QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04 level. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
You may qualify based on the following:

GS-6 POLICE OFFICER:

Specialized Experience: One year equivalent to a GS-5 or higher-grade level. which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA’s) to perform successfully the duties of the position. (Specialized experience is work that has been performed independently, under general supervision.) Examples of specialized experience includes: 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; responding to calls or alarms involving crimes; questioning individuals at the scene, establishing the identity of injured parties, identifying the nature of incidents, and taking statements; informing individuals about their rights as suspects and/or witnesses; operating radar or other speed detection equipment and pursuing speeding vehicles when enforcing traffic regulations or laws; arresting violators caught in the act or who readily admit to guilt; issuing citations; assisting at accident scenes; preparing reports that describe events that may be used in future legal actions; responding to duress alarms and subduing unruly individuals; patrolling; pursuing and apprehending person; subduing individuals causing disturbances; taking charge of a crime or accident scene and restricting access to those persons required on the scene; seeking detecting, and protecting evidence and witnesses at the scene of an incident; making arrests and performing booking procedures; conducting investigations; questioning and taking statements from victims, witnesses, and complainants; interrogating suspects; applying all correct rules of search and seizure; and analyzing facts to identify suspects and develop case information.

THERE IS NO EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION FOR THE GS-06 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.
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.

ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICER REQUIREMENTS ARE LOCATED IN THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SECTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

Work Environment: The incumbent works in an environment identified as potential soft targets for Active Threat and other terrorist-like events. The work environment regularly involves high risks with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress which require a range of safety and other precautions. The work involves high risk with exposure to dangerous situations subject to possible physical attack by armed and unarmed persons. Dangers faced by VA police officers include death, increased risk of infectious diseases, and serious and minor trauma, both physical and emotional. The work is performed in settings in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate discomforts and unpleasantness, such as high levels of noise in industrial settings, high temperatures in confined spaces, or severe weather conditions during extended periods of traffic and patrol duties; and moderate to high risk working around hazardous materials such as toxic gases, explosives, infectious biological materials, and others that pose a moderate risk of exposure. Incumbent may face extreme heat or cold, insects, wild and domestic animals, flood waters, earthquakes, hurricanes, nuclear fallout, biological substances and chemical agents, armed gangs, looters and/or emotionally disturbed individuals.
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

If you are using Education to qualify at the GS-5 Level, TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED.
There is no educational substitution at the GS-6 Level.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICER REQUIREMENTS:

1. New VA Police Officers are required to successfully complete the in-residence (400 hours) 8 or 10-week Police Officer Standardized Training in Little Rock, Arkansas. Satisfactory completion of this course is a condition of continued employment.
2. Officers are required to carry agency-approved firearms while on duty on VA property. Officers must achieve and maintain qualification with the agency-approved firearms as condition of gaining and continuing employment as a Police Officer.
3. Officers must also successfully complete physical and psychological examinations prior to entering on duty and annually thereafter as a condition of continued employment.
4. An individual who is convicted of a domestic violence charge cannot be authorized to own, be issued, purchase, or otherwise have possession of a handgun under the Lautenberg Amendment (PL 104-208) to the Gun Control Act of 1968 (18 USC 922).
5. A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Reinvestigations will be conducted every five years. Failure to successfully meet these requirements and obtain a favorable adjudication will be grounds for termination.
6. This is a testing designated position. All 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 the VA.
   The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
   The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM’s Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.
   Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee’s credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• How to Apply

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Help

The primary purpose of this position is to maintain law and order. Police officers protect life, property and civil rights of individuals through diligent foot and motor patrols. They prevent, detect and investigate violations of laws, rules and regulations involving accidents, crimes and misconduct involving misdemeanors and felonies. They arrest violators, assist in prosecution of criminals, and serve as a source of assistance to persons in day to day and emergency situations. In carrying out this mission, police officers are qualified to carry firearms, police baton and chemical weapons (OC). Police officers are trained in the use of force and the use of deadly force, self-defense. restraint, tactical movement and firing techniques.. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Patrolling VA facilities
• Identifying situations where criminal activity has occurred or is about to occur
• Assessing danger and threats and take proper recourse including taking statements, making arrests, and conducting short and long-term investigations
• Ensures compliance with and enforces a full range of Federal, state, territorial, and/or commonwealth, county and municipal laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
• 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.
• Conducting recurring security assessments
• Preparing detailed reports and submitting recommendations to ensure safety and security
• Must use knowledge and skills to conduct investigations on and off VA-controlled property of offenses that may have been committed on property and under the original jurisdiction of VA, consistent with agency policy, agreements with affected local, state or Federal agencies or after other consultations
• Interviewing, interrogating and informing complainants, witnesses and suspects
• Advise victims, witnesses, and offenders on legal procedures, explain the elements of a crime to victims and offenders, mediate disputes between people, speak to people with the intent to develop rapport, develop informants, influence, and provide comfort to those in need
• Provide accurate oral descriptions of persons, places, and events, exchange information with other state, local and Federal law enforcement officers
• Participate in meetings with other officers, VA employees and customers, make presentations to various stakeholders and participate in facility functions, committees, and meetings
• Securing crime scenes as well as accident and disaster sites
• Assessing avenues of investigation in keeping with the rules of evidence and civil rights
• Providing Basic Life Support (BLS) to injured personnel
• Attend training to maintain proficiency in all weapons and tactics issued and utilized as part of their official duties

Officer must: (1) achieve and maintain qualification in the use of the agency approved firearm as a condition of continued employment as a VA Police Officer; (2) complete an initial and annual psychological assessment and physical; (3) pass the VA Law Enforcement Training Center approved physical fitness test; (4) successfully complete the Police Officer Standardized Training (a 400 hour training course, for 8 or 10 weeks) in Little Rock, AR.
Work Schedule: VA Police Officers work rotating shifts to include nights, weekends and holidays.
Position Description Title/PD#: Police Officer/PD99925A and PD99925S
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Physical Requirements: The work requires, on a regular and recurring basis, considerable and strenuous physical exertion, such as, frequent climbing of flights of stairs, walking while on patrol, running while in pursuit of observed violators or suspects in serious crimes. It also requires the regular and recurring intervention with dangerous and assaultive individuals, subjects under influence of intoxicants, and other individuals threatening and capable of inflicting serious bodily harm. The incumbent will be subject to many hazardous situations without backup immediately available, such as, single officer traffic stops, and searches of buildings and outlying areas. The incumbent may be subjected to severe weather conditions and extremely long hours in some cases.
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.