The mission of the VA police officer is to serve and protect Veterans, patients, employees, contractors, volunteers, affiliates, visitors, and others who frequent VA facilities. Veteran Centered Policing is a VA specific model by the VA police force serves and protects Veterans, employees, and all others who access VA care and services. Recruitment or Relocation Incentive Authorized for highly qualified applicants.

Duties

Major Duties The incumbent performs a full range of police duties by following and executing rules, regulations, or procedures covering law and rules enforcement, physical and personal security operations, patrol duties, control desk duty, coordination with local courts, and/or crime prevention activities for the local jurisdiction. VA police officers patrol VA facilities, identify situations where criminal activity has occurred or is about to occur, assess danger and threats, and take proper recourse, including taking statements, making arrests, and conducting short and long-term investigations. Because of the unique nature of the VA's customers, the incumbent will use various special weapons and tactics at least 25% of the time to resolve security and law enforcement-related issues. The incumbent works within a mix of jurisdictional arrangements (i.e., exclusive, concurrent and/or proprietorial), ensures compliance with and enforces a full range of Federal, state, territorial, and/or commonwealth, county and municipal laws, ordinances, rules and regulations. The incumbent has jurisdiction and may work at any property owned or leased by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This includes all Veterans Health Administration facilities, Veterans Benefits Administration facilities, VA National Cemetery Administration facilities, and VA Staff Office facility. Due to the varied environments the incumbent works in and the unique populations he/she serves, VA police are required to have a deep knowledge and understanding of the following elements: Crime Prevention The incumbent must have knowledge in high visibility, proactive patrolling activities based on criminal trends in order to maintain law and order and the safety and protection of Veterans, patients, employees, contractors, volunteers, affiliates, visitors, and others who frequent VA facilities in addition to equipment, buildings, and ground on all property owned and controlled by the VA. The incumbent must be able to independently initiate investigative stops on suspicious and potentially dangerous persons, determining whether their presence and/or actions are authorized or require some level of corrective/enforcement action. Drawing upon threat reports and local trends, the incumbent must conduct recurring security assessments of Department property. These assessments are typically conducted while on regular patrols of property, but may be directed upon supervisor's request. The purpose of these assessments is to identify security vulnerabilities that may result in crime-conducive conditions, allowing incumbents to have clear awareness of the facility's security preparedness. Upon identification of a deficiency, the incumbent will be required to prepare a detailed report regarding these findings and submit recommendations to ensure safety and security. Incumbent works with facility management to request applicable work orders and monitors a complaint or report from mitigation to resolution. Incumbent will use independent judgment in deciding the best course of action based upon the circumstances of the incident. In some cases this may result in educating, cautioning, citing, arresting or providing aid and/or referring the individual to a specific VA program or another Federal, state or local agency. Incumbent must have a working knowledge of clinical programs offered in the medical facility in order to best assist a Veteran and ensure he or she receives the clinical care needed via the correct clinical access point. With regard to assaultive or otherwise disruptive Veterans, the incumbent works with other personnel to ensure the most appropriate outcome is achieved. The ultimate course of action chosen may or may not be a typical law enforcement action, but rather one of a clinical or administrative nature. Incumbent must analyze the facts and consider all information before deciding on the final actions to be taken. Work Schedule: 6am-6pm or 6pm-6am, rotating days, nights, holidays, and weekends Position Description Title/PD#: Police Officer/PD99925A Telework: Not Available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

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
• Selectee must attend and successfully complete the 10 week VA Police Law Enforcement Training Center (VA LETC) Police Officer Standardized Training (POST) course in North Little Rock, AR.
• This position is subject to the conditions of the Lautenberg Amendment (Title 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9), the selectee must not be prohibited from possessing or using firearms.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. AUXILIARY POLICE DUTY, SECURITY WORK, AND COLLEGE SECURITY WORK IS NOT QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE. 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), that provided a 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. Specialized experience consists of maintaining order to protect life and property; taking initial complaints; interviewing witnesses; securing a crime scene and conducting limited searches; responding to emergency situations; making arrests and performing booking procedures; gathering information and preparing reports; conducting routine patrol, traffic control, and traffic accident investigations. NOTE: You must provide detailed information of your experience performed. Information such as "I was a Patrolman", "I was a Police Officer for a number of years," or "I enforced Federal, State, county, and laws" is insufficient to determine your qualifications. Experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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). Lautenberg Amendment: Authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(g)(91)). Candidates who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not qualified for this position. Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18, U.S.C., and Section 1001).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) POLICE OFFICER CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: New VA Police Officers are required to attend an 8-10 week course at the VA Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Satisfactory completion of this course is a condition of continued employment. 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. 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. 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). Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. WORK CONDITIONS: 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. 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/. 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.

Education

There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level Police Officer position.

Contacts

• Address Corporal Michael J Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3900 Woodland Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104 US
• Name: Sylina Conley
• Phone: 2158235800
• Email: [email protected]