Are you ready to embark on a career dedicated to serving and protecting your community? The City of Gastonia Police Department values integrity, professionalism, and excellence, and we're looking for motivated individuals who share these principles to join our team as Cadets. As Cadets, individuals gain the invaluable knowledge and experience needed to be successful law enforcement officers while also earning a base salary.
Start your law enforcement career while earning a full-time salary. Our Police Cadet Program allows you to get paid while completing the training required to become a sworn officer. This is your opportunity to build a meaningful career in public service - without waiting until after academy graduation to begin earning.
The City of Gastonia Police Cadet Program is a trainee position designed for individuals interested in law enforcement who have not yet completed Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET). As a Cadet, you will be sponsored to attend BLET — the required academy certification for North Carolina law enforcement officers — while receiving pay and City benefits.
BLET provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for entry-level employment as law enforcement officers with the state, county, or municipal governments. During BLET, 36 topics and methods of instruction are covered such as criminal, juvenile, civil, traffic, and alcohol beverage laws; investigative, patrol, custody, and court procedures; emergency responses; and ethics and community relations. Upon completing the BLET course and the training program, Cadets will become Police Officers I, II, or III based on their education.
Learn more about BLET by visiting one of our partners, Gaston College, by clicking here.
While in BLET, individuals must be able to perform or have knowledge of each function satisfactorily and be able to attend classes regularly, as attendance is mandatory. The following aspects are typical attributes individuals need to successfully pass BLET courses:
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Knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, and procedures; Some knowledge of practices, materials, techniques, and equipment pertinent to job assignment
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Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; Ability to read and write at a 12th grade level
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Ability to meet and speak with members of the community with courtesy and tactfulness; Ability and willingness to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, and the general public
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Ability to use computer and applicable software applications; learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system
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Ability to analyze situations accurately and use sound judgment in selecting quick, effective, and responsible courses of action; Ability to and willingness to act quickly and properly in emergencies
- Understanding of basic law enforcement principles, procedures, and protocols.
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Knowledge of the criminal justice system, including laws, regulations, and legal processes.
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Understanding the principles of community policing and the importance of building positive relationships with community members.
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Knowledge of emergency response protocols and procedures to effectively handle various situations.
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Understanding of ethical standards and professional conduct expected of law enforcement officers
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Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with colleagues, superiors, and members of the public.
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Ability to think critically and make sound decisions in challenging and fast-paced situations.
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Skill in identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and implementing effective solutions.
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Ability to resolve conflicts and de-escalate tense situations using diplomacy and negotiation skills.
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Good physical condition and endurance to perform essential job functions, including running, lifting, and engaging in physical confrontations if necessary.
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Ability to work effectively as part of a team and collaborate with colleagues to achieve common goals.
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Flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing circumstances and unexpected challenges.
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Strong attention to detail to accurately document incidents, gather evidence, and follow established procedures.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Minimally qualified starting pay: $24.6635 per hr.
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High School Diploma or GED equivalency required
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS-
Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving history
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Must be 20 years of age
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Must be a US citizen
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Must have not been convicted of any felony or:
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a crime for which the punishment could have been imprisonment for more than two years; or
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a crime or unlawful act defined as a “Class B misdemeanor” within five years before the date of application for employment unless the individual intends to seek certification through the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission; or
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four or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as “Class B Misdemeanors,” regardless of the date of conviction; or
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four or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as “Class A misdemeanors,” except the trainee may be enrolled if the last conviction occurred more than two years before the date of enrollment; or
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a combination of four or more “Class A Misdemeanors” or “Class B Misdemeanors,” regardless of the date of conviction, unless the individual intends to seek certification through the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The application and interviewing process will need to be completed entirely in order to qualify for enrollment in one of following participating colleges with BLET courses for 2026
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT
The Physical Activity of this position includes:-
Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet, legs and/or hands and arms. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceed those required for ordinary locomotion.
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Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceed what is needed for ordinary locomotion and the maintenance of body equilibrium.
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Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
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Kneeling: Bending legs at the knee to come to rest on the knee or knees.
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Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the leg and spine.
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Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
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Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
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Standing: Particularly for sustained periods.
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Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
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Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
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Pulling: Using the upper extremities to exert force to draw, drag, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion.
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Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
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Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
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Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
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Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture, by touching the skin, particularly the fingertips.
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Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas using the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
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Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal spoken word levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when making fine adjustments on machined parts.
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Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
The physical requirements of this position include:-
Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, /or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects
The visual acuity requirements include color, depth perception, and field of vision:
The work requires close visual acuity to perform one or more of the following:
- Preparing and analyzing data and figures
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Accounting
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Transcription
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Computer terminal
The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position include:-
The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: activities occur inside and outside.
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The worker is subject to extreme cold: temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
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The worker is subject to extreme heat: temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
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The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions affect the respiratory system of the skin: Fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.
Drug screening, criminal background, polygraph, psychological, and reference checks are required.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
The City of Gastonia is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that is inclusive, equitable, and welcoming to all. We value diversity and promise to honor your experiences, perspective, and unique identity.
The City of Gastonia is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/H) 