POLICE Department

NEW TO POLICING?

Starting Salary & Benefits

Salary (beginning January 8, 2024):

Police Officer: $53,645.12-$88,514.45
Master Police Officer: $67,577.41-$111,502.72
Sergeant: $78,822.29-$130,056.77

 

Benefits:

  • Career Development (Currently 1.5% per fiscal year for completing plan requirements)
  • Bilingual pay increase (5% after test)
  • 5% 401K contribution paid for by the city
  • NC State Law Enforcement Officers Retirement
  • Paid training opportunities
  • Paid vacation (Initial annual accrual of approximately 100 hours)
  • Paid sick leave (annual accrual of approximately 100 hours)
  • Up to thirteen paid holidays including a personal holiday to use when you want
  • Access to Wellness Center for free or low cost medical care
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Secondary employment opportunities
  • Health, Dental, Vision, Accident and Life Insurance
  • Take home car for officers that live within 30 miles of the police department
  • Two separate on-site department fitness facilities
  • Uniforms and equipment provided by the department

Qualifications

The following are requirements to become a CONCORD Police Officer:

  • Must be a United States citizen - U.S. born or Naturalized
  • Must be at least 20 years of age
  • Must not have been convicted of a felony
  • Must not have been convicted of a Class I or Class II misdemeanor within the past five years
  • Must have or be able to obtain a valid North Carolina driver's license
  • Must have a high school diploma or equivalent

PREFERRED BUT NOT MANDATORY:

  • Prior Law Enforcement Experience
  • BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) Certification or Active Enrollment
  • College Degree
  • Bilingual 
  • Military Experience (Click here for information about BLET equivalent courses for members of the armed forces)

The Hiring Process

Online Application

Individuals who are interested in applying for the position of police officer must submit an online application through the City of Concord's online application portal here. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. There is no deadline for submission.  

Completion of the North Carolina Personal History Statement (F-3)

In order to determine eligibility for a face to face interview, applicants must complete the N.C. Personal History Statement (F-3) which is required by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission.  The F-3 must be completed online at www.ncf3.comPrinted F-3 forms will not be accepted.

Applicant Pre-Screening

Once the initial application and the F-3 form are completed, the pre-screening of applicants will be conducted which will include:

 

  • Complete Criminal History
  • Complete Driving History
  • Credit Check
  • BRAINS Assessment

 

Interview with Recruiting Sergeant

Applicants who successfully make it through the pre-screening phase will be contacted to schedule an interview with the department's recruiting sergeant or a background investigator based on the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission background questionnaire (form F-8).The following will also be completed during this interview:

 

  • Fingerprints
  • Photograph

 

Oral Board

After the initial interview, qualified applicants will be invited to participate in an oral review board conducted by members of the Concord Police Department's command staff.  This is a question and answer as well as scenario based interview.  At least three captains and or lieutenants from the department will participate in this board.

Background Investigation

A thorough background investigation will be completed on each selected applicant to include interviewing friends, past and present employers and coworkers, family members and neighbors.  This will also include a review of the answers provided both on the F-3 and on the F-8, to include criminal history, credit and financial history, employment history, and a review of all social media accounts.

Chief's Interview

Once approved, qualified applicants will then have the opportunity to meet with Chief Hughes for a face to face interview.  After this interview, Chief Hughes will decide if the the applicant moves into the conditional phase of the process.

Conditional Offer of Employment

After meeting with Chief Hughes, the applicant will then meet with the recruiting sergeant where he/she will sign a conditional offer of employment.  The applicant's salary will be determined based on several factors to include education, prior experience, and miltary service. Upon agreeing to the conditional offer of employment, qualified applicants will move to the final three phases of the process: Polygraph, Psychological Exam, and Medical Exam (to include a drug screening).

Polygraph

A polygraph will be conducted by the department's polygraph examiner.  This is a review of all answers you have given to questions throughout the entire hiring process.

Medical / Drug Screening

As required by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission, a Medical History Statement (Form F-1) and a Medical Examination Report (F-2) will be completed. This exam will also include a screening for illegal and prescription drugs.

Psychological Examination

Applicants will participate in a psychological examination administered by a licensed psychologist.

Official Offer of Employment

Candidates who have successfully completed every step of the process may be offered a position with the Concord Police Department.  The official offer of employment will come from Human Resources with a starting salary and mutually agreed upon start date.

YOU ARE HIRED!

Congratulations! You are now ready to BE THE CHANGE!

*Appropriate dress is required for each stage of the process.  Applicants who dress inappropriately may be removed from the process.

ALREADY AN OFFICER?

STARTING SALARY & BENEFITS

LATERAL ENTRY

A qualifying agency is defined as “any law enforcement agency whose job functions closely resemble that of an officer with the Concord Police Department.” Corrections, detention (sworn or non-sworn), probation/parole, security and dispatching (sworn or non-sworn) do not qualify as prior law enforcement experience for the purposes of a lateral entry. If a determination is to be made as to whether a law enforcement agency qualifies for lateral entry, that decision will rest with the Chief of Police. Only full-time sworn experience will be accepted.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

LATERAL (in state) TRANSFER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

(a)  A law enforcement officer with general certification from either the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission or the Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission may transfer from one law enforcement agency to another law enforcement agency with less than a 12 month break in law enforcement service. Prior to employing the officer, the employing agency shall:

(1) verify the certification of the officer with the Criminal Justice Standards Division or the Sheriffs' Standards Division;

(2) submit a new fingerprint check to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, in compliance with the requirements set forth in 12 NCAC 09B .0103(a) and (b), in the same manner as prescribed for non-certified new applicants. No certification shall be transferred if the holder has been convicted since initial certification of any offense for which revocation or suspension of certification is authorized;

(3) advise the officer that he will be serving under a probationary appointment with the agency for one year; and

(4) notify the Commission by submitting a Report of Appointment that the officer is being employed and stating the date on which employment will commence.

