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Qualifications
The Burlington Police Department prides itself on the quality of its officers, so we have incredibly high standards for the individuals we hire. Please review the qualifications and disqualifications to ensure you meet our standards for hire.
Physical Requirements:
- Applicants must be at least 20 years of age and possess a valid North Carolina driver's license.
- All applicants must be in good physical condition and therefore able to perform assigned duties. Applicants will need to pass a rigid physical examination.
- All applicants must have normal vision or both eyes correct to current minimum standards in each eye, including normal color and depth perception. Normal hearing ability is required.
Education Requirements:
- All applicants must be a high school graduate or have possession of a high school equivalency certificate issued by the N.C. State Board of Education or an adult high school diploma issued by the N.C. Department of Community Colleges.
- Basic Law Enforcement Training Certificate (BLET) is not a requirement
- Completion of advanced degrees preferred.
Character and Morals:
- All applicants must be of good moral character, clean habits, and be free from evidence of intemperance.
- All applicants will undergo a background investigation and will cover all factors relating to the acceptability of the applicant.
Listed below are attributes that will automatically disqualify any application we receive. Applicants with any of these attributes may not reapply within the same application process and lateral applicants may not apply again for twelve (12) months.
Crime:
- Any felony convictions
- Any conviction for a crime for which the punishment could have been more than two (2) years.
- A Conviction of one (1) or more crimes or unlawful acts as defined as Class B misdemeanors within the preceding five (5) years.
- Conviction of two or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as Class A misdemeanors within the preceding five years.
- Four or more crimes or unlawful acts defined at any time in life 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 an application for employment.
- Four or more crimes or unlawful defined as Class B misdemeanors by the NC Training and Standards Commission regardless of the date of the conviction.
Personal History:
- Dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces.
- Behavior unsuitable or inappropriate for a police officer as determined by the chief of police.
Domestic Violence:
- Any individual that has been named a respondent and/or defendant in an active domestic violence protective order (50B Order) issued by a judge of a competent jurisdiction. All prior 50B orders will be evaluated.
Residence Requirement:
- The applicant does not need to be a resident of North Carolina upon application. After employment, officers are required to maintain a residence within the department's jurisdiction or be able to report to work from their residence within one hour.
Financial:
- A demonstrated history of financial irresponsibility or current unsatisfactory credit rating as determined by the chief of police or designee, for example, unsatisfied judgments, arrears, child support, default on student loans, or failure to file income tax.
Application Process:
- Mis-stated or false information during the application
- Refusal to complete any step in the application process
- Failing the entry-level written exam, physical abilities test, extensive background check, panel interview, or the drug and medical screenings
- An unsuitable psychological screening
- Anything from the NC CJ TS Commission
Drug Use:
- Possession or use of marijuana or a derivative thereof within twelve months immediately preceding the date of application.
- Use of synthetic or designer drugs, steroids, opiates, pills, heroin, cocaine, crack, LDS, or methamphetamine in the last ten years (does not include prescription medication).
- Possession with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver at any time in life.
- Other drug usage is evaluated for the extent of use and how recently it was used.
Driving:
- The suspension or revocation of driving privileges in any jurisdiction in the United States within the past two years for any reason other than failure to pay fines and costs. All others will be evaluated.
- A DUI or DWI conviction within the past five years.
- Refusal to take a Chemical Analysis Test as required by the implied consent of law of any jurisdiction in the United States within five years immediately preceding the date of application.
- Four or more convictions of moving violations within the preceding seven years.
If none of these disqualifications apply to you, and you are still interested in seeking employment with the Burlington Police Department then please proceed with the application process. We are excited to welcome you to the team!
Adam Snow
Sergeant, Training & Professional Standards
asnow@burlingtonnc.gov
Phone: 336-222-7342
Angela Satterfield
Police Hiring and Recruitment Specialist
asatterfield@burlingtonnc.gov
Phone: 336-229-3535