Lead Police Officer
Department of Veterans Affairs
Summary
This position is located within the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, performing law enforcement work for the preservation of peace and the prevention, detection, and investigation of crimes occurring on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) controlled property.
Duties
- Leads a unit or team of employees and distributes/balances workload in accordance with established workflow or job specialization; Empathizes, engages, and communicates with all individuals encountered to ensure a positive and safe environment; Instructs/trains employees in specific tasks
- And job techniques; Resolves simple, informal complaints of employees and refers others to supervisor; Assures compliance with federal, state, county and municipal laws and ordinances as they pertain to VA property and agency rules and regulations pertaining to
- Law enforcement work; Writes uniform offense reports covering incidents that contain pertinent information, which is factual, classified properly, and submits reports timely; Questions victims and witnesses at the scene of an incident; Issues citations for personally observed violations
- Of the law, rules, or regulations; Assists victims of accidents or assaults by providing first aid, etc.; Obtains statements from persons involved in or who has witnessed an accident; Pursues and apprehends person feeling a crime scene or
- Attempting to resist arrest while on VA property; Identifies and reacts to overcome life threatening situations such as natural or manmade disasters, hostage, barrier, terrorist attack, kidnap, or felony assault; Conducts long and short-term investigations; Performs all other
- Duties as assigned.
- Engage directly with Veterans, employees, and visitors to collaboratively identify safety and security concerns, develop problem-solving strategies, and take responsibility for effective outcomes that support the VA's mission of providing a safe healing environment.
- Serve as a liaison with patrol officers assigned to the officer's area of responsibility, working to address crime trends, safety issues, and quality-of-life concerns within VA property; conduct community outreach within the medical center, participate in town halls
- Or campus events, coordinate with other VA divisions, and partner with federal, state, and local entities as needed.
- Identify, request, and utilize appropriate resources to implement effective community-oriented policing practices tailored to the unique needs of the VA patient population and workforce.
- Maintain a leadership role within the designated operational area by guiding safety initiatives, coordinating problem-solving efforts, and fostering strong working relationships with stakeholders across the VA campus.
- A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position.
- Physical Requirements: The work requires, on a regular and recurring basis, considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as running, frequent climbing of multiple flights of stairs, and carrying items weighing over 50 pounds.
- It requires stamina, physical agility, dexterity, and the strength to pursue, apprehend or detain persons who are often uncooperative, assaultive, and/or armed.
- Conditions: The work involves both moderate and high risks and possible endangerment of life or serious injury that requires the exercise of safety precautions and use of personal protective equipment
- The work is performed in settings in which there is regular and recurring exposure to moderate to severe discomforts and unpleasantness, such as high temperatures in confined spaces, high temperatures due to mandatory protective personal equipment, or adverse weather conditions during extended periods of traffic and patrol duties.
- The work involves moderate risk requiring exercise of safety precautions when working around hazardous materials such as toxic gases, explosives, infectious biological materials, and others that pose a moderate risk of exposure.
- 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.
- Work Schedule: Compressed/Flexible Schedule.
- 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.
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
- Position Description/PD#: Lead Police Officer/PD14756A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for 15% up front lump sum (sign on bonus)!
- In order to attend the VA Police Academy (Law Enforcement Training Center LETC), you must be able to pass a physical fitness test of a 1.5 mile run, pushups, and sit-ups based off VA physical standards.
- Failure to complete the Police Academy as scheduled by the agency may result in a removal as a VA Police Officer.
Requirements
- You must be a U.S.
- Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
- In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment.
- The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
- 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 VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
- Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Applicants who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are ineligible for U.S.
- Department of Veterans Affairs Police Officer positions.
- Cases pending adjudication may not be eligible for selection.
- Applicant shall not possess any Brady/Giglio violations or concerns
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of
- Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
- In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the
- Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the
- Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Education
There is no educational substitution at this grade 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Required Documents
- To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former
- Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans
- Preference claims, or
- ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced
- Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information. Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) Performance Appraisal Resume Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript
- SF-50, Notification of Personnel
- Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or
- Eligibility): Most recent
- SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee An
- SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent
- SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional
- SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
- Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. Examples of appropriate
- SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
- Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
- SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old. Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible
- Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor
- Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your
- DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
- If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable,
- General, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
- Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible
- Veterans) must also submit an
- SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran
- Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on
- Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets
- Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
- It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons.
- Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted.
- HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.
- HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties.
- VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.
- HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected
- To perform any or all of their work at these facilities.
- HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students.
- HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
- Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion.
- The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.
- Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
About this role
The Lead Police Officer position and is based in Los Angeles, California. This position is located within the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, performing law enforcement work for the preservation of peace and the prevention, detection, and investigation of crimes occurring on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) controlled property.
Day to day, the work involves engage directly with Veterans, employees, and visitors to collaboratively identify safety and security concerns, develop problem-solving strategies, and take responsibility for effective outcomes that support the VA's mission of providing a safe healing environment. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.
Who should apply
This role calls for United States citizenship, the relevant certifications named in the posting, and a valid driver's license. Be prepared for a pre-employment drug screening as part of the hiring process. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Lead Police Officer position in Los Angeles, California, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.
How competitive it is
Competitiveness for this Lead Police Officer role depends mainly on how closely applicants match the stated qualifications. Because it is a supervisory or senior position, expect experienced candidates and a strong emphasis on a documented leadership and performance record. Based in Los Angeles, California, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings.
This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.
