Police Officer

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/01/2024.

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Experience that provided knowledge of a body of basic laws and regulations, law enforcement operations, practices, and techniques and involved responsibility for maintaining order and protecting life and property. Creditable specialized experience may have been gained in work on a police force; through service as a military police officer; in work providing visitor protection and law enforcement in parks, forests, or other natural resource or recreational environments; in performing criminal investigative duties; or in other work that provided the required knowledge and skills. Carries firearms and other weapons, intervenes when necessary to de-escalate situations and determines when and how much force must be applied. Advises individuals of their (Miranda, Weingarten, Garrity, etc.) rights, and protects the constitutional and civil rights of persons.

GS-06 Grade Level Requirement (Full Performance Level):

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. The incumbent serves as a Police Officer carrying out responsibilities where most work is performed on Veterans Affairs Departmental properties, which includes any properties owned, leased, or licensed to VA. Provides policing services in a variety of jurisdictional environments where each type of jurisdiction (Exclusive, Concurrent and Proprietorial) has different enforcement rules and requires Police Officers to understand the complexities and legally apply the correct set of laws, regulations, and processes. Duties include, but are not limited to: Protects individuals during any given situation against threats to personal safety when enforcing laws and regulations. Responds immediately to and engages potentially armed individuals during active threat response situations. Responds to highly dangerous and active crimes in progress, making independent decisions and taking immediate steps to preserve life and property. Mitigates opportunities for assault, illegal entry, and theft involving highly protected information, property and/or processes at facilities containing special protective methods. Writes comprehensive incident reports. Detects and intervenes in criminal activity. Seeks, detects, seizes, and protects evidence and witnesses at the scene of an incident. Conducts investigative contacts/stops, exercising search and arrest authority, detaining witnesses, and apprehending suspects. Advises individuals of their rights (such as Miranda, Weingarten, Garrity, etc.), and protecting the constitutional and civil rights of persons. Conducts prisoner transports to holding facilities and courts as required. Conducts disaster response and recovery. Provides Basic Life Support (BLS) to injured personnel and coordinates additional emergency response when needed. Performs and provides training on drug and contraband intervention where contraband identification and knowledge is imperative.

There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Special Requirements: The selected police officer incumbent must:

• Be eligible for Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential and must maintain PIV credential eligibility during their services with the agency.
• Have a successfully required adjudicated background investigation and obtain and maintain a required security clearance.
• Carry firearms for safety and security as required by the VHA Police Service (PS).
• Be proficient in the English language.
• Pass an initial pre-employment medical examination and an annual medical examination to include psychological assessment. Must immediately report to the supervisor any significant medical threshold shifts in health status and/or medication requirements.
• Possess a valid driver's license as a condition of continued employment as a VA Police Officer.
• Successfully pass Police Officer Standardized Training (POST) at the Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC).
• Successfully pass the POST/R (refresher) training course on a recurring basis as defined by VA.
• Complete other mandatory training to remain knowledgeable and skilled in specialized tactics, techniques, and procedures necessary to prepare and respond to catastrophic events, terror attacks and related threats to the facility.
• Work uncommon tours of duty as needed, to include nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, rotating shifts, and emergency call-backs.
• Achieve and maintain qualification in the use of agency approved firearms as a condition of continued employment as a VA Police Officer. This includes meeting the provisions of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968, as amended by Public Law 104-108 and found at 18 USC, Section 992.

Knowledge Required by the Position

• Knowledge of the full range of police and law enforcement services including state, county and federal laws, regulations, methods and procedures that apply to the facilities depending upon their geographical location and type of jurisdiction to ensure policing compliance and to prevent and resolve offenses.
• Knowledge and skills of policing procedures to properly conduct search and seizure of evidence/contraband, pursue and apprehend persons fleeing a crime scene or attempting to resist arrest; to identify and arrest violators based on eyewitness accounts; to serve warrants and subpoenas to individuals on the property and to support dignitaries and activities specifically designated by the facility Director.
• Knowledge of firearms and tactics for deployment in emergencies to carry out policing emergency services and procedures, such as weapons and chemical agents, negotiations, building layouts, terrorist threats and counterterrorism methods, search and rescue techniques, and crowd and demonstration control.
• Knowledge of Police Service security protection operations necessary to evaluate existing crime prevention methods and recommend to supervisor changes to existing programs; and to prepare and finalize accurate law enforcement reports using the correct report formats, procedures, and terminology.
• Skills to effectively communicate the current socio-political climate and keep abreast of how it contributes to people and suspects potentially reacting antagonistically or aggressively to law enforcement personnel or activity.
• Knowledge of proactive patrolling activities to maintain law, order and a safe and secure environment based on criminal or terror trends and knowledge to deter and detect such activity, including recognizing potential gang affiliations and the risks/difficulties associated with them when interacting with witnesses, suspects and the general public.
• Skills using various automated systems and equipment located in a dispatch center, including the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) terminal, internal Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system, National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) to guide operations to dispatch personnel and to properly enter and retrieve information on individuals and vehicles.