North Carolina State Law Enforcement Codes

• The structure, organization, funding and function of law enforcement agencies in North Carolina is described in Article 13 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes of the North Carolina Code. These codes describe the jurisdiction and authority that regulate city, county and state law enforcement agencies. They also describe the protocols that govern cooperation between different law enforcement agencies at local and state level.
  
  

Appointment of Personnel

• According to Section 281 and 282 of Article 13 of Chapter 160A, a city is authorized to appoint a chief of police and hire police officers. The city council can employ officers who live outside the city or county limits, but can also decide to limit eligibility to local citizens.
  
  

Auxiliary Workers

• Local authorities can also organize, through the enactment of a local ordinance, an auxiliary police department made of volunteer members. Volunteers deputized by the sheriff of the county are entitled to the benefits detailed in the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act. Section 283 of Chapter 160A authorizes cities, counties and towns to organize joint auxiliary police forces, which can be called to active service by the mayor or chief of police.
  
  

Duties of a Law Enforcement Officer

• Policemen act as peace officers and therefore have, within their jurisdiction all of the powers invested in law enforcement officers by the North Carolina Statutes and common law. This includes the authority of officers to enforce the fulfillment of local ordinances and regulations.
  
  

Jurisdiction

• Section 286 of Chapter 160A of North Carolina Codes and Regulations specifies that police officers have jurisdiction to enforce statute or common law within one mile of their local government corporate limits and on any property owned by the local government. However, this authority is extended if an officer is pursuing an offender outside the city or county limits. In this case, the officer shall be entitled to all the privileges and benefits he is entitled to inside his jurisdiction.