You become an LGERS member on your hire date (or after a required local unit waiting period) if you are employed by a participating unit in a regular position that requires at least 1,000 hours of work in a calendar year. You will not be a contributing member of LGERS if your work is considered temporary employment or statutorily required interim employment. A participating unit is any county, city, town or other local government entity that has agreed to participate in LGERS.

You become a member of LGERS as a local law enforcement officer on your hire date if you work as a permanent, full-time paid employee who:

• possesses the power of arrest;
• has taken the law enforcement oath administered under the authority of the state as prescribed by G. S. 11-11; and
• is certified as a law enforcement officer under the provisions of Chapter 17C of the General Statutes or certified as a deputy sheriff under the provisions of Chapter 17E of the General Statutes.

“Law enforcement officer” also means the sheriff of the county. In addition, the number of paid personnel employed as law enforcement officers by a law enforcement agency may not exceed the number of law enforcement positions approved by the applicable local governing board.

As a law enforcement officer, when you become a member of LGERS, you are automatically a member of the NC 401(k) Plan.

Please note: If you are a local law enforcement officer who works for a local government unit that does not participate in LGERS and you wish to join LGERS, you should notify your employer.