(b)  Prior to transfer of certification, the law enforcement officer shall:

(1) complete a Medical History Statement Form within one year prior to the transfer to the employing agency;

(2) submit to examination by a surgeon, physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina in the same manner prescribed for non-certified new applicants in 12 NCAC 09B .0104 within one year prior to the transfer to the employing agency;

(3) submit results of the physical examination to the employing agency for placement in the officer's permanent personnel file;

(4) produce a negative result on a drug screen administered according to the specifications outlined in 12 NCAC 09B .0101(5); and

(A) submit a copy of the Commission's annual in-service training report form to the employing agency for placement in the officer's permanent personnel file when the duty and off duty weapons remain the same as those previously used to qualify. Such inservice training compliance shall have occurred within the 12 month period preceding transfer; or

(B) satisfactorily complete the employing agency's in-service firearms training program as prescribed in 12 NCAC 09E .0105 and .0106.

(c)  Officers previously certified who were not previously required to meet the educational or basic training requirements shall not be required to meet such requirements when laterally transferring to another agency with less than a 12-month break in law enforcement service.

(d)  For currently certified full time officers with no break in service, upon written request from the department head of the hiring agency, the Division shall waive for a period of no more than 60-days from the receipt of the Report of Appointment by the Standards Division.

Out of State Transfer of law enforcement officers

Qualified applicants with law enforcement certifications from other states (upon approval by the North Carolina Training and Standards Commission), may be eligible to receive a probationary law enforcement certificate and may only have to complete certain sections of Basic Law Enforcement Training in order to take the state exam. More information on out of state transfers can be found here.

All out-of-state transfers will need to obtain the following to submit to the North Carolina Training and Standards Commission:

  • A letter from the officer's previous law enforcement agency detailing dates of FULL-TIME sworn service, and that applicant is in good standing;
  • A copy of the officer's Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) course certificate of successful completion;
  • A topical breakdown/syllabus of the courses completed in BLET by number of hours

THE HIRING PROCESS

ONLINE APPLICATION

Individuals who are interested in applying for the position of police officer must submit an online application through the City of Concord's online application portal here. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. There is no deadline for submission.  

COMPLETION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT (F-3)

In order to determine eligibility for a face to face interview, applicants must complete the N.C. Personal History Statement (F-3) which is required by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission.  The F-3 must be completed online at www.ncf3.com. Printed F-3 forms will not be accepted.

APPLICANT PRE-SCREENING

Once the initial application and the F-3 form are completed, the pre-screening of applicants will be conducted which will include:

 

  • Complete Criminal History
  • Complete Driving History
  • Credit Check
  • BRAINS Assessment

 

INTERVIEW WITH RECRUITING SERGEANT

Applicants who successfully make it through the pre-screening phase will be contacted to schedule an interview with the department's recruiting sergeant or a background investigator based on the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission background questionnaire (form F-8).The following will also be completed during this interview:

 

  • Fingerprints
  • Photograph

 

ORAL BOARD

After the initial interview, qualified applicants will be invited to participate in an oral review board conducted by members of the Concord Police Department's command staff.  This is a question and answer as well as scenario based interview.  At least three captains and or lieutenants from the department will participate in this board.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

A thorough background investigation will be completed on each selected applicant to include interviewing friends, past and present employers and coworkers, family members and neighbors.  This will also include a review of the answers provided both on the F-3 and on the F-8, to include criminal history, credit and financial history, employment history, and a review of all social media accounts.

CHIEF'S INTERVIEW

Once approved, qualified applicants will then have the opportunity to meet with Chief Hughes for a face to face interview.  After this interview, Chief Hughes will decide if the the applicant moves into the conditional phase of the process.

CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT

After meeting with Chief Hughes, the applicant will then meet with the recruiting sergeant where he/she will sign a conditional offer of employment.  The applicant's salary will be determined based on several factors to include education, prior experience, and miltary service. Upon agreeing to the conditional offer of employment, qualified applicants will move to the final three phases of the process: Polygraph, Psychological Exam, and Medical Exam (to include a drug screening).

POLYGRAPH

A polygraph will be conducted by the department's polygraph examiner.  This is a review of all answers you have given to questions throughout the entire hiring process.

MEDICAL / DRUG SCREENING

As required by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission, a Medical History Statement (Form F-1) and a Medical Examination Report (F-2) will be completed. This exam will also include a screening for illegal and prescription drugs.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION

Applicants will participate in a psychological examination administered by a licensed psychologist.

OFFICIAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT

Candidates who have successfully completed every step of the process may be offered a position with the Concord Police Department.  The official offer of employment will come from Human Resources with a starting salary and mutually agreed upon start date.

YOU ARE HIRED!

Congratulations! You are now ready to BE THE CHANGE!

*Appropriate dress is required for each stage of the process.  Applicants who dress inappropriately may be removed from the process.