Job Description

Posting number: 272

Department: COUNTY POLICE

Job classification: Police Officer I/II

Posting type: Open

Categories: Law Enforcement

Summary

The Gaston County Police Department was created by Legislative Act on July 1, 1957 and began operation with a chief, a secretary and 23 sworn officers. At that time the Department was primarily responsible for providing police service to the unincorporated areas of the county. Since that time, however, additional duties and responsibilities have been given to the Gaston County Police. Today, the Department employs 153 sworn officers who provide police services to a community of approximately 90,000 residents and spanning an area of over 270 square miles that along with the unincorporated areas of Gaston County also includes providing police services to the incorporated towns of High Shoals and Spencer Mountain.

Examples of duties

The duties listed below are not all of the duties that may be assigned but are those that are considered as essential for an employee to perform.

• Performs various duties assigned including uniformed patrol of unincorporated areas of the County, traffic enforcement, accident investigations, preliminary investigations of crime scenes, undercover investigation and provides drug and crime prevention programs to individuals and public groups.
• Places individuals under arrest and testifies in court proceedings.
• Initiates and completes records of actions taken and enters data in manual and/or computerized police record management systems.

Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree is required. A course of study in Criminal Justice or other field of study related to police work is desired.

Applications will be accepted from candidates who are anticipating graduation. Candidates may be hired prior to graduation; however, permanent employee status will not be obtained until the degree is received.

All candidates must be at least twenty (20) years of age, have the ability to obtain a N.C. Drivers License without restrictions, and agree to relocate to Gaston County or one of the surrounding counties (Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Cleveland, or York County, SC) at the time of employment. The candidate selected must undergo and pass a drug screening test prior to employment.

Supplemental information

Pay scale

• $24.71 - $43.25 per hour (Police Officer I – Cadet)
• $27.45 - $48.04 per hour (Police Officer II – Sworn)
• Police, Lateral – Based on Years of Service + Bonus
• *Police Officers do have take-home vehicles*

Lateral Entry Incentive

• Any full-time Law Enforcement Officer, Detention Officer, Public Health Nurse, EMT or Paramedic hired into Gaston County’s Public Safety or Health Departments (Police, Sheriff, GEMS, Public Health), after 7/1/2026 with at least two years of full-time law enforcement, EMT/Paramedic, or professional nursing experience will receive lateral entry incentive pay in two installments. The first installment will be issued upon the completion of 6 months of continued service with Gaston County. The second installment will be issued upon completion of an additional one year of continued county service. The Lateral Entry Incentive Pay will be equal to the following amounts:
• $3,000 – EMTs and Public Health Nurses (two installments of $1,500)
• $4,000 – Detention Officers and Paramedics (two installments of $2,000)
• $5,000 – Police Officers and Deputy Sheriffs (two installments of $2,500)

The candidate selected must undergo and pass a drug screening test prior to employment. Prior to employment, applicants will be required to undergo an additional physical examination, psychological testing, thorough background evaluation and other required tests in order to be retained as a law enforcement officer.

In compliance with G.S. 153A-94.2 (b), if the position being filled requires an applicant for employment to work with children in any capacity, the County must require the applicant, if offered the position, to be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI. These checks must be performed in accordance with G.S.143B-1209.26, which authorizes the SBI to provide fingerprint-based state and national criminal record checks to cities and counties.