprints, bullets and spent casings, hair, blood, and DNA samples, and other evidence; ensures evidence is collected, documented, and stored based on defined protocols; Sends specimens to laboratory to obtain DNA; may attend autopsies and make notes; Exchanges information and coordinates activities with other departments and other law enforcement agencies
• Depending on assignment, may patrol an assigned school, maintaining a highly visible presence before during or after school hours, as well as during school-sponsored events in an effort to deter crime and disturbances; serve as a liaison between school, students, families and community agencies to find and facilitate the use of resources to meet physical, social and emotional needs of students; attend school staff meetings when necessary, providing input as appropriate based on expertise and observations; Confers with school officials, guidance counselors, teachers, support staff, etc., as appropriate, to develop and maintain knowledge of school activities or to make early identification of delinquent behavior; Coordinates security needs and assigns officers to work all after school and sports activities; Refers violations of school rules to appropriate authorities, but is not responsible for the enforcement of school rules; Coordinates and assists with parking needs for school-related activities.
• Performs related work as required.

• Knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, and procedures
• Knowledge of departmental standard operating policies and procedures, and federal, state, and local laws and ordinances
• Knowledge of practices, materials, techniques, and equipment pertinent to job assignment
• Knowledge of local geography and location of streets, homes, businesses and buildings
• Knowledge of human behavior characteristics
• Knowledge of effective oral and written communication techniques when interacting with individuals and groups
• Knowledge of current software and computer technology
• Skill in the use of firearms and other authorized law enforcement equipment including, but not limited to, Police Vehicle, Taser, Mobile Data Terminal, Radar, Asp Baton, Handcuffs, Intoximeter, Body Worn Camera
• Ability and willingness to act quickly and properly in emergency situations
• Ability to determine if criminal acts have been committed and apprehend or arrest criminal suspect
• Ability and willingness to establish rapport and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, and the general public
• Ability to express thoughts clearly both orally and in written reports
• Ability to maintain certifications in order to access and operate various software programs, databases and the internet.

Physical Requirements
This is medium work requiring the exertion of 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. When apprehending suspects who resist arrest work is deemed as heavy work requiring the exertion of 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Work requires climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, and repetitive motions. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas or information by voice and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and/or to make fine distinctions in sound. Visual acuity is required for depth perception, color perception, night vision, peripheral vision, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, use of measuring devices, operation of motor vehicles or equipment, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities. Employee must demonstrate continual physical fitness to withstand the rigors of law enforcement officer and physical confrontation with assailants and/or foot chases for apprehensions. Employee may be required to use deadly force to subdue an assailant or to protect themselves or others.

Working Conditions
Employee is exposed to both inside and outside working conditions in all types of weather from extremes of cold and heat to rain/snow/ice as well as varying terrain from streets, dense foliage, dark buildings, and water. Employee may be exposed to noise which would cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level. Workplace conditions include operating vehicles for extended periods of time, working varied hours and shifts, and confronting violent persons many of whom have criminal records with little to no respect for law enforcement or who may be a threat to themselves or others. Work requires application of safety precautions and wearing of protective clothing, gloves, and body armor designed to minimize exposure to blood-borne pathogens, communicable diseases, and bodily harm.

Education and Experience
Graduation from high school or GED equivalency; preference may be given to individuals possessing a college degree in criminal justice, criminology, or related field.

Special Requirements

• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License
• Basic Law Enforcement Certificate (BLET) awarded by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission (required to be continuously employed.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DCI Module 1 Certification within (1) year of employment.

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Disclaimer
This classification specification has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to perform the job. The City of Lincolnton reserves the right to assign or otherwise modify the duties assigned to this classification.