Job Description

This job posting expires at 11:59PM on December 30, 2026. No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM on December 30, 2026.

Job Title: Buncombe County Sheriff's Office Deputy - School Resource Officer (SRO)

Department: Sheriff

External Hiring Range: $27.23 - $31.08

Posted Internally and Externally

Purpose of the position:

An employee in this position is responsible for performing specialized law enforcement work as a uniformed patrol deputy to protect lives, property and rights of citizens of the county.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Patrol an assigned area of the County; inspects troublesome areas and checks security of business establishments; answers complaint calls and assists in investigating crimes and disturbances; interviews witnesses; gathers evidence; interrogates suspects and makes arrests; prepares investigation reports.
• Serve legal papers such as summons, warrants, capiases, commitment papers, and special court orders; uses directories and other means to locate designated parties; explains briefly the meaning of papers and makes arrests when necessary.
• Appear in court as a witness to give testimony.
• Cooperate with law enforcement officers of other governmental units in making investigations and arrests.
• Assist with community outreach

School Resource Officer Duties:

• Handle all calls for service on the school grounds during school hours whether dispatched by the Sheriff’s Office or by school officials. The SRO reserves the right, after consultation with Sheriff’s Office supervisors, to request assistance from other officers and/or divisions from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, or officers from other law enforcement agencies as needed.
• Interact with students as often as possible by taking a high visibility role during such times as lunch, class changes, bus loading areas, student drop off and other student events.
• Complete and submit all reports and forms required by the Sheriff’s Office and by the school in order to insure a successful operation of the SRO program.
• The School Resource Officer shall serve at all times as a role model to students by demonstrating appropriate attitudes, behavior, courtesy, and respect. The Officer must understand the importance of mentoring students and serving the students as well as the school administration.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Typical Work Schedule: Adheres to assigned work schedule as outlined in the Department and County attendance policies and procedures.

*Note: This position has been identified as an emergency essential position and as such employees in this position may be needed to work, including after-hours, weekends and during a public emergency (to include but not limited to: floods, ice storms, disease outbreak, terrorist attack, etc).

Supervision Received:

Receives direction regarding general objectives of assigned work, operates within division and agency policy using independent judgement in achieving assigned objectives; independently determines best methods and sequence to achieve assigned tasks.

Supervisory/Leadership Responsibilities

None

Decision Making and Problem Solving:

Problems may be of a more ambiguous level requiring a range of possible solutions. Critical thinking skills and the ability to multi-task are required. Decisions are based on knowledge of policies and procedures, but also require working within the known strategic goals of the department or organization. May develop tactics to deal with political/people or mechanical/technological problems.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of modern law enforcement practices and procedures
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws pertaining to law enforcement work
• Knowledge of the locations of streets, roads, highways and the geography and socioeconomic characteristics of the county
• Knowledge of the content and purpose of legal papers and the practices involved in serving them
• Some knowledge of the standard practices, materials, techniques, and equipment associated with the Patrol Division
• Skill in the use of firearms and other law enforcement equipment
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency and routine situations and to adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action
• Ability to apply interpretation of laws to specific situations
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports
• Ability to present court testimony effectively
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Organization Conformance Standards for all positions:

• Interact with other employees, customers and partners in an effective manner, with professionalism and cultural competency; work effectively and efficiently as a team contributor including interacting, communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Maintain knowledge of the agency organizational rules, policies, procedures, services and mission.
• Plan, prioritize, and organize work effectively to produce quality work with measurable results and within identified deadlines.
• Function in highly stressful circumstances and demonstrate the ability to adapt to changing priorities, deadlines and directions; ability to maintain calm demeanor while dealing with stressful situations and customers.
• Conduct business in an ethical manner at all times while maintaining a high level of professionalism and confidentiality; coordinate work efforts with other employees and organizations to accomplish a common task.
• Safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with ADAAA, FMLA and other federal, state, and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with ADAAA, FMLA and other federal state and local standards.
• Ability to successfully pass a drug screen and criminal background check.

Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire):

High School diploma or equivalent. Must be 21 years of age.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:

Certification as a law enforcement officer in accordance with the North Carolina Sheriffs' Training and Standards Commission. Possession of a valid driver’s license issued by the State of North Carolina.

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including firearms, restraint devices, two-way radios, etc. Must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 25 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Work may involve walking, standing, running and physical confrontation. Physical demand requirements are for Heavy Work.

During a State of Emergency, and at the discretion of the County Manager, county employees may be called in for service. This includes both essential and non-essential personnel.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by an employee assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities and the County reserves the right to amend or change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary. This job description does not create a contract of employment.

Employees who are regularly engaged in law enforcement activities will be paid overtime in a manner consistent with 29 U.S.C. 207(k) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. By way of example, newly hired sworn deputies who are employed to regularly engage in law enforcement activities should receive a notification advising them of a 14-day work period, a 14-day pay period running from every other Friday, and that pay at a time-and-a-half rate will begin after the employee has worked their 86th hour within the work period.

In accordance with 29 C.FR. 553.21, Section 7(o) at (o)(2)(A)(ii), In the case of employees described in clause (A)(ii) hired prior to April 15, 1986, the regular practice in effect on April 15, 1986, with respect to compensatory time off for such employees in lieu of the receipt of overtime compensation, shall constitute an agreement or understanding under such clause (A)(ii). Except as provided in the previous sentence, the provision of compensatory time off to such employees for hours worked after April 14, 1986, shall be in accordance with this subsection.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition, the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.