The elements of the selection process are as follows: 

• The Waxhaw Police Department does not allow reapplication, retesting, or reevaluation during the current selection process.
  • Candidates may re-apply for consideration in any subsequent process.

• Candidates who are not selected for appointment will be informed by the hiring supervisor or his/her designee in writing within 30 days, if possible, of such a decision.

• The records of candidates, including the results of every stage of the selection process, background investigations, reports of medical, drug and psychological examinations, and any other materials, will be processed as follows:
  • Records of candidates who are appointed to the position will be made part of their department file and will be maintained as a personnel record.
  • Records of candidates not appointed to the position will be maintained by the department for a period of two (2) years. 
  • All federal, state, and local requirements for record keeping will be followed.
  • Access to these records is restricted to those people legally entitled to review the records.

A background investigation of each candidate for both sworn and civilian positions will be conducted prior to appointment to probationary status.

Background Investigations will be conducted under the supervision of the Criminal Investigations Bureau. The personnel conducting background investigations shall receive training in collecting the required background information. 

Police officer selection tests consist of a writing and a physical performance test. 

Writing Test

The Police officer written selection test will be administered by the hiring supervisor. The test will be administered in a uniform and fair way for each applicant. The test is timed and consists of the following sections to test the applicant’s basic skills:

1. Arithmetic (20minutes)
2. Reading Comprehension (25 Minutes)
3. Grammar (15 Minutes)
4. Incident Report Writing (15 minutes)

The hiring supervisor will grade and score each completed test. The applicant will be given a numerical value based on their performance.

Physical Performance Test

All applicants will also be required to take the Police Officers Physical Abilities Test (POPAT).

Lateral transfers will have to pass the POPAT to be considered in the applicant pool.

Applicants that have not been to Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) will be required to have a POPAT score that is not greater than 8 minutes on scenario one and 4 minutes on scenario 2.

The POPAT will be administered by a physical fitness instructor, that is certified by the state of North Carolina and has had training on how to administer and record the POPAT.

An oral interview board will be conducted for each applicant that passed the written test and taken (and passed for lateral applicants) the POPAT.

The board will consist of officers from the Waxhaw Police Department, the Town of Waxhaw Human Resources department and at least one Waxhaw citizen.

The board will be provided with a list of predetermined questions to ask, and each applicant will be asked the same questions.

At the end of each applicant interview the board will fill out the North Carolina Standards form F-4.

Prior to appointment, candidates for sworn law enforcement positions will be given a medical examination conducted by a licensed provider certifying their general health. All candidates will undergo a drug screen using valid, useful, and nondiscriminatory procedures.

These examinations are mandated by North Carolina Criminal Justice Education andTraining Standards Division for candidates for sworn positions. Applicable state forms must be used to document these examinations. A copy of all reports will be forwarded to the Chief of Police.

Medical examinations may be required of other candidates based on the position being applied for.

The examinations shall be performed by a licensed provider associated with a certified organization.

Prior to appointment, candidates for sworn law enforcement positions will be given an emotional stability and psychological fitness examination. The examination will be conducted and evaluated by a qualified professional. The provider must use procedures that are valid, useful, and nondiscriminatory.

This examination is mandated by North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Division for candidates for sworn positions. Qualified professionals from a psychological testing service shall administer the psychological fitness examination. A report of the results will be forwarded to the Chief of Police.

Psychological examinations may be required of other candidates based on the position being applied for.

The examinations shall be performed by a licensed provider associated with a certified organization. 

Our town offers competitive pay, aligned with market standards and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and career growth.

Employees enjoy health, dental, and vision insurance, a robust retirement plan, paid time off, and professional development opportunities. Additional perks include flexible scheduling,

access to local community resources, and a supportive, team-oriented work environment. Join us and be a valued part of a vibrant and growing community!

• Paid medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance coverage for the employee

• Enrollment in the NC Retirement System

• 401k contribution to employee's plan (5% - not a match, paid with or without employee contribution)

• 12 weeks of paid parental leave

• 14 paid holidays (two floating days of personal and birthday)

• 96 hours of sick time per year 

• 96 hours of vacation time per year (increases by 2 hours monthly, every five years) unused vacation time over 240 hours rolls over to sick time at the end of the fiscal year

• FSA - Healthcare Flexible Spending Account 

• HSA - Health Savings Account

• DCFSA - Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

• Tuition Assistance Program

• Professional Development

• Law Enforcement Career Development Plan

• EAP - Confidential no-cost employee assistance program

• Wellness Program

• 5% incentive pay for 4-year college degree; or 2.5% incentive pay for 2-year college degree

• Stipends for specialized units

• Passing the POPAT (Police Officers Physical Abilities Test) yearly earns an employee 1% stipend on top of any other stipend.

• Paid to workout in the gym for 1 hour per work day, with supervisor permission and appropriate coverage. 

• Leave time (up to 96 hours sick and 96 hours of vacation) (total number of sick hours may be transferred from previous agency) (vacation time increases by two hours every five years)

• Various medical benefit plans to choose from as an employee, including Health Savings Accounts, which can be used for future retiree medical expenses

• Bi-weekly pay

• Uniforms and equipment provided

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.

 All of the following standards must be met: 

• Pass an entry level written examination.
• Pass the Police officers physical abilities test.
• Pass an extensive background investigation including psychological examination.
• An oral interview board will be conducted for each applicant that has passed the written test and POPAT as outlined above.
• Pass a pre-employment Medical Examination and Drug Screening Test.
• Certain past drug use will result in disqualification. Marijuana usage in the last 6 months or usage of Schedule I drugs or cocaine within the past 3 years will result in an automatic disqualification.
• Residency Requirements: The Waxhaw Police Department requires that all sworn police officers will reside in North Carolina or South Carolina, and within a 25 mile radius of the Waxhaw Town Limits, for a take home car.
• Tattoo policy: Employees are permitted to have visible tattoos, brands or scarification provided they do not violate the conditions outlined in the Waxhaw Police Department Personal Appearance policy. Some of these conditions include: depicting violence, are obscene in nature, containing sexual images or explicit language, or in any way ridicule, malign, disparage or express bias against any individual or group are not in keeping with WPD’s professional image, are inappropriate for the work environment, and may undermine public trust and confidence. No tattoos that detract from the professional appearance of the employee or violate the standards of decency and morality. Tattoos that do not meet policy must be covered by clothing that meets the Waxhaw Police Department guidelines, or tattoo covering make-up.
• Beard Policy: Beards are permitted as long as they adhere to conditions outlined in our uniform and grooming standards policy. This allows you to have a beard that is ½” inch in length and neatly groomed.

Competitive salary with prior qualifying experience.

Total number of sick hours may be transferred from previous agency.

Lateral transfers can be assigned to the officer classification of the year level that coincides with their experience if they have all required certificates and/or education. Lateral transfers will receive a stipend in the amount of 500 dollars per applicable year up to 2500 dollars. This is a one-time sign-on stipend and will be awarded after the officer successfully completes field training and a 6-month probationary period. 

To advance from one classification to the next requires the appropriate years of service and a written examination or project.