As a peace officer, a police officer shall have within the corporate limits of the town all of the powers invested in law enforcement officers by statute or common law. He or she shall also have power to serve all civil and criminal process that may be directed to him or her by any officer of the General Court of Justice and may enforce the ordinances and regulations of the town as the Board of Commissioners may direct.
(G.S. § 160A-285) (1992 Code, § 31.06)