Deputy Sheriff

Job Title

An employee in this position performs general duty law enforcement work to protect life and property in Harnett County for the Office of the Sheriff.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions of the position include:

• Patrolling the County in a vehicle; serving a variety of civil and criminal papers; responding to calls; examining premises of unoccupied residences or buildings; detecting unusual conditions; maintaining surveillance and observation for stolen cars, missing persons, or suspects.
• Responding to calls for assistance, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, and loud, disruptive behavior; completing calls by determining true nature of the situation; and taking whatever legal or persuasive action is warranted.
• Investigating possible crimes through observation, questioning witnesses, and gathering physical evidence; performing investigative tasks; making arrests; processing criminal suspects; and presenting findings in court.
• Serving warrants, apprehending, processing, and transporting criminal suspects to County magistrate and/or County detention facilities.
• Providing courtroom security for judges, the public, and inmates; calling court into session; ensuring judges security and other needs are met; performing coordination, seclusion, and other procedures with juries; and escorting inmates to and from the courtroom.
• Serving a variety of civil and criminal papers, court orders, summons, etc.
• Operating a two-way radio to receive instructions and information from or to report information to headquarters; maintaining vehicle, weapons, and other equipment in standard working order.
• Conducting background checks.
• Preparing detailed records and reports of activities using prescribed methods.
• Assisting other law enforcement and emergency agencies in controlling emergency situations.
• Advising the public on laws and local ordinances; serving papers.
• Assisting stranded motorists; giving information and directions to visitors and the general public.
• Working an assigned shift; shift may contain alternating weekends.
• Must be able to drive and operate a vehicle as required.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements to perform work include:

• High school diploma and completion of basic law enforcement training; or equivalent education and/or experience.
• Possession of a valid North Carolina driver's license (or obtain before assignment to sworn duties).
• Possession of a Basic Law Enforcement Certification preferred.
• Meet at least the minimum requirements established by the North Carolina Sheriff's Training and Standards Commission for certified law enforcement officers with prospects of successfully completing the entire certification process within prescribed time frames.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Knowledge of state and federal laws, local ordinances, and policies of the Department, especially relating to search and seizure, serving papers, pursuit, and arrest.
• Knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, and equipment.
• Knowledge of scientific crime detection and criminal identification methods and procedures.
• Skill in using firearms and other law enforcement equipment and in the application of self-defense tactics.
• Skill in collaborating with others.
• Skill in resolving conflicts.
• Skill in using tact and firmness with the public.
• Ability to act with sound judgement in routine and emergency situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
• Ability to present effective court testimony.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise activity reports.
• Ability to build and maintain cooperative and effective public relations with the citizens.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and other public officials.
• Ability to remain calm under challenging or volatile circumstances.

Supplemental Information

Physical demands: Must be able to perform light work frequently exerting up to 30 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects; and occasionally requiring to exert up to 50 pounds of force to move objects. This work also involves the physical abilities of balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, grasping, handling, perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, discriminating among sounds, kneeling, lifting, having manual dexterity, using mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, performing repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stooping, expressing ideas by the spoken word, shouting to be heard above ambient noise, and walking. An incumbent must also possess the visual acuity to analyze data, work with color or depth perception, distinguish details and differences when observing people/places/things; operate motor vehicles, use a computer, and inspect for defects.

Work environment: The employee is subject to hazards associated with law enforcement work including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and with exposure to various hazards such as dangerous persons, loud noises, and hazardous spills with fumes, oils, gases, or flammable liquids. Work may subject employee to compliance with final OSHA Standards on bloodborne pathogens.