POLICE OFFICER TRAINEE (POLICE CADET)

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Understanding of basic law enforcement principles, procedures, and protocols.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system, including laws, regulations, and legal processes.
• Understanding the principles of community policing and the importance of building positive relationships with community members.
• Knowledge of emergency response protocols and procedures to effectively handle various situations.
• Understanding of ethical standards and professional conduct expected of law enforcement officers
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with colleagues, superiors, and members of the public.
• Ability to think critically and make sound decisions in challenging and fast-paced situations.
• Skill in identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and implementing effective solutions.
• Ability to resolve conflicts and de-escalate tense situations using diplomacy and negotiation skills.
• Good physical condition and endurance to perform essential job functions, including running, lifting, and engaging in physical confrontations if necessary.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and collaborate with colleagues to achieve common goals.
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing circumstances and unexpected challenges.
• Strong attention to detail to accurately document incidents, gather evidence, and follow established procedures.

Education/Experience/Physical Demands/Special Requirements/Additional Information EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Minimally qualified starting pay: $24.6635 per hr.

• High School Diploma or GED equivalency required

Special Requirements

• Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving history

• Must be 20 years of age

• Must be a US citizen

• Must have not been convicted of any felony or:

• a crime for which the punishment could have been imprisonment for more than two years; or

• a crime or unlawful act defined as a “Class B misdemeanor” within five years before the date of application for employment unless the individual intends to seek certification through the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission; or

• four or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as “Class B Misdemeanors,” regardless of the date of conviction; or

• four or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as “Class A misdemeanors,” except the trainee may be enrolled if the last conviction occurred more than two years before the date of enrollment; or

• a combination of four or more “Class A Misdemeanors” or “Class B Misdemeanors,” regardless of the date of conviction, unless the individual intends to seek certification through the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.

Additional Information The application and interviewing process will need to be completed entirely in order to qualify for enrollment in one of following participating colleges with BLET courses for 2026

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT The Physical Activity Of This Position Includes

• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet, legs and/or hands and arms. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceed those required for ordinary locomotion.
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceed what is needed for ordinary locomotion and the maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at the knee to come to rest on the knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the leg and spine.
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
• Pulling: Using the upper extremities to exert force to draw, drag, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture, by touching the skin, particularly the fingertips.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas using the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal spoken word levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when making fine adjustments on machined parts.
• Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

The Physical Requirements Of This Position Include

• Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, /or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects

The visual acuity requirements include color, depth perception, and field of vision: The work requires close visual acuity to perform one or more of the following:

• Preparing and analyzing data and figures
• Accounting
• Transcription
• Computer terminal

The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position include:

• The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: activities occur inside and outside.
• The worker is subject to extreme cold: temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
• The worker is subject to extreme heat: temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
• The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions affect the respiratory system of the skin: Fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.

Drug screening, criminal background, polygraph, psychological, and reference checks are required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The City of Gastonia is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that is inclusive, equitable, and welcoming to all. We value diversity and promise to honor your experiences, perspective, and unique identity. The City of Gastonia is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/H) High Deductible Health Plan with HSA

Dental

Vision

Life

Supplemental Insurance Plans

Pension (Local Government Employees' Retirement System)

401(k)

457

Short-term/Long-term Disability

Dependent Care Plan

Employee Assistance Program

On-Site Health Clinic

Employee Educational Assistance Program

Sick Leave (12 days per year)

Initial Employment Vacation: Starting at 12 days per year

Holidays (11 days per year)

Personal Day (1 day per year)

A comprehensive list of benefits can be found online at City of Gastonia Employee Benefits Handbook