The incumbent serves as a Police Officer ensuring a safe and secure environment across all VA Administrations and properties, including a variety of jurisdictional environments, such as VHA Medical Centers and facilities, Inpatient Clinics, Outpatient Clinics, and domiciliaries throughout the United States. This position serves as a vital part of the VA Police Services often serving as the face of the VA and as the first person a Veteran or visitor encounters when entering a VA facility.

Duties

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. Provides policing services in a variety of jurisdictional environments, where each type of jurisdiction (Exclusive, Concurrent, and Proprietorial) has different enforcement rules and requires Police Officers to understand the complexities and legally apply the correct set of laws, regulations, and processes. Provides services routinely at all segments of VA facilities located over large geographical areas, some of which may be in different states, counties, municipalities, or townships. Performs certain elements of the work away from Departmental properties when consistent with Federal law, regulation, VA policy, and operational guidance. 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. Protects Veterans, employees and visitors sensitive and protected medical information from unauthorized release or unauthorized use where prohibited by law and or policy as guided by the privacy officer, FOIA, HIPPA, etc. 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 with a nexus to VA, prisoner transports, patient search and recovery, life-saving efforts, disaster response and recovery, asset protection during transit, training, and other matters. Provides patrol in vehicles, on foot, and/or on a bicycle. Detects and intervenes in criminal activity; responds to calls for police assistance, irregularities, and unusual or suspicious circumstances. 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. Operates specialized vehicles and equipment in support of law enforcement and security operations. Determines whether situations are criminal or civil and takes appropriate steps for each. Executes emergency response procedures designed to isolate, contain, and defeat aggressive actions and restore normal operations as quickly and efficiently as possible. 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. Establishes initial command and control to coordinate immediate steps needed to stop threats, preserves life, and contains the situation. Responds immediately to and engages potentially armed individuals during active threat response situations. Preserves crime scenes, summons additional emergency response personnel, communicates risks, facilitates access and coordinates, initiates or assists with partial or total evacuations. Provides an initial and thorough briefing and advises the appropriate facility senior leadership and supervisors on recommended police response requirements, procedures and resources needed during emergencies in the absence of the supervisor. Coordinates and directs search, rescue, and recovery for persons at high risk (e.g., missing or wandering patients and minors) and coordinates with local surrounding police departments to expand the search parameters when needed. Work Schedule: Full time, rotating schedule 11:00 - 23:00, 23:00 - 11:00, including holidays, nights and weekends Position Description Title/PD#: Senior Police Officer 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. It requires stamina, physical agility, dexterity, and the strength to pursue, apprehend or detain persons who are often uncooperative, assaultive, and/or armed. 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.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 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 the full range of police and law enforcement services including state, county and federal laws, regulations, methods and procedures that apply to the facilities depending upon their geographical location and type of jurisdiction to ensure policing compliance and to prevent and resolve offenses. Knowledge and skills of policing procedures to properly conduct search and seizure of evidence/contraband, pursue and apprehend persons fleeing a crime scene or attempting to resist arrest; to identify and arrest violators based on eyewitness accounts; to serve warrants and subpoenas to individuals on the property and to support dignitaries and activities specifically designated by the facility Director. Knowledge of firearms and tactics for deployment in emergencies to carry out policing emergency services and procedures, such as weapons and chemical agents, negotiations, building layouts, terrorist threats and counterterrorism methods, search and rescue techniques, and crowd and demonstration control. Knowledge of Police Service security protection operations necessary to evaluate existing crime prevention methods and recommend to supervisor changes to existing programs; and to prepare and finalize accurate law enforcement reports using the correct report formats, procedures, and terminology. Skills to effectively communicate the current socio-political climate and keep abreast of how it contributes to people and suspects potentially reacting antagonistically or aggressively to law enforcement personnel or activity. Knowledge of proactive patrolling activities to maintain law, order and a safe and secure environment based on criminal or terror trends and knowledge to deter and detect such activity, including recognizing potential gang affiliations and the risks/difficulties associated with them when interacting with witnesses, suspects and the general public. Skills using various automated systems and equipment located in a dispatch center, including the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) terminal, internal Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system, National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) to guide operations to dispatch personnel and to properly enter and retrieve information on individuals and vehicles. There is no educational substitution for the GS-07 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.

Contacts

• Address Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Eugene Jacobs
• Email: [email protected]