POLICE OFFICER

Salary: $65,104.00 - $92,580.80 Annually
Location : Cary, NC
Job Type: Regular, Full-Time
Job Number: 26-02491
Department: Police
Opening Date: 01/12/2026
Closing Date: 3/16/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: N/A

Description

It's an exciting time to join the Cary Police Department as we are now hiring:

• Cadets
• Police Officer I (BLET certified officer)
• Police Officer II
• Master Police Officer
• Senior Police Officer

Our salaries and benefits are the best in the region and we consider previous sworn law enforcement experience, military experience, educational background and applicable certifications/qualifications to determine rank and starting salary.

Contact the Cary PD Recruitment Office to learn more about why you'd be a great fit for our team and have all your questions answered. Visit .
Are you dedicated and eager to make a positive impact in the lives of others? Are you passionate about protecting and serving your community? Have you dreamed of being on a team all working towards these same goals? Then now is the time to join Cary Police!
Our officers come from all walks of life just like the community we serve. We hire amazingly talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it enhances our organizational culture, making us stronger as we innovate and improve the ways we serve Cary citizens.

is a progressive community of over 180,000 people on a continuous journey of challenging the standard of how local governments operate. We exist to build community and take care of people by embracing the individual differences, strengths and talents across the organization to pursue excellence, drive innovation, challenge ourselves and continuously improve. The OneCary approach empowers each employee to have a voice in a collaborative, adaptive work environment between departments, thinking creatively and strategically together as a team.

As a partner with the community, the Cary Police Department provides exemplary policing to ensure Cary remains one of the nation's safest cities. As part of our geo-policing philosophy, patrol officers are assigned to a district team on a 12-hour day or night shift (night shift teams receive a shift differential bonus to be paid quarterly). We offer an excellent salary and benefits package that includes a Career Ladder program with several levels of advancement possibilities, enhanced by a candidate's educational background. If you are committed to excellence, high quality service delivery, leadership development and looking for a great place to work, this is the opportunity for you.

Visit the Cary Police Department Recruitment website, , for more information on how Cary Police leads the way.

Additional Benefits

• Comprehensive leave and reimbursement program
• Night Shift Pay Differential
• Take Home Vehicle Program
• Career Ladder, enhanced by educational background
• Robust Leadership Development and Training options

Typical Tasks
Proactive Patrolling: Engage in regular patrols of assigned areas to deter criminal activity, ensuring a visible and active law enforcement presence in the community.

Crime Prevention Initiatives: Actively participate in and lead community outreach programs, workshops, and crime prevention initiatives to build positive relationships and enhance public safety awareness.

Emergency Response: Respond promptly to emergency calls, demonstrating quick decision-making and crisis management skills to handle a variety of situations effectively.

Investigative Excellence: Conduct thorough investigations of criminal activities, accidents, and incidents, utilizing advanced investigative techniques and technology to gather evidence and ensure case resolution.

Traffic Enforcement: Enforce traffic laws through observation, radar use, and proactive measures, ensuring road safety and reducing traffic-related incidents.

Community Engagement: Establish and maintain positive relationships with community members, local businesses, and organizations through regular interactions, community meetings, and outreach events.

Team Collaboration: Work collaboratively with fellow officers and law enforcement agencies to address complex issues, share information, and enhance overall public safety efforts.

Professional Development: Actively participate in ongoing training programs, workshops, and skill-building activities to stay updated on the latest law enforcement practices, technology, and legal changes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Empathy: Understanding and empathizing with diverse community members.
Courage: Willingness to face danger and take smart risks to ensure public safety.
Teamwork: Ability to collaborate with fellow officers and work effectively in a team.
Conflict Resolution: Skill in de-escalating conflicts and resolving disputes peacefully and respectfully.
Problem Solving: Ability to assess situations quickly, make informed decisions, and resolve problems effectively.
Criminal Justice: Familiarity with local, state, and federal laws and knowledge of investigative procedures and protocols.
Effective Communication: Clear verbal and written communication that fosters trust and collaboration.
Interpersonal Skills: Building positive relationships within the community, colleagues, and other local agencies.
Community Awareness: Understanding of local dynamics, cultural diversity, and other social factors impacting the area.
Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing situations, policies, and procedures.

Physical Requirements
Work in the class requires considerable physical ability in order to maintain law enforcement certification. Work in this class is medium to heavy and requires exposure to the elements such as heat, cold and rain while wearing issued uniform, body armor and equipment. An employee in this class must not have a significant limitation of any major life activity in that work may include the physical ability to apprehend suspects. This includes the physical ability to walk, run, stand for long periods, reach, climb, etc. Visual acuity is also necessary to read and write handwritten and typewritten reports and information. The employee must also be able to hear and speak normally in order to communicate with the public.
Minimum and Preferred Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience (minimum of high school graduation) supplemented by additional training and experience in the law enforcement field. Rank will be determined based on the minimum qualifications at each level considering these factors. Requires possession of a valid driver's license.

Personal History Statement: Form F-3
As part of the application process for Police Officer, you are requiredto fill out the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission (FORM F-3). This form can be found by clicking the "Personal History Statement F-3" link on the NC DOJ website at: Forms that supplement the F-3 also are available at
Please complete this form prior to completing your Cary Application. It is recommended that you follow these steps for completing the F-3:

• Save the F-3 PDF form on your device first, then complete it. The 'form-fill' PDF will not retain your data if you fail to save the form first on your device.
• You do not need to notarize the document at this time. Simply fill out and attach.
• Once completed, and as you are working on your town application, please attach the F-3 form to the Town's application.
• Prior to submitting your application, please ensure that you check and confirm that your fully completed F-3 is attached to your application.

Conditions of EmploymentRequires successful completion of a physical and psychological exam, drug testing and background check (which may include criminal history check, motor vehicle records check, education verification and credit history review), Computer Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) and satisfactory reference checks prior to employment.
Cary ensures equal employment opportunities (EEO) are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information.
Regular Full-Time Employees
Cary is pleased to provide excellent, competitive, and comprehensive benefits to serve the needs of our employees and their families.
Because Cary believes that employees are one of our most important resources, significant dollars (averaging about 40% of annual salary per employee) are spent each year on employee benefits.
All regular full-time employees of Cary are eligible, and benefits coverage for new employees and family members is effective upon an employee's hire date.
01

Do you have sworn, law enforcement experience in the state of North Carolina? If yes, details must be included in the work experience section of your application.

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have two years of full-time, sworn, law enforcement experience in a state other than North Carolina with no more than one year break in service? If yes, details must be included in the work experience section of your application.

• Yes
• No

03

Are you North Carolina BLET certified or in the process of becoming certified?

• Yes
• No

04

If you answered YES to question #3, what date and from where did/will you graduate from BLET? If you answered NO to question #3, please type "N/A".
05

Have you confirmed your completed F-3 is attached to your application as required? (This does not require Notary signature at this time)

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record?

• Yes
• No

07

What motivates you to serve in law enforcement?
08

Cary values each employee and the gifts and talents they bring to their role. What makes YOU a strong candidate for our department?
09

How did you hear about our job opening? If a current Cary employee referred you, please list their name here.
Required Question