Police Officer - BLET (Police Recruit)

The position of Police Officer (BLET) is a recruiting and training-level job used for persons hired to learn the duties of a Police Officer in the Town of Garner Police Department (GPD). Individuals classified as a Police Officer - BLET would meet all of the essential job functions and qualifications of the police officer role with the exception of Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification. Incumbents in this job class undergo a formal, comprehensive program in BLET. Upon successful completion of the BLET certification course, individuals would then be promoted to a role as a sworn Police Officer for the Town of Garner.

The current starting salary for sworn police officers is $56,349.28. However, salary incentives may be provided for the following credentials as determined by the Chief of Police:

• Prior sworn law enforcement experience (2.5% per year) - as determined by the Chief
• Specialized Skills/Experience (2%) - as determined by the Chief
• Certified Instructor (2%)
• Military experience (2%)
• Associates (1%), Bachelors (2%), or Masters (3%) degree
• Foreign language fluency (2%)

Failure to graduate from BLET within the prescribed training period could be cause for termination (and may require repayment of BLET costs).

Examples of Duties

The following are defined as the "essential functions" of the police recruit with the Garner Police Department:

• Attend and successfully complete the BLET certification course at an accredited and Town of Garner Police Department-approved educational institution in the timeframe required;
• Effectively and professionally communicate, verbally and in written form with BLET staff and Town of Garner Police Department supervisory staff;
• Represent the Town of Garner Police Department in a professional manner to the BLET staff and others;
• Assist with needs and tasks of the Town of Garner Police Department as time permits;
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must:

• be at least 20 years of age by December 1, 2025.
• have a high school diploma (or equivalent) and a valid driver's license.
• be available to attend BLET at Wake Technical Community College from June 9, 2025, through mid-December 2025.

NOTE: If you are currently:

• a sworn law enforcement officer in North Carolina, or;
• are currently North Carolina BLET certified, or;
• enrolled in a North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification program,

please do not apply for this position and instead submit an application for Police Officer at https://www.garnernc.gov/jobs.

Additional Information

Selected candidates must be available to participate in an Information Session, a standard police recruit written evaluation(POST), a physical fitness evaluation (POPAT) on Thursday, April 3, 2025, and an oral panel interview on Friday, April 4, 2025. Candidates issued a conditional offer will be required to submit to a background investigation, truth verification exam, drug screening, medical exam, psychological exam, and an interview with the Police Chief.

The anticipated date of hire will be Monday, June 2, 2025.

Basic Law Enforcement Training begins Monday, June 9, 2025, and concludes in mid-December 2025.

PLEASE NOTE:

1. As part of the application process for Police Recruit, you are required to fill out the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, Personal History Statement (Form F-3). This form is lengthy and you should allow plenty of time to complete it and have it notarized. Notary Public services are available at no charge at the Garner Police Department, Garner Town Hall, and many banks and credit unions. You will also need to complete two release forms. Finally, you will need to complete the "History of Prior Applications with Criminal Justice Agencies" form.

These four documents must be received by the Garner Police Department within 7 days of submitting the employment application, but no later than 5:00 PM on March 28, 2025.

You may scan and email copies of these completed forms to Corporal Gomes jgomes@garnernc.gov.

Click this link: Application Supplement for Police Officer (BLET)

or copy and paste this text into your web browser: https://www.garnernc.gov/home/showdocument?id=7002&isPublished=False&t=638761654612186263

Additional instructions for submitting these three documents and the same link to a PDF file containing them can be found in the supplemental question section of the application. Applicants who do not fill out these forms will automatically be disqualified from consideration.

2. Candidates who are issued a conditional offer will be required to submit the following documentation within a few days of the issuance the conditional offer. Candidates are encouraged to begin collecting this documentation immediately. This documentation will not be returned to candidates.

• Copy of Birth Certificate, Driver's License and Social Security Card
• Certified Criminal Records Checks from all counties in which you have lived in the last 10 years. If you attended high school within those 10 years and the high school was located in a different county than your residence, you must include that county's criminal history check as well (DCI printout is not acceptable)
• Copy of full DD 214 (if applicable)
• Certified Driving History from all states in which you have lived in the past 10 years (DCI printout is not acceptable)
• Copy of your High School Diploma or GED
• Any other documentation you deem important as part of this process

If you have any questions, please contact Cpl. Gomes at 919-772-8810 ext. 6067 or jgomes@garnernc.gov.

The estimated time of the process will take approximately 6-8 weeks.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ADDENDUM

North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission

Minimum Standards for Certification 12 NCAC 09B .0101 and 12 NCAC 09B .0111

Please note that the standards listed below are the Commission-mandated minimum requirements for employment as a law enforcement officer. Individual agencies may require higher standards.

Every law enforcement officer employed by an agency in North Carolina shall:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be at least 20 years of age
• be a high school graduate or have passed the General Educational Development Test indicating high school equivalency
• be of good moral character
• Have successfully completed Basic Law Enforcement Training and passed the BLET state exam.
• satisfactorily complete the employing agency's in-service firearms training program
• not have committed or been convicted of:
  • a 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 the five-year period prior to the date of application for employment; 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 applicant may be employed if the last conviction occurred more than two years prior to the date of application for employment.
• have been fingerprinted and a search made of local, state, and national files to disclose any criminal record.
• have been examined and certified by a licensed physician or surgeon to meet the physical requirements necessary to properly fulfill the officer's particular responsibilities and shall have produced a negative result on a drug screen.
• have been administered a psychological screening examination by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist licensed to practice in North Carolina or by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist authorized to practice in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Armed Forces within one year prior to employment by the employing agency to determine the officer's mental and emotional suitability to properly fulfill the responsibilities of the position.
• have been interviewed personally by the Department head or a representative to determine such things as the applicant's appearance, demeanor, attitude, and ability to communicate.
• notify the Standards Division of all criminal offenses which the officer is arrested for or charged with, pleads no contest to, pleads guilty to, or is found guilty of. This shall include all criminal offenses except minor traffic offenses and shall specifically include any offense of Driving Under The Influence (DUI) or Driving While Impaired (DWI). A minor traffic offense is defined as an offense where the maximum punishment allowable by law is 60 days or less.

Documentation of Criminal Charges

When an applicant has a criminal record, he/she must list ALL charges, regardless of the disposition or the date of the charge, on the Personal History Statement and the Report of Appointment / Application for Certification. Even if a charge was dismissed by the court or the district attorney, it still must be listed under the Criminal Offense Record section of these forms.

Every charge listed must be accompanied by true/certified copies of the warrant for arrest, citation/magistrate's order, etc., and the court disposition/judgment. This documentation may be obtained from the Clerk of Court's Office in the county in which the applicant was criminally charged.

Failure to list ALL charges may result in denial of certification or suspension/revocation of an existing certification.