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), Durham VAMC organizationally aligned within Police and Security Service, Durham, North Carolina.

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.

GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience includes: 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, OR Education: 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).

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. Major Duties:

Duties Include but are not limited to: Detains witnesses and suspects, makes arrests, and performs booking procedures.

Interviews witnesses and other persons involved, determines whether facts warrant an arrest or lesser action.

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.

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. Executes arrest warrants issued by federal and local courts.

Coordinates or transports arrested parties to holding facilities and courts as required.

Controls facility access via Entry Control Point (ECP) and Traffic Control Points (TCP) during emergency operations.

Provides Basic Life Support (BLS) to injured personnel and coordinates additional emergency response when needed.

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.

Initiates investigative stops on suspicious and potentially dangerous persons and suspicious vehicles independently.

Coordinates and directs responding personnel and emergency vehicles to safe routes, establishes perimeters, access control and renders aid in the initial command role.

Enforces traffic rules and regulations, including those related to speeding and reckless operation of vehicles while impaired or intoxicated.

Serves as an interregnal part of the suicide prevention program and is often the first person seen by Veterans. Intervenes when possible to deescalate active suicidal behavior and/or prevents suicides.

Work Schedule: Candidates must be willing to work rotating shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Position Description Title/PD#: Police Officer/PD07033A Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking, driving, bending, stooping, reaching, crawling, and similar activities to perform police activities such as foot and vehicle patrols.

The Police Officer also responds to calls, and alarms which involves pursuing suspects, climbing stairs in office buildings, as well as participating in weapons or other kinds of training activities.