Police Officer Lateral

National Police; Davidson (NC); On-site; USD 58,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

National Police in Davidson, NC, seeks a sworn law enforcement officer to perform police services with a focus on protecting life, property, and order. A minimum of two years of full-time sworn experience is required, plus NC certification eligibility and a valid NC driver’s license.

Responsibilities include patrols, responding to calls, investigations, reports, court appearances, and community liaison work. Training, shifts, and specialized assignments may be required.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of full-time sworn law enforcement experience.
• Must meet NC certification requirements including high school diploma or equivalent; NC certification eligible.
• Preference for 60+ college credits or college degree and completion of BLET certification and state exam.
• Requires valid North Carolina driver’s license.
• Before sworn duties, employees must be currently BLET certified.
• Lateral entry not allowed from certain specialized agencies.
• State Police Agencies and NC Highway Patrol qualify for lateral entry.
• Applicants separated from full-time sworn service for less than three years are evaluated case-by-case.

Responsibilities

• Regular patrols and responsiveness to a wide range of calls for police service.
• Respond to calls and assist with investigations of various incidents.
• Assist in apprehension and arrest of law violators.
• Conduct initial investigations and follow-ups for minor offenses.
• Prepare reports and use databases for research.
• Serve as backup to other officers and operate police radio communications.
• Direct traffic, investigate collisions, and enforce laws and warrants.
• Appear in court for testimony and participate in training and community outreach.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

60+ college credits or college degree

BLET certification program

Job description

Salary: $58,429.00 – $73,036.00 Annually

Closing Date: 12/31/2026

Position Summary:

Performs and provides police services to the public with a commitment to the primary goals of protection of life, property, and maintenance of order. Protects the rights of all individuals. Performs limited administrative, supervisory, and leadership duties as assigned. A minimum of two years of full-time employment as a sworn law enforcement officer.

Essential Functions:

• Regularly conducts patrol throughout the Town and extra-territorial jurisdiction; responds and takes appropriate action on a wide range of calls for police service.
• Responds to calls for service and/or assistance related to a variety of requests which may include, but are not limited to, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, loud and disruptive behavior, assaults, parking issues, and drug possession or overdose.
• Assist in the apprehension and arrest of law violators.
• Conducts initial investigations and some follow-up investigations for minor offenses.
• Prepares organized, detailed, and concise written documents and reports by hand and computer using proper grammar and spelling; uses the computer to search databases and perform research.
• Serves as backup to other officers as necessary.
• Investigates traffic collisions, issues citations for state and local statutes, directs traffic, and/or participates in other emergency operation activities.
• Performs initial investigations of reported crimes, including but not limited to, documenting observations, interviewing involved parties and witnesses, documenting/preserving/collecting physical evidence, making arrests, and presenting case findings in court.
• Enforces local ordinances, and state and federal laws, issues citations or warnings, serves warrants, apprehends and processes criminal suspects with transports to a magistrate and/or County detention facility, and serves civil process as required.
• Assists with movement of vehicular traffic when necessary for school drop-off/release, accident scenes, special events, and as needed.
• Operates a two-way police radio to receive information from or to report information to other police officers, supervisors, or central communications (dispatch); maintains assigned vehicle, weapons, and all other Town and Department equipment in standard working order.
• Performs as a community liaison to solve problems, provides assistance, and builds relationships with all persons in the community.
• Performs functions and specialized skills based on an assignment such as attending shift briefings, attending training on and off-site, and practicing proper methods for preservation of evidence.
• Appears in court for testimony, attends meetings, works on projects, and gives presentations and lectures for officers and the public.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements:

• A minimum of two years of full-time employment as a sworn law enforcement officer.
• Shall possess the minimum required by the North Carolina Justice Training and Standards Commission to obtain certification as a Police Officer, including a high school diploma or equivalent; able to be certified by the North Carolina Justice Training and Standards Commission.
• Preference is given to candidates with 60 or more hours of college credit or college degree and those who have completed the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification program and state exam.
• Requires possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license.
• Before assignment to sworn duties, employees must be currently BLET certified.
• Sworn service in a non-law enforcement capacity does not quality. Non-law enforcement capacity includes: deputies who work in jails, courtrooms, or communications.
• Specialized law enforcement agencies do not qualify for lateral entry regardless of sworn status. This includes: campus police, housing authority police, department of corrections, park rangers, private police, etc.
• Agencies must answer 911 calls for service and have comparable duties to the Davidson Police Department.
• State Police Agencies and NC Highway Patrol qualify for lateral entry.
• Applicants who have been separated from full-time sworn service for less than a year qualify for lateral entry. Applicants separated for over one year, but less than three years are evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis.