Police Officer Recruit

Salary : $57,164.00 Annually
Location : Police Department, Chapel Hill, NC
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 26/27-02047
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
Closing Date: 12/31/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


Summary
Start your law enforcement career as a Guardian of the Hill!

We are currently hiring people who want to become police officers with our department and will need to attend, or are currently attending, a Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Academy.

Be part of a police department that values your experience, your well-being, and your career goals. We offer competitive pay and benefits, and we lead the way in meaningful and progressive approaches to protecting, partnering, and serving the community.

Starting salary for Police Officer Recruit is now $57,164. In addition to competitive pay, we offer excellent incentives, ample paid overtime, and extra duty opportunities for officers.

Starting salary increases with the following incentives:

• $1,500 for associate degree
• $2,500 for bachelor's degree
• $4,500 for master's degree
• $1,500 for language fluency
• $1,500 for Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate
• $500 annually for successfully completing physical abilities test
• 3% increase for officers serving as Field Training Officer

The Town of Chapel Hill provides all employees with a generous and comprehensive benefits package including health and dental insurance at no cost to the employee, effective on their first day of employment.

Opportunities Just for You

Our department advances officers with extensive training and career advancement planning that is personalized for you, and we're committed to flexible scheduling to make time for it. We also offer a variety of rotational positions designed to give patrol officers specialized experience earlier in their career.

Co-Response is Part of Our DNA

Officers work side-by-side with our Crisis Unit - a co-responder model that has been part of our department for over 50 years. Officers and crisis counselors collaborate and provide onsite emergency responses to people who are experiencing a crisis.

Star your career in law enforcement with our department today! Contact Meg McGurk, Community Safety Planner, at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io. To learn more about how to advance your career with our department, visit

Essential Functions

• May perform a variety of law enforcement duties such as responding to calls for service, enforcing traffic and criminal laws; and conducting high visibility patrols
• May perform investigations; conduct interviews; process crime scenes; and collect evidence
• May perform community policing activities
• Performs other duties as required

Supervision Exercised


None


Physical Demands


The work requires intermittent sitting, standing, walking, running, or stooping. The employee uses equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity and medium strength.


Work Environment


The work is typically performed in vehicle or in the field.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must meet the NC Department of Justice minimum standards for certification.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the job.

Knowledge of:

• State and federal laws
• Town ordinances, departmental policies, and procedures
• Best practices in policing and customer service

Ability to:

• Solve problems and make sound decisions, performing mathematical calculations
• Maintain accurate financial records and prepare reports
• Utilize a personal computer and various word processing and database software applications
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, community members, and supervisors
• Maintain required certification
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Model behavior that is consistent with our values of RESPECT

Education


A high school diploma or its equivalent Experience No experience required for Police Officer I.


Certifications

• Maintain North Carolina certification.
• Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid driver's license North Carolina issued by the state of NC and the availability of private transportation or the ability to provide transportation between job sites.

Supplemental Information


This classification has been designated as Safety Sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing. The position is driving essential and must conform to the Town's Safe Driving and Accident Policy and procedures.
The Town of Chapel Hill offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to regular full time and part time employees.

Health and Dental Insurance
Health and dental insurance are effective the first day of employment. The town will provide full-time employees group medical and dental insurance including family coverage. Employees and the town will share equally in the additional cost of the medical plan for dependent coverage if employees desire to purchase such coverage for family members. Employees are responsible for the full cost of dependent dental insurance.


Retirement Health Savings Plan

Employees hired after June 30, 2010, in a regular full-time or regular part- time position are required to participate in the Retirement Health Savings Plan. Contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis. The current contribution amount is 1%.


Paid Time Off

• Vacation/Annual Leave: Employees in regular full or part time positions earn between 12 and 26 days per year depending upon length of Town service.
• Sick Leave: Employees in full or part time regular positions earn 12 days per year.
• Paid Parental Leave: Eligible employees receive 6 weeks of Paid Parental Leave after birth or placement of a child in the home for adoption or foster care. This leave does not come from Employee's leave bank.
• Paid Holidays: There are 12 official Town holidays. Employees in full or part time regular positions are eligible for paid holiday time.
• Personal Leave: All employees in full or part time regular positions are granted 3 days of personal leave per year. This leave is non-cumulative

Local Government Retirement System

All employees in regular full or part time position are required to contribute to the retirement system. Contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis. The current contribution amount is 6%.


Supplemental Retirement Plans

• NC 401(k)-The Town makes a contribution of 5% to the 401(k) for all regular full and part time employees. There is no employee match required. Employees have the option of making contributions on a pre or post tax basis. The plan is administered by Empower.
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan-Town of Chapel Hill employees have the option of making contributions to a 457. The Town does not make contributions to this plan. The plan is administered by MissionSquare.

Disability Insurance

• Town Provided: The Town provides both short term and long term disability insurance to all regular full or part time employees. The plan will pay up to 50% of the employee's base income up to $462 per week for non-job related injuries.
• Voluntary Short Term Disability: Employees have the option of purchasing supplemental disability insurance. This plan will pay employees a maximum of 25% of their base weekly earnings up to $400.

Life Insurance

The Town provides full and part time regular employees with an individual term life insurance policy. Employees have the option of purchasing additional life insurance for a small fee. Dependent life insurance is also available.

Direct Deposit

All employees hired after July 1, 2007 are required to have direct deposit.

Other Benefits

• Credit Union: Employees of the Town of Chapel Hill are eligible to open accounts at Civic Federal Credit Union.
• Parking is provided free of charge at or near worksites
• Annual longevity payment beginning with the 5th year of full or part time regular employment
• Tuition assistance is available upon completion of the initial probationary period
• Town has a Housing Assistance Program that assists employees secure housing in Town see the following