Police Officer

Salary : $49,153.00 - $83,182.00 Annually
Location : City of Washington, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 1900403
Department: Police
Opening Date: 07/22/2026
FLSA: Non-Exempt


Job Description
Click on the following link to download the Police Release & Disclosure:


This form must be SIGNED, NOTARIZED, and ATTACHED to your application.

Summary To perform routine, non-routine and emergency law enforcement work including patrolling the City, responding to service calls, and performing investigations. Performs responsible protective service work involving a variety of general or support duty police assignments as a member of the City's Police Department. This employee is highly visible in crime areas and must be aggressive in preventing crime. The employee is subject to the usual hazards of law enforcement work including the potential for physical harm. Work is performed under general supervision and is evaluated for effectiveness, visibility, compliance with standards, public support, and attainment of performance objectives.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

• Patrols high and low crime areas; talks to people in the community; checks security of buildings and residences; apprehends offenders
• Investigates traffic accidents; uses measurement devices and eye witness accounts to determine violators; assists motorists in filling out or exchanging insurance information
• Maintains readiness of police vehicle with fuel and air pressure
• Serves criminal papers; locates people under indictment; serves warrants, orders for arrest, and criminal summons
• Observes and follows people violating traffic laws, vehicle registrations and inspections laws, and other traffic offenses; enforces speed limits
• Conducts criminal investigations by gathering information, processing crime scenes, and interviewing witnesses
• Testifies in Court
• Transports arrested personnel to a correctional facility
• Provides field training and guidance in police work to less senior police officers
• Responds to domestic situations; attempts to resolve a conflict by recommending solutions
• Performs other related law enforcement work as required

Required Education and or Experience

High school diploma or general education degree (GED).

Special Requirements

• Valid N.C. driver's license and acceptable driving record.
• Basic Law Enforcement Certification (BLET) as a law enforcement officer by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission (required to be continuously employed)

Preferred Requirement: Associate degree or equivalent from two-year College and prior law enforcement experience.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, and procedures
• Knowledge of departmental standard operating policies and procedures, and federal, state, and local laws and ordinances
• Knowledge of practices, materials, techniques, and equipment pertinent to job assignment
• Knowledge of the City's geography and location of streets, homes, businesses, and buildings
• Knowledge of criminal human behavior when confronted with difficult situations
• Knowledge of effective communication practices including focused listening
• Knowledge of English grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary
• Knowledge of the operation and uses of personal computers including word processing and database software
• Skill in the use of firearms and other authorized law enforcement equipment
• Ability and willingness to act quickly and properly in emergency situations
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, and the general public
• Ability to express thoughts clearly both orally and in writing
• Ability to work varied shifts and assignments including undercover activity
• Ability to work independently without close supervision and as a member of a team
• Ability to take charge of emergency situations until relieved by a law enforcement superior
• Ability to develop a positive public image, exercise judgment in all situations, and demonstrate a positive attitude

Physical Requirements

Work in this class is defined as 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. When apprehending suspects who resist arrest, work is deemed as heavy work requiring the exertion of 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Vocal communication is required to express or exchange ideas or other information between individuals or groups. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Visual acuity is required for depth perception, color perception, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, use of measuring devices, operation of machines and motor vehicles, determining accuracy and thoroughness of work and observing surroundings. The employee must be able to demonstrate continued physical fitness to withstand the rigors of a law enforcement officer and potential physical confrontation with assailants and/or foot chases for apprehensions. The employee may be required to use deadly force to subdue an assailant or to protect themselves or others

Working Conditions

The employee is exposed to both inside and outside working conditions in all types of weather from extremes of cold and heat to rain/snow/ice as well as varying terrain from streets, dense foliage, dark buildings, and water. The employee may be exposed to noise which would cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level. Workplace conditions include operating vehicles for extended periods of time, working varied hours and shifts, and confronting violent persons many of whom have criminal records with little to no respect for law enforcement or who may be a threat to themselves or others. Work requires the application of safety precautions and wearing of protective clothing, gloves, and body armor designed to minimize exposure to blood-borne pathogens, communicable diseases, and bodily harm
Health, Dental and Vision Insurance:

The City of Washington provides, at no cost , employee only coverage for Medical (High-Deductible with H.S.A), Vision and Dental insurance. Coverage is available for all regular status full-time employees scheduled to work 40 hours. Employees may also choose to cover eligible dependents. Benefits begin on the 1st day of the month following 30 days of employment.

Paid Life Insurance

The City provides $15,000 of term life insurance and $15,000 of accident death insurance to all full-time employees at no cost. Employees may elect additional coverage, including dependent coverage, at their own cost.

Employer Paid Leave:

Paid Vacation: Full-Time employees earn 8 hours of vacation leave per month. Leave accruals increase based on the number of years of City service. (Ex: at 5 years increases to 10 hours per month)

Paid Holidays: The City of Washington observes 13 paid holidays per calendar year. The approved holidays are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, 2 days at Thanksgiving and 3 days at Christmas.

Sick: Full-Time employees earn 8 hours of sick leave per month (Fire Personnel earn 14.15 hours). Sick leave hours accumulate without limits and may be used toward credible service upon retirement from the NC Local Government Retirement System.

Retirement:

The City assists our employees in securing their financial future during retirement by participating in the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, administered by the State of North Carolina. Regular status employees, scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week, become members in the retirement system upon employment. As a member of this system, employees are required to contribute 6 percent of their gross salary on a tax-deferred basis.

Deferred Compensation Plans:

To further assist employees in saving for retirement, the City offers two supplemental retirement savings programs. These programs offer employees an opportunity to save a portion of their salary on a tax-deferred basis to supplement their retirement benefit. The programs offered are 401(k) Supplemental Retirement Income Plan and the 457 Plan through Prudential.

Cafeteria Plan / Supplemental Benefits:

Realizing that each employee may have different insurance needs, the City offers its employees the opportunity to supplement City-provided benefits by selecting from the benefits listed below. These benefits are offered at employee's expense through payroll deduction:
• Supplemental Term Life Insurance
• Cancer Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Whole Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (Pre-tax basis)

Death Benefit:

After one year as a contributing member of the Retirement System, a death benefit is provided that is equal to the highest 12 months' salary in a row during the 24 months before death, no less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000. There is no cost to the employee for these benefits.

Pay Periods/Direct Deposit:

City employees are paid bi-weekly, every other Friday through direct deposit.

Full benefit details may be viewed here: