Police Officer

Duties
The incumbent serves as a Federal police officer working for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) performing law enforcement and security duties pursuant to Title 38 USC § 902.
VA police officers are a vital part of ensuring a safe and secure environment across VA. VA police officers not only carry out their policing duties but are often the first to interact with and assist Veterans, patients, employees, contractors, volunteers, affiliates, visitors, and others who frequent VA facilities on a daily basis. Incumbent is the face of the VA, and he/she is often the first person a Veteran or visitor encounters when entering a VA facility. Officers must have a special skill set that allows them to empathize, engage, and communicate with all individuals they encounter to ensure a positive outcome and the safety of the facility and all its occupants.
The incumbent performs a full range of police duties by following and executing rules, regulations, or procedures covering law and rules enforcement, physical and personal security operations, patrol duties, control desk duty, coordination with local courts, and/or crime prevention activities for the local jurisdiction.
VA police officers patrol VA facilities, identify situations where criminal activity has occurred or is about to occur, assess danger and threats, and take proper recourse, including taking statements, making arrests, and conducting short and long-term investigations. Because of the unique nature of the VA customers, the incumbent will use various special weapons and tactics at least 25% of the time to resolve security and law enforcement-related issues.

• Recognize and determine if a crime has been committed or is being committed.
• Conducts foot patrol and/or vehicle patrol for assigned areas.
• Writes uniform offense reports covering incidents on their shift as needed.
• Informs individuals about their rights as suspects and/or witnesses.
• Responds to calls or alarms.
• Questions victims and witnesses at the scene of an incident.
• Arrests violators caught in the act or who readily admit to guilt.
• Issues citations as necessary.
• Assists victims of accidents or assaults by providing first aid or calling for assistance, subdues individuals causing disturbances.
• Obtains statements from persons involved in or witnessing accidents.
• Directs traffic.
• Makes arrests and performs "booking" procedures.
• Reports fire and safety hazards. Knowledgeable in various court procedures and testifies as needed.
• Relieves or rotates through the police operations center when necessary to answer telephone dispatch personnel.
• Coordinate policy and security activities and preparing shift log journals.

Work Schedule: Various shifts, to be determined upon selection.

Position Description Title/PD#: Police Officer #2698

Bargaining Unit: Yes

Telework: No

Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 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 resources or recreational environments; in performing criminal investigation duties; or in other work that provided the required knowledge and skills.
There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Medical Requirements: Incumbent must be able to pass an initial physical and psychological examination. The duties of these positions require moderate to arduous physical exertion and/or duties of a hazardous nature. The following medical requirements apply to all applicants: good near and distant vision, ability to distinguish basic colors, and ability to hear the conversational voice. Agencies may establish additional, job-related physical or medical requirements provided that the specific position(s) involves the arduous or hazardous duties to which the physical requirements relate.
Applicants and employees must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of the position without risk to themselves or others. Applicants and employees must possess emotional and mental stability. In most instances, a specific medical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant or employee. A medical condition or impairment is disqualifying only if the condition, for good medical reason, precludes assignment to or warrants restriction from the duties of the specific position. For some positions, the loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation shall also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to the use of assistive devices, job modification or restructuring, provision of readers and interpreters, or adjusted work schedules.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be qualified in the use of the departmental approved firearm and be able to qualify semi-annually with their assigned firearm.
• Must maintain a valid State or Commonwealth Drivers License
• Must maintain bi-annual certification in CPR – Basic Life Support
• Must successfully pass an annual physical and psychological examination.
• Subject to random drug testing.
• Incumbent must be VA LETC Certified
• Must be able to maintain a favorable adjudicated Minimum Background Investigation (MBI).
• This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.

Education
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.