Police Officer

Full Job Description

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid- Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Asheville Veterans Health Care System (AVHCS), organizationally aligned within Police and Security Service, Asheville, NC.

The position reports to the Supervisory Police Officer. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/09/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 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.

At this level, police work must have included patrolling assigned area(s) to enforce laws and ordinances, regulate traffic, control crowds, prevent crimes and/or arrest violators.

Experience as a security guard or corrections officer is generally NOT qualifying.

Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in Police Science or a comparable degree program related to the work of the position.

This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials.

Education cannot be credited without documentation.

OR, Combination: Successfully completed a Federal, State, county, or municipal police academy or comparable training course that included at least 40 classroom hours of instruction in police department procedures and methods, and local law and regulations, to substitute a maximum of 3 months of specialized experience AND possess at least 9 months of specialized experience as identified above.

NOTE: Appropriate documentation of completion must be submitted with your application materials.

Driver's License Requirement: Applicants must possess a valid, unrestricted State driver's license, have a safe driving record, and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely.

Applicants are required to pass agency Government Vehicle Drivers physical examination.

NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package.

If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your valid state-issued driver's license.

Firearm Requirement: VA Police Officers are required to carry agency-approved firearms while on duty on VA property.

Officers must achieve and maintain qualification/certification with the agency-approved firearms as condition of gaining and continuing employment as a Police Officer.

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).

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.

Designated Drug-Testing Position: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to 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 result 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 color, 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. 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 may be conducted on applicants selected for employment.

The purpose of such an investigation is to secure evidence of the candidate's honesty, integrity, general character, and loyalty to the U.S. Government.

Such investigations will be conducted under the security requirements of the hiring agency.

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).

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/.

Major Duties:

Duties Include, but are not limited to: 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.

Identifies criminal activity and where appropriate, apprehend violators. Cite or arrest violators of regulations and laws when necessary.

Conducts Community Based Policing Operations by participating in social events on VA Property, engaging the public in non-confrontational interactions outside the scope of a call for service to build a sense of community trust, and becoming familiar with staff and veteran populations at a personal level to build long term relationships that could pay dividends in a future adverse situation.

Protects Veterans, volunteers, and others on Departmental property, U.S.

officials, other individuals, and him or herself during any given situation against threats to personal safety when force becomes necessary to enforce laws and regulations.

Carries firearms and other weapons, intervenes when necessary to deescalate 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.

Conducts investigations, apprehensions, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the US, protection, and transport of U.S. officials.

Executes arrest warrants issued by federal and local courts.

Responds to highly dangerous and active crimes in progress and responsible to make independent decisions and take immediate steps to preserve life and property without supervision.

Preserves crime scenes, summons additional emergency response personnel, communicates risks, facilitates access and coordinates, initiates or assists with partial or total evacuations.

Identifies security vulnerabilities and documents and/or reports changes in crime prevention programs.

Mitigates opportunities for assault, illegal entry, and theft involving highly protected information, property and/or processes at hospitals and other facilities containing special protective methods.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, 12 hour tour, rotation day/night Compressed/Flexible: 80 hour Bi-weekly Days & Nights Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Police Officer/PD04518A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized "Please be advised this occupation is currently undergoing a classification consistency review that may result in a change in title, series, and/or grade if determined by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

A consistency review is required for this position as a result of an OPM appeal related to the occupation.

A "consistency review" is the process that involves a classification review of positions performing work that is identical, similar, or related to an OPM appeal to ensure they are classified consistently and in accordance with OPM standards.

If a reduction in grade occurs, you could be eligible for grade and/or pay retention".