Police Officer

Police Officers

The Town of Clayton is seeking applicants for Police Officers within the Clayton Police Department. The Town of Clayton employs more than 340 full-time staff in areas including police, fire, and electric utilities. The Town of Clayton also offers a range of PT positions including positions in Parks & Rec, Library, and Cultural Arts. The Town of Clayton is the fastest growing town in Johnston County, which is the fastest growing county in the State of North Carolina. The vision for the Town of Clayton includes a thriving town where growth contributes to the quality of life enjoyed by long-time residents and newcomers alike; easy access but with an atmosphere that feels smaller than it is; a system of parks and greenways that connect people and places; neighborhoods with a variety of quality living options; a town that offers opportunities for people to live, create, shop and eat; a bustling and historic downtown, and businesses that are successful, growing, and investing in the community.

This position performs a variety of responsible law enforcement work to protect life and property in the Town with duties including but not limited to:

• Patrols streets in a police car, on foot, by bicycle or other appropriate means; checks doors and windows; examines premises of unoccupied residences or buildings; detects unusual conditions, may maintain surveillance and observation for stolen cars, missing persons, or suspects; reports dangerous or defective streets, sidewalks, traffic lights, or other hazardous conditions.
• Responds to calls for assistance, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, loud and disruptive behavior, and others needs; completes calls by determining true nature of the situation and taking whatever legal or persuasive action is warranted.
• Investigates traffic accidents; issues traffic citations; directs traffic and participates in other emergency operation activities.
• Performs investigations of accidents and possible crimes through observation, questioning witnesses, and gathering physical evidence; performs investigative tasks; arrests and processes criminal suspects.
• Advises the public on laws and local ordinances; testifies in court; executes search warrants; serves papers as needed.
• Regulates and directs vehicular traffic at busy times or when traffic signal malfunctions or accidents require; maintains order at public gatherings.
• Performs funeral and bank escorts.
• Operates a radio to receive instructions and information from or to report information to telecommunications.
• Prepares detailed records and reports of activities.
• Uses a variety of software programs to prepare incident reports, perform research, check driver's licenses and vehicle registrations, check for outstanding warrants and related research.
• Performs special projects as assigned by the department such as helping with background investigations of applicants, helping install or maintain security of technology, and helping coordinate in-service training.

Additional job duties include:

Considerable knowledge of state and federal laws, local ordinances and policies of the police department, especially relating to arrest, search and seizure, and traffic control. Knowledge of the application of information technology to the work. Working knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods and equipment. Some knowledge of scientific criminal detection and identification methods. Skill in the use of firearms and other police equipment and in the application of self-defense tactics. Skill in collaborative conflict resolution. Ability to communicate clearly over radio and other technology. Ability to operate a computer terminal. Ability to act with sound judgment in routine and emergency situations. Ability to present effective court testimony. Ability to prepare clear and concise activity reports. Ability to build and maintain cooperative and effective relations with the citizens, coworkers, other law enforcement agencies, and Town officials.

Physical requirements include:

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform 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.
• Must possess the visual acuity to operate a police vehicle and distinguish details and differences when observing people, places, or things on patrol.
• Must be able to pass mandatory Police Officer Physical Abilities Test (POPAT).

Desirable education and experience includes:

• Graduation from High School or GED equivalent and successful completion of/or enrollment in a NC Basic Law Enforcement training program.

Special requirements include:

• Before assignment to sworn duties, employees must possess a valid North Carolina Driver's license and have completed at least the minimum requirement established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission for certified law enforcement officers, with possession of a Basic Law Enforcement Certificate.
• Ability to obtain required certifications.

Submit official application using the town's career website. If you have technical issues submitting your application, please call the NEOGOV (governmentjobs.com) Help Line at View phone number on click.appcast.io. If there are any questions about this posting, other than your application status, please contact the Human Resources Office. If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. To check the status of your application, please log on to your NEOGOV account and click "Application Status". It is not necessary to contact the Human Resources Office to check the status of an application. Normal processing time for applications is 30-45 days from the closing date of the posting. To obtain veterans preference, you must scan and upload a copy of your DD-214 or discharge orders. Degrees must be accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the online application form. Any information omitted from the application cannot be considered for qualifying credit. Attached or incorporated resumes (including Text Resume's on the on-line application) WILL NOT be used for screening for qualifying credit. "See Resume" or "See Attachment" WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completing an on-line application form. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. Effective October 1, 2025, in accordance with North Carolina state law, all applicants for positions that involve working with children in any capacity are required to undergo criminal history record checks conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Credit and motor checks are required for some administrative, finance and operational positions. Applicants will be required to take and pass a Pre-Employment Drug and Alcohol screen once they are verbally given a conditional offer of employment. Depending on the position, employees may be subject to random drug and alcohol screens throughout their employment. Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA). Town of Clayton employees enjoy many benefits including a retirement pension plan, 401K membership, Paid Vacation, Sick and Holiday Leave, State Health Plan, and various other benefits. Benefits information can be found by going directly to the Town of Clayton website at: When a salary range is posted, the actual salary will be based on relevant competencies, knowledge, skills & abilities, internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. The Town of Clayton is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Hiring salary will not exceed hiring pay range unless approved by the Town Manager. Applications may be reviewed to determine if applicants education and experience is more applicable to other vacant positions within the Town.