Police Officer

About the role

Public Safety Officers perform law enforcement work at a university campus or other state facility. With full powers of arrest, positions enforce the laws of the State and United States Government. Positions have law enforcement authority ranging from traffic control to criminal investigations within a limited geographic jurisdiction. Work involves patrolling an assigned area to respond to complaints or calls and to detect violations in enforcing State laws and applicable regulations.

Responsibilities

• Apprehending observed violators committing offenses
• Investigating violations or complaints in order to assess and handle cases
• Collecting and preserving evidence and the chain of custody
• Testifying in court proceedings
• Serving as a patrol officer, detective squad member, crime prevention officer, or lead officer on an assigned shift

Minimum Education And Experience Requirements

• Police Officer I: Zero to two years of experience. Minimum of a High School diploma or GED. At least probationary certification from the NC CJETSC as a commissioned police officer and successful completion of the appointing agency’s designated field training program for newly appointed Campus Police Officers.
• Police Officer II: Minimum of High School or GED and two (2) years of experience as a sworn local, state, or federal law enforcement officer. Current certification from NC CJETSC as a commissioned police officer or certification eligible within an agency specified timeframe.
• Police Officer III: Minimum of a High School diploma or GED and four (4) years of experience as a sworn local, state, or federal law enforcement officer. Current certification from NC CJETSC as a commissioned police officer or certification eligible within an agency specified timeframe.
• Master Police Officer I: Six (6) years of prior experience as a sworn law enforcement officer (a graduate or Juris Doctor degree reduces the minimum experience requirement by 1 year).

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Technical Knowledge: Knowledge of investigative techniques for misdemeanor and less serious felonies; knowledge of the requirements for an arrest warrant, search warrant, and the warrant issue process; knowledge of crime scene management and fingerprint lifting tools and techniques.
• Communication Skills: Ability to relate to individuals and community groups and plan and conduct campus and community programs; able to use proper questioning techniques and interrogation skills to obtain information from witnesses, victims, and suspects.
• Organizational Awareness and Commitment: Understanding of the Department’s vision, mission, and core values and is to the Department’s operations and success; ability to develop new officers by conducting a field training program.
• Problem Solving: Understanding criminal activities and trends and can initiate, complete, and properly document problem-solving projects focused on crime, fear of crime, and quality of life issues.
• Analytical and Conceptual Thinking: Ability to differentiate between routine crimes, serious crimes, and emergencies and initiate appropriate action; ability to use appropriate discretion during criminal investigations, arrests, warrant service, and interaction with campus community members.

Preferred Qualifications

• An associate degree or higher education level
• Experience in a higher education public safety or campus police department