Police Officer (BLET Certified)

Salary: $55,411.20 - $78,665.60 Annually
Location : Burlington Police Department, 267 W. Front St., Burlington, NC
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2026-00002
Department: Police
Opening Date: 01/01/2026
Closing Date: 12/31/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


Job Description
Are you currently working as a law enforcement officer and looking to make a transition? Do you want to further your career with skills and training? Apply now to work for the #1 Police Agency in NC in 2024!

About us: The Burlington Police Department is a nationally accredited law enforcement agency that is committed to quality fair and professional police services. The agency is made up of more than 150 sworn officers and 50 professional staff members serving the City of Burlington, North Carolina. Voted the #1 Police Agency in NC in 2024, we serve a growing city of approximately 60,000 residents.

What you will do:
A City of Burlington Police Officer will perform general duties of law enforcement. Assignments may be to the Operations Bureau, K-9, Investigation Division, D.A.R.E., or other areas. Work includes routine patrol, traffic accident and criminal investigation, police vehicle maintenance, serving criminal papers, traffic law enforcement, and responding to domestic disputes. Employee is highly visible in crime areas and must be assertive in preventing crime. This employee must have the ability to develop a positive public image and represent COB professionally. Tact and firmness, sound judgment in accordance with department policy and state and federal law, and a positive attitude are required. Employee is subject to the hazards of law enforcement work. Work is performed under the immediate supervision of a Police Sergeant, and is evaluated for decision making, work product, professionalism, job knowledge and officer safety through daily observation, review of reports, and discussions concerning how particular incidents or activities were handled. This classification is considered non-exempt in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The current schedule for patrol officers is 5 on, 4 off, 5 on, 4 off, 5 on, 5 off. Rotation of shifts (from night to day or day to night) occurs every 6 months in January and July. This schedule is subject to change at any future point, depending on what is best for the department.
Policing with a Purpose:

• Preserving the Sanctity of ALL Life
• Nurture and Protect Democracy
• Ensure Procedural Justice and Fundamental Fairness
• Spirit of Service
• Protect the Community from Harm
• Treat all individuals with Dignity and Respect-the ethical foundation of policing.

Examples of Duties

Build Trust Through Community Patrol

• Patrols high- and low-crime areas, engages with community members, checks buildings and residences, and apprehends offenders when necessary.

Respond When the Community Needs You

• Responds to calls for assistance involving complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, and disruptive behavior; determines the true nature of each situation and takes appropriate legal or persuasive action.

Keep Roads Safe and Traffic Moving

• Investigates traffic accidents using measurements and witness accounts; determines violations, assists motorists, works with insurance companies, and directs traffic during emergencies or special circumstances.
• Tracks individuals who violate traffic, inspection, and registration laws.

Protect the Public by Enforcing the Law

• Identifies, pursues, and arrests suspects involved in criminal activity.
• Serves criminal papers, including locating individuals for warrants, orders for arrest, and criminal summons.

Conduct Thorough Criminal Investigations

• Gathers information and evidence, photographs crime scenes, interviews witnesses, and performs background inquiries.
• Completes preliminary and detailed investigative reports to document findings.

Support the Justice System

• Assists state and federal prosecutors with case preparation and provides testimony in court as required.

Handle a Wide Range of Police Responsibilities

• Performs preliminary or detailed investigations of accidents or possible crimes.
• Performs any and all related duties as required to support the mission of the department.

Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of laws and policies including State and Federal statutes, local ordinances, and Police Department policies.
• Extensive understanding of law enforcement practices such as patrol methods, investigative techniques, and operational equipment.
• General familiarity with forensic principles including basic crime detection and criminal identification procedures.
• Working knowledge of CALEA standards and their application within professional policing.
• Proven proficiency with firearms and equipment along with effective use of self-defense tactics.
• Clear and concise report writing skills with the ability to document incidents accurately and professionally.
• Excellent communication abilities including active listening and strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Sound judgment under pressure demonstrated in both routine duties and emergency situations.
• Strong analytical decision-making skills with the ability to quickly assess situations and choose an appropriate response.
• Ability to build effective relationships through professionalism, teamwork, and high-quality customer service internally and externally.

Minimum Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED Equivalent
• Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Certification with Certification by the NC Criminal Justice Standards Commission
• Successful passing of Police Officer Physical Abilities Test (POPAT)
• Valid NC Driver's License in Good Standing
• United States Citizen or Naturalized Citizen

The City of Burlington has implemented a career ladder system. Employees typically progress from Police Officer I to Police Officer II to Master Police Officer. Classification distinctions, education and experience, and certifications and training are dependent upon the specifics of the police career ladder system. Some law enforcement training or experience is preferred, but not required.

Special Requirements:

• Valid North Carolina Driver's License
• Ability to obtain certification as a law enforcement officer by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Standards Commission after successful training and based on background review.

