Police Officer

Performs general duty law enforcement work to protect life and property in the Town. This specification is applicable for the class series of Police Officer I, II, Master Police Officer and Senior Police Officer. The Town’s career ladder policy determines each employee’s level. Under the career ladder program the duties performed do not determine an employee’s classification. That is determined by meeting the criteria set forth in the career ladder policy.

In this generic class description examples are given for officers assigned to patrol and examples for officers assigned to investigations. The examples are not all inclusive of all duties performed. Officers in these classifications may be assigned to specialty units such as traffic enforcement, narcotics, school resource, etc. Some examples of duties in specialty areas have been included but the examples are intended to be representative and not exhaustive.

Candidates must be prepared for schedule adjustments based on the needs of the department. Hybrid work schedules include the possibility of permanent night shifts.

An employee in this class performs a full range of general law enforcement duties. Work includes patrolling the Town during an assigned shift in a police car or on foot, preventing, detecting and investigating disturbances and crime, performing traffic control work, performing complex investigative work and executing related assignments. Work also may include assignment to any division including investigations, juvenile, drug enforcement, traffic, school resource officer, DARE officer, K-9, bicycle, or any other special assignment.

Employees must exercise judgement, initiative and calm control when performing duties, more difficult problems are normally carried out under the direction of a Police Sergeant assigned to the same shift. Work involves frequent public contact, which requires tact, firmness and decisiveness. Work is performed in accordance with departmental policy and state and federal law, supplemented with specific directions from superior officers.

Employees are subject to hazards associated with law enforcement work including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as dangerous persons, loud noises, and hazardous spills with fumes, oils, gases, or flammable liquids. Work is performed under the direct supervision of a Police Sergeant and is evaluated through observation, discussion and review of reports for adherence to laws, department procedures, and proper judgement.

Employee Values:
Employees of the Town of Wake Forest are expected to uphold and exhibit the Town’s shared employee values of caring, commitment, character, and collaboration.

• Patrols streets in a police car or on foot; 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; report 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; completes calls by determining true nature of the situation and taking whatever legal or persuasive action is warranted.
• Investigates traffic accidents; issues traffic citation; directs traffic and participates in other emergency operation activities.
• Performs investigations of accidents or possible crimes through observation, questioning witnesses, and gathering physical evidence; performs investigative tasks, arrests and processes criminal suspects; presents findings in court.
• Issues citations for violation of traffic regulations, serves warrants; apprehends and processes criminal suspects and transports to County magistrate and/or County detention facilities.
• Regulates and directs vehicular traffic at busy times at local schools and when traffic signal malfunctions or accidents require.
• Performs crime scene investigations on an assigned shift.
• Operates a two-way radio to receive instructions and information from or to report information to police headquarters; maintains vehicle, weapons and other equipment in standards working order.
• Monitors adherence to parking ordinance and issues tickets for violations.
• Prepares records and reports of activities.
• Advises the public on laws and local ordinances; serves papers as needed.
• Assists stranded…