Law Enforcement Specialist (Canine Handler)

Summary

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Office of Security and Preparedness (OSP) – Field Operations Division – VA Police Service at the Clement J. Zablocki Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI. The Canine Program Coordinator manages the Canine Program at the field level and provides support for multiple stations.

Qualifications

• Medical Requirements: Must be physically fit to perform strenuous duties, including protecting citizens, taking suspects into custody, and handling a 70‑lb canine. Must pass a pre‑employment medical examination covering vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, and mobility of extremities. Periodic incumbent examinations may be required.
• Lautenberg Amendment: Persons convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are ineligible.
• Firearms Requirement: Must carry an agency‑approved firearm while on duty and maintain qualification/certification.
• Other Requirements: Ability to engage effectively with hostile persons, work independently under high accountability, and pass a background investigation.
• Selective Placement Factors (SPF): Must have experience as a Law Enforcement Officer with arrest authority and possess a valid State Driver’s License.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Specialized Experience (1 year): Experience in law enforcement work involving training, handling, and employment of dogs for patrol or detection of substances (e.g., drugs, explosives). Examples include:
  • Police officer work using dogs for patrol, inspection, or detection.
  • Military service using dogs for patrol, inspection, or detection.
  • Instructor at a dog training center for law‑enforcement K‑9 work.
  Additional duties for this GS‑9 level include conducting canine patrols, investigations, canine training and documentation, animal husbandry, and program analysis with reporting and recommendations.
• Education Substitution: A master’s or equivalent graduate degree (or 2 years of graduate education) in fields such as police science, police administration, police law and evidence, police investigation, criminology, criminal justice, law enforcement, or related subjects.
• Combination of Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of graduate education (exceeding 1 year) and related experience may be used to meet qualifications.

Duties

• Coordinate the Canine Program at the facility level across a geographically dispersed area.
• Direct the canine to perform detection searches of buildings, offices, vehicles, packages, materials, and persons.
• Train the canine and manage administrative functions, including budget and contracts related to care and certification.
• Perform law‑enforcement duties under Title 38 U.S.C. §§ 901 and 902, enforcing federal, state, and local laws on VA‑controlled property.
• Conduct patrols with the assigned canine to deter criminal activity, detect contraband, and provide rapid response to security threats.
• Ensure proper care, feeding, and housing of the canine; maintain equipment and vehicles for canine operations.
• Adhere to strict safety and handling procedures to prevent injury to personnel, the public, or the canine.
• Receive, account for, and secure canine training aids used for proficiency training.
• Provide ongoing training to maintain high proficiency; obtain regular certification.
• Enforce laws and initiate investigations of possible violations on government property and federally controlled assets.
• Apprehend wanted persons, conduct stops, questioning, and detention, and notify appropriate law‑enforcement or judicial agencies.
• Serve on a Crisis Intervention Team, using the canine to recognize veterans experiencing mental‑health crises and employing de‑escalation strategies.
• Maintain compliance of the Canine Program with all required training and certifications.
• Analyze program problems, determine deficiencies, draft inspection reports, and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare detailed reports of findings, conclusions, and recommendations for program improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule

Schedule varies; candidates must be willing to work weekends, irregular and extended hours as needed, and may be placed, detailed, or temporarily assigned to other related services or locations.

Training

• Complete basic VA Police Officer Standardized Training (POST) and K‑9 certification.
• Fulfill additional training required by the Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC).
• Successfully complete the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) at the assigned duty location or another site.
• Maintain weapons qualifications and in‑service training for arrest authority under 38 U.S.C. §§ 901 & 902.
• New VA Police Officers attend an 8‑10 week course at the VA Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Essential Personnel

This position may be designated as essential personnel and must be able to serve during continuity‑of‑operations events without regard to leave declarations, government closures, or other disruptions. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action.

Law Enforcement Authority

The incumbent possesses law‑enforcement authority under Title 38 of the United States Code – Sections 901 & 902 – to provide investigative and law‑enforcement services to veterans, federal employees, and the general public on government‑owned or leased property.