Police Attorney

City of High Point•High Point, NC

1d•$94,867 - $128,758•Onsite

About The Position

The High Point Police Department is seeking a Police Attorney to join their Executive Team. This role involves assisting in directing the day-to-day operations and activities of the department, including developing and implementing standard operating procedures, quality assurance standards, policies, goals, objectives, work plans, and workflow. The position ensures that procedures and equipment meet operational performance requirements and programs, and that compliance with applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures is maintained. It also involves determining the cost-effectiveness of repairing versus replacing systems, equipment, and vehicles. The Police Attorney participates in employee disciplinary hearings and appeals, reviews and analyzes the results and recommendations of these hearings for internal staff accused of policy and procedural violations, and recommends approval or modification of disciplinary recommendations. Additionally, this position provides legal advice to Police Department personnel in criminal law and procedure, reviews policies and personnel actions for compliance with legal requirements, and reviews disciplinary action and internal investigations as necessary.

Requirements

Must have a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
Must be a membership in the State Bar of North Carolina.
Must currently possess a valid driver's license issued by N.C (Note A valid driver's license Is a current driver's license that is not revoked, suspended, subject to limited restoration or conditional operation privileges)
Must be able to work under the general supervision and on a fixed work schedule.
Successful completion of a polygraph and background investigation is required.
Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
Eligible candidates must submit to an interview process, and background checks to include successful completion of a polygraph test and drug screen.
Must be a US citizen

Nice To Haves

Five years of progressively responsible experience in municipal or government law, preferably in the law enforcement area.
An equivalent combination of skills and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job, such as those listed above.
General Instructor certification.

Responsibilities

Provide legal advice to the Chief of Police and police department staff on criminal law and procedures, to include investigative procedures, substantive law, procedural law, and sufficiency of evidence for court.
Advise criminal investigators on investigative procedures involving searches, interrogation law, electronic eavesdropping, evidentiary foundations, and traffic fatalities.
Respond to and advise police leadership on legal issues regarding all police shootings, hostage or barricaded subject standoffs, and critical incidents involving injury or public interest.
Review drafts of proposed changes in ordinances to assure conformance to legal requirements.
Review drafts of proposed departmental policy changes to ensure conformance to legal requirements and accreditation standards.
Review disciplinary files and internal investigations as necessary to ensure fair and unbiased procedures; represent and advise the Chief of Police in administrative actions.
Represent the Chief of Police, as necessary, at administrative, disciplinary, and unemployment hearings.
Publish training material on new case law and legislation and review established case law affecting police operations.
Coordinate with the North Carolina Justice Academy Director and staff for training courses and providing specialized advanced legal training to certified law enforcement officers.
Teach police leadership and in-house training programs, supervising officers assigned for training.
Provide written or oral legal opinions for officers and command staff on issues of criminal law, criminal procedures, and civil liability.
Coordinate investigation working with State agencies (i.e. ALE and ABC) to develop factual support for public nuisance actions.
Participate in management decision-making on training and policy development.
Review and approve legal documents.
Compile, review, and approve public records produced by the Police Department through JustFOIA, reviewing for responsiveness and redacting any applicable statutory exemptions.
Handle subpoenas for police records and petitions for custodial law enforcement agency recordings.
Represent the Police Department on a variety of boards and commissions; attend and participate in professional groups and committees i.e., state and national law enforcement conferences and seminars, presenting professional instruction and participating in professional development.
Keep the City Attorney apprised of any legal matters that affect the City as a whole or could have enterprise-wide implications, such as agreements that create broader City obligations, financial exposure, liability concerns, or implications for departments outside of the police department.
Perform other duties as assigned.