Police Officer

Responsibilities

• Conducts long and short term investigations to detect and apprehend individuals for violating laws.
• Analyzes facts to identify suspects and develop case information.
• Collaborates with U.S. and other prosecuting attorneys on case development to perform arrests and prosecutions.
• Performs full range of investigative work typical of Detectives.
• Protects the civil rights of all individuals on VA controlled property.
• Prevents, detects, and investigates crimes.
• Patrols assigned areas on foot or by motor vehicle.
• Subdues persons causing disturbance or who threaten harm to themselves or others.
• Follows rules/procedures concerning search and seizure of evidence and contraband.
• Obtains search and arrest warrants.
• Ars arrest violators.
• Provides basic first aid and CPR prior to arrival of emergency medical personnel.
• Prepares report of activities and events that occurred during shift.
• Performs traffic control.
• Assists citizens in emergency situations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service (or equivalent pay band).
• Must have experience maintaining order to protect life and property; taking initial complaints; interviewing witnesses; securing a crime scene and conducting limited searches; responding to emergency situations; gathering information and preparing reports; conducting routine patrol, traffic control, and traffic accident investigations.
• Must have experience enforcing laws and ordinances, regulating traffic, controlling crowds, preventing crimes, and/or arresting violators.

Qualifications

• To meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-6 position, you must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service (or equivalent pay band).
• Specialized experience includes maintaining order to protect life and property; taking initial complaints; interviewing witnesses; securing a crime scene and conducting limited searches; responding to emergency situations; gathering information and preparing reports; conducting routine patrol, traffic control, and traffic accident investigations.
• At this level, police work must have included investigative work, patrolling assigned area(s) to enforce laws and ordinances, regulating traffic, controlling crowds, preventing crimes and/or arresting violators.
• Experience as a security guard or corrections officer is generally not qualifying.

Physical Requirements

• The work requires, on a regular and recurring basis, considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as running, frequent climbing of multiple flights of stairs, and carrying items weighing over 50 pounds.
• The work involves both moderate and high risks and possible endangerment of life or serious injury that requires the exercise of safety precautions and use of personal protective equipment.
• The work is performed in settings in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate to severe discomforts and unpleasantness, such as high temperatures in confined spaces, high temperatures due to mandatory protective personal equipment, or adverse weather conditions during extended periods of traffic and patrol duties.
• The work involves moderate risk requiring exercise of safety precautions when working around hazardous materials such as toxic gases, explosives, infectious biological materials, and others that pose a moderate risk of exposure.

Additional Police Officer Conditions of Employment

• New VA Police Officers are required to attend an 8-week course at the VA Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Satisfactory completion of this course is a condition of continued employment.
• Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to an appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• A medical examination is required. 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.
• 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. A psychological examination is required. 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.
• A character investigation will be conducted on applicants selected for employment.
• As a condition of employment, must qualify to be issued a firearm and semi-annually with assigned firearm, annually with an expandable Straight Baton (MEB), maintain a valid State or Commonwealth Driver's License and pass annual physical and psychosocial assessments. Applicants must be able to possess firearms under the terms of the Gun Control Act of 1968, as amended (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9)).