Supplemental Information

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Work in this class is described as medium and frequently requires physical exertion to complete tasks, affect arrest, and move objects.
• An employee must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, feeling, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Work necessitates visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned in preparing and analyzing figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal viewing and extensive reading.
• The employee is subject to hazards; includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving parts, electrical current, vibration, noise, oils, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to heat and chemicals.
• Working conditions include both inside and outside environmental conditions.

Inclement Weather Classification: Essential
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt
This job description in no way implies that the duties listed are the only ones the employee may be required to perform. The employee is expected to perform other tasks, duties, and training as requested by their supervisors.
Benefits for full time sworn police officers of the City of Burlington are as follows:

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Paid holidays for New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Enrollment in the Local Government Branch of the North Carolina State Retirement System
• Enrollment in Empower 401k
• Health and dental insurance coverage for employee and children; spouses may be added to the policy if they are not offered coverage at their own place of employment
• Voluntary enrollment in a Flexible Spending Plan
• Life insurance
• Long-term care insurance
• Take-home vehicle
• Extra-duty employment opportunities
• Uniforms provided at no charge
• Other voluntary insurances and deferred compensation plans

01


By completing these supplemental questions, you are attesting that the information you have provided is accurate. Any information you provide may be reviewed by the hiring manager. Any misstatements or falsification of information may eliminate you from consideration or may result in dismissal. "See resume" is not an acceptable answer to any question. Resumes may be uploaded as a supplement to the online application. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of application and/or the Work History section. Yes, I understand and agree, No, I do not agree.

• Yes
• No

02


Are you a U.S. Citizen (either by birth or naturalization)?

• Yes
• No

03


What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• No high school equivalency
• High School Diploma or GED
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate or Higher

04


Are you certified in or currently attending Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET)?

• Yes
• No

05


If you answered yes to the previous question, please list where you attended or are attending Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET), including the academy name and location. If you are not certified or you are not currently enrolled in BLET, please type "N/A" below.
06


Police officers are required to work rotating shifts, which will include days, nights, weekends, holidays plus occasional on-call. Police officers are often not able to choose their schedule and must be able to work any day/night/time as needed by the agency. Are you willing to work this type of schedule?

• Yes
• No

07


Are you currently a candidate in the employment process with another criminal justice agency?

• Yes
• No

08


If you answered yes to the previous question, please list the agency name, date of your application, and at what point in the process you are at for each agency. If you answered no, please type "N/A".
09


Have you ever been denied employment by a criminal justice agency?

• Yes
• No

10


If you answered yes to the previous question, please list the agency name, date of your application, and reason for denial. If you have never been denied employment by a criminal justice agency, please type "N/A".
11


Have you ever been discharged or asked to resign from any position because of criminal or personal misconduct, rules violation, or any other reason?

• Yes
• No

12


If you answered yes to the previous question, please explain the circumstances. If you have never been discharged or asked to resign from a position for any reason, please type "N/A".
13


Have you ever been charged with a felony?

• Yes
• No

14


If you answered yes to the previous question, please provide the charge, circumstances of the charge, date of the charge, and the outcome. If you have never been charged with a felony please type "N/A".
15


Do you drink alcoholic beverages?

• Yes
• No

16


If you answered yes to the previous question, how often do you drink alcoholic beverages?

• 0-4 drinks a week
• 5-9 drinks a week
• 10 drinks or more a week
• I do not drink alcoholic beverages

17


Have you ever been arrested or cited for a DWI/DUI?

• Yes
• No

18


If you answered yes to the previous question, how long ago were you arrested or cited for DWI/DUI?

• Less than five (5) years ago
• More than five (5) years ago
• I have never been arrested for a DWI/DUI

19


Have you ever been convicted of any crime arising from Domestic Violence?

• Yes
• No

20


Have you ever used any illegal drugs including, but not limited to, opiates, pills, heroin, cocaine, crack, hallucinogenics (ex: LSD), marijuana, etc.?

• Yes
• No

21


If you answered yes to the previous question, please provide the month, year, and type that you last used each kind of illegal drug. If you have never used illegal drugs, please type "N/A".
22


Have you ever used marijuana or any byproduct/form thereof (including THC/CBD products)?

• Yes
• No

23


If you answered yes to the previous question, please provide the month and year that you last used marijuana or a form of marijuana. If you have never used marijuana, please type "N/A".
24


Have you ever used prescription drugs other than those prescribed to you by a physician?

• Yes
• No

25


If you answered yes to the previous question, please list the month, year, and type that you last used each prescription drug that was not prescribed to you. If you have never used prescription drugs that were not prescribed to you, please type "N/A".
26


For our recruiting purposes, please tell us how you heard about the position of Police Officer (BLET Certified) with the Burlington Police Department.

• GovernmentJobs.com
• City of Burlington Website
• BLET School
• Facebook
• Burlington Police Department Employee
• Other
• None of the above

27


If you were referred by a Burlington Police Department or City of Burlington employee, please provide that employee's name. If you were not, please put "N/A".
Required Question