Clarification from the agency

Qualified Status Candidates

The Central Alabama Veteran Health Care System (CAVHCS) is a consolidated health care system that includes VA Medical Centers in Montgomery and Tuskegee Alabama as well as Montgomery HCC, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) in Dothan Alabama, Ft. Rucker Alabama, Monroeville, Alabama and Columbus Georgia. The Primary Duty Station for these position are at the Tuskegee Campus and Montgomery Campus. The incumbent may be required to work on site at the other locations as required.

These positions are located within the Police Service Line at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) in Montgomery Campus, Tuskegee Campus, Tuskegee, AL performing law enforcement work and assuring compliance with federal, state, county and municipal laws and ordinances as they pertain to VA property and agency rules and regulations.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Physically protecting patients, visitors and employees;
- Protecting of the civil rights of all individuals while on VA controlled property;
- Preventing, detecting and investigating crimes;
- Patrolling assigned areas on foot or by motor vehicle;
- Subduing persons causing a disturbance or who are harmful to themselves or others;
- Following proper rules and procedures concerning search and seizure of evidence and contraband;
- Obtaining search and arrest warrants;
- Arresting violators;
- Providing basic first aid and/or begins CPR until arrival of emergency medical personnel;
- Preparing reports covering activities and events occurring over the course of a shift;
- Controlling traffic;
- Assisting citizens in emergency situations;
- Performing other related duties as assigned.

WORK SCHEDULE: Montgomery and Tuskegee 12 hours shift 6am-6pm and 6pm - 6am The work schedule for other locations will be discussed during the interview and selection process.
POSITION DESCRIPTION TITLE/PD#: Police Officer, GS-0083-06, PD# 09277-A

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Pre-employment physical examination
• English Language Proficiency
• Active and Current Drivers License
• Participation in the Seasonal Influenza Program

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/10/2020.

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 06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 05. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Specialized Experience: In addition to the time in grade requirement, eligible candidates must also qualify based on specialized experience. To be qualified, candidates must have by successfully completed at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Police Officer. This experience has 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.

Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: 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; operating radar or other speed detection equipment; 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; patrolling; pursuing and apprehending person; subduing individuals causing disturbances; seeking detecting, and protecting evidence and witnesses at the scene of an incident; making arrest and performing booking procedures, conducting investigations; interrogating suspects; applying all correct rules of search and seizure; and analyzing facts to identify suspects and develop case information. Specialized experience included active arrest authority and firearm proficiency with a license to carry. NOTE: This experience must be clearly identified within your resume.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Prior completion of the Ten (10) week course with the VA Law enforcement Academy.

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 as a security guard or corrections officer is generally not qualifying. Experience must be fully documented on your Resume' and must include job title, duties, month & year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICE OFFICER POSITION:
1. 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.
2. VA Police Officers must be able to achieve and maintain mandatory firearm qualification/certification.
3. Successfully completed an 10-week course at the VA Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.
4. A character investigation may 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 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).

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.

Physical Requirements: The officer conducts walking and motorized patrol of grounds and parking areas open to the public in all types of weather and walking patrols of the buildings and grounds to detect/prevent criminal activity. The officer responds to alarms, pursues and restrains individuals suspected of committing a crime or mentally/emotionally disturbed persons who are acting in a manner that may injure themselves or others. The work requires regular recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking, driving and similar activities. It is frequently necessary for the officer to functions located throughout the facility's grounds, respond to incidents in progress, emergencies or alarms in the outlying buildings and he/she has to cover long distances by running in both the pursuit of suspects and response to requests for emergency assistance or alarms from clinics or functions located throughout the facility's ground.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.
WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.