The Asheville Police Department is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in employment or the provision of services based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy), gender identity, or expression, or familial status.

Visit our recruitment website – joinashevillepd.com.

 

Apply for open positions here.


Employee Benefits and Position Information

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to make a difference,” now’s your chance. The Asheville Police Department is looking for people like you to help protect and serve our community.

Pre-tax Hiring Bonus

$5,000 for new lateral Police Officers and $3,500 for new Police Officer Trainees. 

Career Ladder and Salary Ranges:

  • Police Trainee: $47,915.10
  • Police Officer: $50,309.74 – $75,464.74
  • Senior Police Officer I / Detective I: $52,825.23 – $79,237.86
  • Senior Police Officer II / Detective II: Police Detective: $55,466.58 – $83,199.74
  • Master Police Officer I / Master Police Officer I: $58,239.74 – $87,359.74
  • Master Police Officer II / Master Police Officer II: $61,152.00 – $91,727.74

What This Means for Lateral Officers

  • Base Pay: Determined by your full-time certified years of service and aligned with our Career Ladder structure. This does not include additional incentives you may qualify for.

Strong Incentive Program (not included in base salary):

  • Uniform Allowance: $1,050
  • Associates Degree: 1.5%, Bachelor’s Degree: 3%, Master Degree; 5%
  • Specialty Team Pay: 3%
  • Foreign Language Bonus: 3% 
  • Intermediate Law Enforcement Certificate: 3%
  • Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate: 5%
  • Shift Differential: $2.00 per hour
  •  Specialty Unit Assignments: 3%
  • On-Call pay: $30 daily
  • Take-Home Car Program

Benefitswomen and detective in crime scene investigation

The City of Asheville offers a comprehensive benefit package.

  • Get paid while attending Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET).
  • Relocation assistance may be available.
  • Retirement program through the NC Local Government Employees’ Retirement System (LGERS). The City of Asheville also provides a 401K plan with employer contributions. Sworn officers receive an additional law enforcement retirement supplement through the LGERS system.
  • Mentoring and peer support for new hires.
  • Embedded Certified Clinicians.
  • Tuition reimbursement for qualifying courses of study.
  • Health, dental, and life insurance.
  • Sworn lateral transfers will be provided with a balance of 5 vacation days upon hire.

Additional information on employee benefits is available through the City of Asheville Human Resources Department.

APD Career Ladder & Salary Ranges FY 25-26


Patrol Officer Schedule

Patrol officers work non-rotating twelve-hour day or night work shifts with every other weekend off. Hours may vary for administrative or specialty assignments.


Specialized Teams

The department has several specialty teams, including the Bomb Squad, Emergency Response Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Crowd Control Team, Bike Response Team, and a Drone Unit.


Minimum Qualifications and Automatic Disqualifierspolice officer with k9 dog

Complete qualifications and automatic disqualifiers will be listed in the job posting.

To meet the minimum qualifications to be a police officer, applicants must:

  • Be 20 years of age at the time of application
  • Be a citizen of the United States
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Have no felony convictions
  • Have no serious misdemeanor convictions in the past five years, which include:
    • Any crime for which the punishment could have been more than two years
    • A crime or unlawful act defined as a Class B Misdemeanor within the last ten years
    • Two or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as Class A Misdemeanor within the last five years
    • A DUI or DWI within the last ten years
  • Pass a physical fitness test and the Police Officer Physical Agility Test (POPAT)
  • Meet vision, hearing, and other physical requirements
  • Possess a valid driver’s license with no suspensions of driving privileges in the past three years
  • Satisfactorily pass a background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, and drug screen

Automatic disqualifiers for the position of police officer or police officer trainee include:

  • Illegal selling or distribution of any drug
  • Any use of hard illegal drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, or heroin within the past two years

Candidates applying for a certified law enforcement position (lateral entry) must meet all requirements for non-certified applicants, possess a valid law enforcement certification from the North Carolina Law Enforcement Training and Standards Commission, and must have been employed as a law enforcement officer in good standing in the State of North Carolina within the last twelve months.

Out-of-state candidates who have been employed as full-time law enforcement officers will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether or not they must complete North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET). Out-of-state candidates are encouraged to contact the Recruitment and Career Development Section at apdrecruitment@ashevillenc.gov for further information.


Application and Hiring Process

The hiring process with the department may take between 90 to 120 days to complete. The following steps are part of the hiring process:

  • Pre-employment testing (police officer trainees)
  • Physical fitness testing (police officers only)
  • Panel interview
  • One-on-one interview
  • Health assessment (police officers only)
  • Background investigation, including a polygraph examination
  • Psychological evaluation (police officers only)
  • Drug screen

Physical Fitness Requirements for Police Officer Positions

Pre-employment Physical Fitness Test

Candidates for the Police Officer Trainee position must successfully complete a physical fitness assessment, which is a modified version of the Police Officer Physical Agility Test. Watch the video below for an overview of what to expect.

Police Officer Physical Agility Test (POPAT)

Passing the POPAT is a requirement by the State of North Carolina to become a certified law enforcement officer. Police Officer Trainees must complete this test at the end of their basic law enforcement training. If cadets do not pass this physical examination, they are not eligible to become officers.

APD In-House Academy Training

Candidates selected for the Police Officer Trainee position will attend the Asheville Police Department’s in-house academy. During the 20–22 week program, trainees receive instruction across 39 mandated subject areas required for Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification, which must be completed to become a certified police officer. 

Cadets are paid full-time employees of the City of Asheville throughout the academy and begin receiving health insurance benefits on the first day of the month following their start date. 


Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an age limit to being a police officer?
Applicants must be at least 20 years old before completion of the academy and be able to complete all essential job functions.

I don’t live in North Carolina. Can I do the police officer testing in one or two trips?
Yes. As an out-of-state applicant, you can expect to make at least two 2-3 day trips for the entire process.

Can I work part-time or continue my education while in the academy?
No, the academy is challenging academically, mentally, and physically.

Do I have to live in Asheville?
If you are hired as a police officer, you do not have to live within the city limits, but you are required to live within a 45-mile radius of the City Hall complex (60 Court Plaza in Asheville).

I have tattoos. Is that okay?
Yes, the department permits the display of tattoos while on duty with a few stipulations:

  • Tattoos, branding, or intentional scarring are prohibited on the face, neck, ears, or scalp. Exceptions may be made for permanent makeup.
  • Tattoos, branding, or intentional scarring that are gang-related, that convey sexual, racial, religious, ethnic, or related intolerances, or that portray derogatory or offensive characterizations contrary to the department’s values are prohibited.
  • Tattoos that would be visible while on duty cannot be offensive, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

Contact Information

For additional information or questions regarding employment opportunities at the Asheville Police Department, please contact:

Recruitment & Career Development
828-273-2144

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