Police_Officer.pdf

Police Officer

GS-0083-06, PD #3549

Introduction

This position is located within the Police Service at the VA Montana Health Care System (VAMHCS). This Service provides law enforcement and security support for the VAMHCS, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), VA Montana Vet Centers, and the Veteran’s Benefits Administration Regional Office (VARO).

The primary purpose of the position is to perform the essential functions of the job which include but are not limited to the suppression of crime and criminal activity, the protection of life and property, the apprehension and arrest of violators of criminal laws, the recovery of stolen property and the regulation of non-criminal conduct. Police officers patrol areas, familiarizing themselves with all aspects of the environment being protected (property layout, resources and personnel). Police initiate contact when unusual persons, circumstances present, and when accidents occur; making detailed reports on all such occurrences.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Principle duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Patrol Operations: Responds to calls for police assistance; determine whether incidents are criminal or civil in nature; search persons, vehicles and places; patrol all Department of Veterans Affairs property on foot, with motor vehicle, or other approved conveyance;

operate vehicles in both normal and emergency situations/conditions in good and bad weather conditions; coordinates and/or assists in all disaster response operations; takes charge when appropriate or otherwise necessary; establishes safe perimeters and entry control points; evacuates personnel; participates in crowd control operations during emergencies and civil disturbances; warns offenders as appropriate (in lieu of summons or arrest); makes checks of various areas to determine whether the area is secure and/or if criminal activity is occurring; transports prisoners; assists sick, elderly or disabled persons; evacuates personnel from dangerous areas; escorts persons prone to violence; functions as a first responder (Basic Life Support (BLS) certified and administers first aid; requests emergency medical attention when warranted; transports injured or disabled persons as appropriate; acts as a mediator during disputes/altercations; uses reasoning to solve problems; maintains composure with irate or emotionally disturbed people; executes Federal and local arrest warrants; notifies appropriate outside jurisdictions when persons are present who have non-federal arrest warrants issued for them.

Traffic Operations: Identify and remove hazards; enforce traffic and parking policies, regulations and laws; control, direct and regulate traffic; investigate and document traffic accidents and provide/coordinate aid for injured parties; check vehicles for proper registration and compliance with the motor vehicle code; investigate suspicious vehicles; collects physical evidence from accident scenes; identify owners of vehicles involved in traffic accidents; administer roadside sobriety tests; arrange for obtaining test samples for sobriety tests; direct traffic using barriers and hand signals; issue traffic and parking citations; impound or tow vehicles; operate traffic radar equipment; assist stranded motorists; identify habitual offenders to supervision.

Arrest/Apprehension: Identify, lawfully detain and arrest offenders; advises persons of their constitutional rights; advises employees of their Weingarten rights; make judgments regarding the arrest, citation or release of suspects/offenders; seize contraband; conduct frisks and searches; pursue suspects on foot; conduct field identifications; uses physical force as necessary to control or subdue persons; use approved weapons when necessary; uses deadly force when necessary; issues citations and makes arrest for non-traffic offenses.

Investigative: Investigate accidents; makes judgment calls regarding such as the presence of probable cause for warrant searches; search for missing people; locate next of kin; conduct surveillance of individuals/locations; investigate crimes against persons and property; investigate complaints of drug law violations; collect and preserve evidence; estimate values of stolen or recovered goods; transport property or evidence;

recover and inventory lost or stolen property; conduct searches of persons, vehicles and spaces; stop and investigate suspicious persons on foot or in vehicles; review information on criminal activity within jurisdictional and surrounding areas; search crime scenes for evidence; processes crime scenes; diagram crime and accident scenes;

document the chain of custody; locate witnesses to a crime; interview and question witnesses; interrogates and/question suspects; record and/or review records and pictures to aid in investigations; secure accident, crime or disaster scenes; check on status of stolen property, criminal histories and wanted persons through computer network; prepare criminal cases for prosecution; coordinate with prosecutors.

Communications: Provide accurate oral descriptions of persons, places and events;

exchange information with other state, local and federal law enforcement officers (in and outside VA); participate in meetings with other officers and the general public; make presentations to various groups; advise victims, witnesses and offenders on legal procedure; conduct interviews; explain complaints and the elements of various crimes to offenders, victims, witnesses; mediate disputes between people; speak with people with the intent to develop rapport; comforts those experiencing emotional difficulty; refer personnel to agencies providing social services or other type of assistance.

Court: Present competent professional testimony in court; present physical evidence in court; confer with prosecutors; reads and reviews reports and evidence to prepare for court presentations.

Planning and Organizing: Evaluate modifications to tactical plans; participate in the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies and procedures; coordinate with representative of other services during support operations;

coordinate with members of other law enforcement organization; perform special duties as assigned by supervisors.

Training: Attend and complete training as scheduled; recommend and assist in developing additional training for other officers as assigned.

Administrative: Write comprehensive police offense reports to document the full range of incidents falling within the scope of policing on VA property; prepares daily activity reports; write memos; complete various agency forms necessary to document police activity and involvement.

