Additional Conditions of Employment:
- Driver's License: 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, 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 at that time.
- Firearms: VA Police Officers are required to carry agency-approved firearms while on duty on VA property. Officers must achieve and maintain qualifications/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). ApplicantsMust 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.
- Medical Exam:A medical exam is required. The duties of these positions require moderate to arduous physical exertion and/or duties of 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/employees must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of the position without risk to themselves or others. They 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/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 position. For some positions, the loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated 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.
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-06 Police Officer
- Specialized Experience: Applicant must have 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 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 CORRECTINAL INSTITUTUIONS, 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.
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.
NOTE: 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/.