Skip to main content

This job has expired

Police Officer (K-9 Technician)

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
May 21, 2021
Duties

Summary

The United States Capitol Police (USCP) is a CALEA nationally-accredited, federal law enforcement agency. The USCP safeguards the Congress, Members of Congress, employees, visitors, and Congressional buildings and grounds from crime, disruption, and terrorism. We protect and secure Congress so it can fulfill its constitutional and legislative responsibilities in a safe, secure and open environment.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This position is located in the K-9 Unit, Special Operations Division (SOD), Operational Services Bureau. The K-9 Unit provides explosive detection capabilities, routine patrols, and other responsibilities assigned to support the mission of the Department.

Duties:
The K-9 Technician handles and uses trained canines in various settings and activities involving the protection of Congress, its Members, employees, visitors, and the Capitol building facilities, including but not limited to explosive detection, anti-terrorism, and/or urban protection operations involving locating and apprehending criminals.

The K-9 Technician performs surveillance of suspects, and violators to identify and apprehend suspects, bomb threats, and suspicious activities. They conduct explosive detection sweeps, and urban detection operations for the protection of life and property on the Capitol grounds.

The K-9 Technician is responsible for directing canines to perform explosive detection searches of building, office areas, vehicles (to include all modes of transportation), screen all cargo, loading docks and warehouses, parcel pick-up, shipping, receiving, packages, materials and persons as directed by proper authority and consistent with canine training. K-9 Technicians seek, detect, and protect all evidence, victims, and witnesses and perform all law enforcement activities as assigned.

The results of this vacancy announcement selection process will be used to fill positions within the SOD K-9 Unit. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. The selection list for this vacancy announcement will be active for a period of 12 months from the date of the approved selection memorandum.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
4

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a current USCP Officer below the rank of Sergeant.
  • Must have attained the rank of Private First Class.
  • Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
  • Must successfully complete all required training.
  • Must reside within 50 air miles of the United States Capitol Dome.
  • Must successfully pass the K-9 Physical Abilities Test (PAT).


Qualifications

All applicants must meet the following eligibility factors in order to be considered for the position of K-9 Technician:

1. Must reside within 50 air miles of the United States Capitol Dome, in accordance with Directive 1074.003, Home-to-Work (HTW) Vehicle Authorization and Use. The website www.distancefromto.net has been selected to calculate the distance between the candidate's address and the Capitol Dome.

2. Candidate must be a USCP Officer below the rank of Sergeant, have attained the rank of Private First Class by the closing date of this announcement.

3. Candidate must have a residence with a yard large enough to accommodate the issued K-9 portable outdoor E/Z kennel. Candidates must submit a letter of approval from their homeowner's association to erect a kennel, and will be required to submit approval with their application. If you do not have a homeowner's association, submit a statement to that effect.

4. Must not be in restricted leave status as of the selection date.

5. Must be in a full and unrestricted duty status in order to participate in Selection Process Phase III - Physical Abilities Test (PAT) unless otherwise authorized by law (e.g., performance of duty injury, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), or Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)).

6. Must be available to work flexible and/or additional hours.

7. Candidate must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

8. Candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a government issued travel card.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Applications and supporting documentation must be received by the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

This position is non-exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act overtime provisions.

This position is included in a collective bargaining unit.

NOTE: An applicant may request to be removed from consideration by sending a written request to the Office of Human Resources.

RETENTION CRITERIA
Failure to comply with any of the following retention factors will be grounds for mandatory removal from the K-9 Program and will result in reassignment to a different position, demotion, or separation by appropriate procedures.

1. Must successfully complete the USCP K-9 Explosive Detection Training Program (Approximately 12 - 14 weeks in length) or a certified Vapor-Wake training program (Approximately 8 - 12 weeks if assigned as a Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (PBIED) handler); and any other required training programs.
2. Canine Handler Certification: The selected candidate must successfully complete the canine handler training and certification program as designated by USCP. Selected candidates must successfully complete annual certification as a K-9 technician according to the set standards established by the agency.
3. Must successfully complete the Special Operations Division Field Training Officer (FTO) program.
4. Must maintain proper care of assigned canine, Home to Work vehicle (HTW) and home kennel.
5. The selected candidate must be able to home board a dog in his/her residence (i.e., maintain the dog in a safe and approved environment, with no problematic family allergies to dogs, etc.) and be willing to give up other pets if they are not compatible with the assigned canine.
6. Must complete a one-year probationary period from the date rank of Technician is obtained.
7. Must be willing to work any shift assigned.
8. Must be able to obtain and maintain a USCP travel credit card. This position requires travel, and selected candidate must be able to travel outside the Washington Metropolitan area as required.
9. Must maintain a valid driver's license.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The following selection process will be used to further assess candidates who have met the initial eligibility factors. Candidates must qualify under each phase to be considered in subsequent phases.

Phase I: Initial Qualification - The Office of Human Resources (OHR) will conduct an eligibility factor review as outlined in this vacancy.

Phase II: KSA Assessment and Resume review - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities and the resume will be evaluated by an appointed assessment panel.
  • Ability to communicate information to individuals or groups effectively
  • Ability to enforce law and order and maintain public safety.
  • Knowledge of the principles and practices of canine care.
  • Ability to gather detailed information in stressful situations.
Phase III: Canine Physical Abilities Test (PAT) - Candidates must pass each part of the Canine PAT successively to continue to the oral interview. A complete description of the Canine PAT is located under the "Next Steps" section of this vacancy announcement.

Phase IV: Structured Interview - Candidates eligible for Phase IV will be scheduled for an oral interview.

Results of this selection process will be used to recommend candidates to the hiring manager who is the final selecting official. The OHR will conduct a disciplinary action review to determine if there are pending investigatory and/or disciplinary matters, which will be made known to the selecting official.

Prior to making his/her selection, the selecting official shall review any available Department documents, to include application documents and each candidates' complete career disciplinary record, results of selection process phases, and may, at their discretion, conduct interviews if necessary, with all recommended candidates.

The selecting official may, at his/her discretion, not select a recommended candidate for reasons such as:
1. Substandard performance;

2. Serious sustained misconduct; and/or

3. Pending investigatory and/or disciplinary matters internally or externally.

All aspects of the process are subject to the Department's legal review.

All final recommendations are subject to final approval of the Chief of Police.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Applicants must submit a copy of the following document by uploading and attaching the document with their on-line application.

1. Resume.
2. Valid driver's license.
3. Letter of approval from homeowner's association to erect a kennel. If you do not have a homeowner's association, submit a statement to that effect.

It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and required documentation are submitted prior to the closing date of this announcement. If you do not attach the required documentation, you will be ineligible for this announcement.

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert