Police Associate

Position: POLICE ASSOCIATE
Salary: $19.69 - $25.11 Hourly
Location : Columbia, SC
Job Type: Part-Time
Job Number:
Department: COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Opening Date: 02/17/2026
Closing Date: 3/3/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: 108

Description
This position performs ancillary law enforcement related duties to ensure the strict enforcement of state and local laws relating to public safety and welfare, performs related law enforcement work as required; serves as a liaison between departments; provides professional, courteous customer service at all times; and performs related duties as assigned. This incumbent works according to set procedures under close supervision.

The work is considered medium-to-heavy in nature and involves walking, standing, running, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and lifting, pushing or pulling objects, and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a recurring basis and 50 to 100 pounds of force on an occasional basis. Must be able to defend one's self from assault and to restrain suspects of varying weights.

The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential job functions: balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, fingering, handling, hearing, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stooping, talking, visual acuity, and walking.

Work environment may involve exposure to bright/dim light, dusts and pollen, extreme heat and/or cold, wet or humid conditions, extreme noise levels, animals/wildlife, fumes and/or noxious odors, traffic, electrical shock, heights, disease/pathogens, toxic/caustic chemicals, explosives, violence; and is dynamic that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs..
Essential Job Functions

• Serves as a liaison between departments
• Performs investigations;
• Provides a variety of information to the public regarding department procedures, policies and methods
• Assists in entering, preparing and processing department records
• Maintains various lists and logs
• Compiles data for records and reports as requested
• Collects, receipts and accounts for various fees and fines received
• Performs other routine clerical work, including but not limited to copying documents, filing documents and retrieving files, sending and receiving faxes, entering and retrieving computer data, assembling materials, running errands, etc.
• Receives and responds to inquiries and requests for assistance from other City departments, agencies, organizations, professionals and the public
• Enforces all federal and state laws and City ordinances relating to public safety and welfare; performs all duties in compliance with applicable policies, procedures, laws, regulations and standards of safety
• Assists with the service of warrants, summonses, subpoenas, civil and other official papers
• Assists with criminal investigations. Assists in interviewing witnesses, complainants and victims; interrogating suspects; gathering physical evidence and preserving it for court; providing case follow-up as needed
• Administers first aid and assists EMTs at emergency scenes as necessary
• Performs routine service duties, including but not limited to providing escort service for the protection of persons and/or property, assisting stranded motorists, providing funeral escort, directing traffic, providing security and crowd control at special events, etc.
• Prepares and submits detailed work records and reports;
• Receives and responds to citizen inquiries, complaints and requests for assistance
• Participates in neighborhood and community relations programs; attends neighborhood meetings to enhance police/community relationships and to address safety and quality of life issues
• Attends periodic training sessions and attends seminars and meetings to keep abreast of current law enforcement trends; maintains required physical fitness and required level of proficiency in the use of firearms
• Works under stressful, high-risk conditions
• Remains on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week, for emergency response
• Performs general clerical work as required, including but not limited to preparing reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, copying and filing documents, sending and receiving faxes, answering the telephone, etc.;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, Business Administration or closely related field (preferred), or high school diploma and five (5) years of relevant experience;

• Valid South Carolina Class "D" Driver's License;

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of addition and subtraction, multiplication and division and/or calculating ratios, rates and percentages;
• Ability to summarize, tabulate or format data or information in accordance with a prescribed schema or plan to facilitate the identification and extraction of useful information;
• Ability to speak or signal to people to convey or exchange…