This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and Police Services (PS). The mission of the Police Officer is to serve and protect Veterans, patients, employees, contractors, volunteers, affiliates, visitors, and others who frequent VA facilities. Safety and security are paramount to ensuring that the VA successfully serve and honor men and women who are America's Veterans.

Duties

Major Duties include but are not limited to: Providing 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, apprehensions, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the US, protection, and transport of U.S. officials. 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. Identifies and preserves evidence, writes comprehensive incident reports, prepares case files, and testifies in court as it pertains to enforcing laws and regulations. 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. Investigates incidents and takes steps to mitigate further risk and resolve situations. Provides emergency response coordination as needed. Performs drug and contraband intervention techniques and provides training to those areas where contraband identification and knowledge is imperative for the staff. 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. Executes arrest warrants issued by federal and local courts. Coordinates or transports arrested parties to holding facilities and courts as required. Functions as first line of defense during violent crimes in progress, terror attacks, potential threats etc. Preserves crime scenes, summons additional emergency response personnel, and coordinates, initiates or assists with partial or total evacuations. Initiates investigative stops on suspicious and potentially dangerous persons and suspicious vehicles independently. Uses the National Incident Management System and Incident Command System protocols to establish command and control, develop a course of action and contain, mitigate, and recover from an incident. Work Schedule: Shift work to include weekends and holidays. Candidates must be willing to work weekends, irregular work hours and extended hours if determined by the needs of the service. Furthermore, candidates must be willing to be placed, detailed, or temporarily assigned to other related services and/or locations, if necessary Position Description Title/PD#: Police Officer/PD99926-S Physical Requirements: Moderate to arduous physical exertion and/or duties of a hazardous nature, good near and distant vision, ability to distinguish basic colors, and ability to hear the conversational voice. Strenuous, physical exertion -running, frequent climbing of multiple flights of stairs, and carrying items weighing over 50 pounds. Stamina, physical agility, dexterity, and the strength to pursue, apprehend or detain persons who are often uncooperative, assaultive, and/or armed. Positions involving Federal motor vehicle operation carry the additional medical requirements specified in 5 CFR 930.. 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)

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Specialized experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Experience that provided 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. Must have Law Enforcement experience with arrest authority. GS-07 Senior Police Officer Specialized Experience: Applicant must have one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 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 includes conducting investigations, apprehensions and detentions of persons suspected or convicted of criminal violations; 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. Note: 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. Experience as a security guard or corrections officer is generally not qualifying. 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 on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week. POLICE DUTY OR AUXILIARY POLICE DUTY, SECURITY WORK, COLLEGE SECURITY WORK, PUBLIC SCHOOL SECURITY WORK, VOLUNTEER POLICE TRAFFIC OFFICERS, AIRPORT SECURITY SCREENER WORK, PRIVATE CONTRACTED SECURITY WORK, AND WORK IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, IS NOT QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE. To be considered valid Police Officer experience it must have been gained after attending a local, state, federal or military Police Academy, the position must have authorized the carrying of a firearm while performing assigned duties and full arrest powers authorized. Note:Military experience may only be considered if it was gained while the applicant held one of the following qualifying specialties: Army: 95B,95C, 31A, 31B, 31D Marine Corps: 5803, 5805, 5811, 5812, 5813, 5814, 5821 Air Force: 08111-114, 81110, 81170, 81172, 81130, 81150, 81112, 81132, 81152, 81199, 3P1-4, 3P011, 3P031, 3P051, 3P071, 3P09, 75011, 75031, 75051, 75071, 75091 Navy: 9545, 0000MA Coast Guard:(no code) 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. 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. Driver's License: Applicants must possess a current, valid 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. INVESTIGATION OF FITNESS: Applicants must pass a character investigation before appointment to a position in law enforcement. The purpose of such an investigation is to secure evidence of the candidate's honesty, integrity, general character, and loyalty to the US government. IMPORTANT NOTES: 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 assessment. 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). An officer who is convicted of a domestic violence violation can no longer be authorized to own, be issued, purchase or otherwise have possession of a handgun and would therefore be eliminated from consideration for this position. 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution for the GS-07 level.

Contacts

• Address VA Maryland Health Care System 10 North Greene Street Baltimore, MD 21201 US
• Name: Teresa Hammond
• Phone: 410-605-7000
• Email: [email protected]