Miscellaneous: Maintain and properly operate departmental or post equipment as necessary; provide leadership and direction to dispatchers and lower graded or less senior police officers on the shift; provide support and protection to visiting dignitaries;

multitasks and performs other duties as assigned.

Other Requirements: The Sensitivity Level of the position is Non-Sensitive. Police Officers must successfully pass a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI). The incumbent is subject to re-investigation as determined by agency guidelines.

The incumbent is required to successfully pass a physical and psychological examination prior to being hired for employment. The incumbent is required to successfully pass annual physical and psychological examinations.

The incumbent must maintain emotional control when physically assaulted or when threatened by assault or while being verbally abused. The incumbent must exercise patience and understanding when confronted by emotionally disturbed and physically or mentally challenged personnel.

The incumbent must maintain proficiency with all agency weapons.

The incumbent must maintain a valid state driver’s license.

Factor 1 – Knowledge Required By Position Level 1-3 350 Points

The incumbent must have knowledge of an extensive body of standardized, optional and innovative investigative procedures, techniques, and methods to detect, investigate, and resolve crimes and other incidents that are beyond the scope or requirements for solution on patrol assignments from simple rules violations to felonies.

Ability to handle firearms in a professional and safe manner. Ability to carry a firearm will be mandatory requirement for the position. Demonstrated proficiency will be documented on a quarterly and semi-annual basis, which includes firearm range qualification and use of force training.

Demonstrated proficiency in the proper and safe use of police vehicles, including but not limited to emergency operations and during inclement weather.

Demonstrate proficiency in the proper and safe use of other issued and available equipment in order to defend/protect property, persons and self.

Ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic levels in order to explain rights, interview and interrogate personnel, resolve problems, handle safety issues, develop and maintain informant networks, assist in prosecuting of cases, prepare and write reports, observe, plan and conduct analyses and/or extensive research on criminal activity, executing investigative techniques that’s results in arrests of suspects, and in some instances, in changes in patrol operating methods.

Knowledge of concurrent jurisdiction policies and procedures in order to prosecute actions in local, state and federal courts.

Knowledge of other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in order to work jointly on criminal cases or serve as a resource.

Factor 2 – Supervisory Controls Level 2-2 125 Points

The supervisor makes assignment(s) such as long-term investigations and undercover work within the employee’s scope of responsibilities; defines the objectives, priorities, and deadlines; and assists the employee in unusual situations, which do not have clear precedents.

The employee, having developed competence in the assignment, plans and carries out the steps required according to specific case conditions (time and place to deal with witnesses, coordination with other law enforcement agencies, cover, need for and nature of stakeouts or use of covert surveillance equipment). The employee handles deviations from established procedures by resolving problems that arise according to agency or local standards, previous training and experience, established practices, legal precedents, or other controls appropriate to the immediate circumstances. Assignments may require the employee to perform investigations extending for periods of time beyond a single shift and to ascertain interrelationships with other cases and/or law enforcement agencies that may affect the methods and procedures used.

Completed work is evaluated for technical soundness, such as the quality of evidence, veracity of suspect or witness statements, ability to get U.S. Attorneys or others to accept cases for prosecution, success in solving crimes and violations, and the contributions to the unit’s crime prevention program. Techniques used by the employee are not usually reviewed in detail.

Factor 3 – Guidelines Level 3-2 125 Points

The employee has a comprehensive set of references to provide guidance while carrying out official duties. However, guidelines are generally written with desired outcomes in mind, specific procedures are not enumerated in a step-by-step protocol.

Therefore, employees must exercise a significant amount of judgment and discretion to interpret which guideline(s), procedure(s) or law(s) would best fit the situation to achieve the desired outcome. Events not specifically covered by a particular guideline are resolved by the officers’ use of good judgment and discretion, picking the best solution to the problem. Employees analyze the results of such efforts and recommend modifications or additions to procedures when appropriate.

Factor 4 – Complexity Level 4-3 150 Points

The employee performs various duties requiring the application of different and unrelated methods, practices, techniques, or criteria. The work typically involves such assignments as extensive investigative responsibilities (e.g., detective work extending beyond the span of a single shift), assignments that vary frequently in the nature of cases handled, and assignments requiring the application of a wide variety of police techniques to resolve – such as but not limited to: varied interview and interrogation techniques, crime scene and evidence processing, de-escalation skills, etc.). Officers are regularly exposed to unscheduled exercises to demonstrate proficiency in tactics and special weapons.

The employee decides what actions to take and the applicable methodology based on assessment of facts obtained from other officers, witnesses, and personal observations and interviews. Decisions made vary according to the nature of perceived threat, as from demonstrators or anticipated terrorist actions, by the nature of hazards imposed by local terrain, and/or weather or other conditions that affect lighting, communications, and the ability to observe or pursue violators. The officer decides on whether standard or special procedures are appropriate, and whether the situation is real or simulates a potential threat.

