General Definition of Work

Police Officer I, II,  III
Performs difficult protective service work enforcing laws, investigating criminal activity, ensuring safety of public, collecting evidence, testifying in court, maintaining files and records, preparing reports; does related work as required. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the assigned departmental supervisor.

Essential Functions/Duties

Police Officer I, II, III
On an assigned shift, operates a patrol car or walks 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. (35%)
Assist citizens by supplying information or advice, serves warrants and makes arrests. (20%)
Testifies in court. (10%)
Provides police escorts, directs traffic. (5%)
Investigates automobile accidents. (5%)
Reports unsafe conditions existing in the street or other public facilities. (5%)
Maintains records and prepares detail reports. (15%)
May be assigned to Investigations or Patrol. (5%)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Police Officer I, II, III
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 to adapt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action with due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances; ability to use firearms and operate motor vehicles.

Education/Experience/Physical Demands/Special Requirements/Additional Information

Police Officer I
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school. Must graduate from an accredited college with an Associate's degree in criminal justice or related field with 36 months of hire.

Police Officer II
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's degree in criminal justice or related field.
OR
Graduation from high school AND 7 years as Police Officer AND Intermediate Certificate.

Police Officer III
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, or related field.
OR
Associate's degree AND 7 years as Police Officer AND Advanced Certificate.

Police Officer I, II, III  (Special Requirements):
BLET certified by the NC Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission prior to being sworn, or commission within twelve months of hire.
DCI Certification from the State of NC within 120 days of being a sworn law enforcement officer.

The physical activity of this position includes:
Climbing:  Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.  Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.

Balancing:  Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or couching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.  This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
 
Stooping:  Bending body downward and forward by bending 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 knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
 
Crouching:  Bending the body downward and forward by bending 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 of time.
 
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 upper extremities to exert force in order 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 with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.
 
Talking:  Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of 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:
Medium Work:  Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/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:
The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform one or more of the following: preparing and analyzing data and figures; accounting; transcription; computer terminal; extensive reading.
 
The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position:
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:  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 in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.
 
The worker is subject to hazards:  Includes a variety of 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 that affect the respiratory system of the skin:  Fumes, odors dusts, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.

Must be 20 years of age and possess a valid appropriate driver's license with acceptable driving history. 

Drug screening, criminal background check and psychological exams are required.

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.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
The City of Gastonia is an Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/H