The chosen course of action may be selected from several alternatives depending on the nature of the case, facts and clues available, personal analysis of case information, jurisdictional questions, and other considerations that affect the ability to identify sufficient facts and resolve case issues. The nature of the incident or threat, presence or absence of weapons, number and kinds of persons encountered, and other variables must be assessed to determine the proper course of action. The officer's assessment of such conditions and elements must be made quickly in order to determine among several alternatives the kinds of action to take and the level of force to use.

Factor 5 – Scope and Effect Level 5-3 150 Points

The employee responds to a variety of law enforcement problems ranging from simple rule violations to felony crimes in conformance with established criteria, methods, techniques and procedures. Officers take charge and control crime scenes until appropriate law enforcement personnel process the area and all threats have been removed. Officers regularly conduct criminal investigations under the supervision of the Operations Officer, Detective or Lieutenant. These investigations regularly overlap into other shifts and can sometimes go on for periods in excess of two weeks. When jurisdictional issues arise, officers work within the agency’s restraints while coordinating investigative efforts with law enforcement agents from non-VA organizations.

Employees are tasked with providing various protection services to visiting dignitaries both on and off VA property. Employees are required to carry government issued pagers/cellphones and are subject to emergency recall at any time to support law enforcement and security operations (without paid standby time).

Factor 6 – Personal Contacts Level 6-3 60 Points

Officers regularly initiate or interact with individuals or groups from both within and outside the employing agency in a moderately unstructured setting. Positive contacts typically consist of providing assistance to the general public, professional persons in and outside the agency, and to members of the media entering VA controlled property.

Other common contacts are made with violators of laws, rules, regulations where those contacted are regularly reluctant to accept the officer’s authority, may resist detention or attempt to flee, or with unruly individuals who pose a threat to the officer and others present. Such contacts may include for example individuals involved in verbal or physical disputes, trespassers or other law violators who are attempting to avoid arrest;

demonstrators who are attempting to cross police control lines or others where the persons contacted commonly react negatively and violently to the police. Officers regularly contact convicted felons and misdemeanants, persons with outstanding arrest warrants, suspects in both misdemeanor and felony crimes, hostile witnesses, distraught individuals who may have been witness to or victimized by a criminal act, and others where there is potential for arrest, detention, or issuance of citations for both serious and minor offenses of law, rule, regulation, or for violent or irrational responses on the part of the perpetrator or victim.

Officers must meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Officers consistently communicate and treat customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. The officer provides the customer with correct information according to established policies and procedures and handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.

Factor 7 – Purpose of Contacts Level 7-3 120 Points

The purpose is to influence, motivate, interrogate, or control persons or groups which may be fearful, skeptical, uncooperative, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, mentally/emotionally disturbed, assaultive, suicidal/homicidal, or otherwise dangerous.

Therefore, the employee must be skillful in approaching individuals and groups in order to obtain the desired effect, such as gaining compliance with established policies and regulations and/or obedience to the law – through persuasion or negotiation, or by the legal application of force when warranted.

Factor 8 – Physical Demands Level 8-2 20 Points

The work requires, on a regular and recurring basis, considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as frequent climbing of multiple flights of stairs, running, lifting heavy objects over 50 pounds, crouching or crawling in restrictive areas during search or pursuit activities, or defending oneself or others against physical attack. Body armor must be worn and duty equipment (pistol with extra ammunition, chemical weapon, MEB (Monadnock Expandable Baton), handcuffs, radio, gloves, keys, etc) must be regularly worn or carried. The wearing of this equipment significantly amplifies the physical strain experienced by the employee during physical exertion or during periods of hot weather. Employees are regularly required to work more long hours.

Factor 9 – Work Environment Level 9-2 20 Points

The work is performed both in and out of doors, with exposure to the elements. The environment regularly involves high risks with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress that require a range of safety and other precautions (e.g., subject to possible physical attack or riot, mob conditions or similar situations where conditions cannot be controlled). The position may be located in a high crime area where the public has easy access and officers must patrol in locations where persons may be armed while attempting auto theft, vandalism, narcotics transactions, and other offenses that can lead to assault with or without a weapon in order to avoid arrest. Includes operations regularly performed in areas of extremely rough terrain with wide annual variations in climatic conditions. All officers are required to work rotating posts/assignments on shift and rotating shifts and schedules.

Other Significant Facts

Customer Service

Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.

Automated Data Processing (ADP) Security

Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA policy. Protects the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion. Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement that the employee signs.

Privacy

VHA employees must comply with laws, regulations and policies when using and disclosing individually identifiable information. All VHA employees shall comply with all Federal laws, regulations, VA and VHA policies. Employees shall conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of conduct concerning the disclosure or use of information in the VA Standards of Ethical Conduct and Related Responsibilities of Employees.

Employees who have access to VHA records shall be instructed on an ongoing basis on the requirements of Federal privacy and information laws, regulations, and VA and VHA policy.