Law Enforcement Specialist (Canine Handler/Coordinator)

Veterans Health Administration

Milwaukee (WI)

On-site

USD 65,000 - 84,000

Full time

12 days ago

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Job summary

Veterans Health Administration in Milwaukee, WI, seeks a Law Enforcement Specialist (Canine Handler/Coordinator) to manage the Canine Program at multiple stations and support field operations. The role involves directing canine searches, training, and administrative duties related to care and certification, plus enforcing laws on VA property.

The position requires coordination across a geographically dispersed area, with duties including patrols, response to security threats, and collaboration

Qualifications

Transcript must be submitted with your application if qualification is based on education.
No educational substitution at this grade level. Foreign education requires equivalency certificate.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the Canine Program at the facility level for a dispersed area.
Direct dog searches of buildings, vehicles, packages, and individuals on VA property.
Train the canine and manage budget/contract responsibilities related to care and certification.
Enforce laws on government property and conduct patrols with the canine to deter crime.
Serve on a Crisis Intervention Team and assist Veterans in mental health crises.

Job description

Law Enforcement Specialist (Canine Handler/Coordinator)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Security and Preparedness (OSP), Field Operations Division, VA Police Service with the Clemet J. Zablocki Medical center, Milwaukee Wi. The Canine Program Coordinator is responsible for managing the Canine Program at the field level and assisting and providing support for multiple stations.

Key Responsibilities

Major Duties: coordinates the Canine Program at the facility level that covers a geographically dispersed area. Directing the Canine to perform detection searches of buildings and office areas, vehicles, packages, materials, and persons housed or located in or near property owned, occupied or secured by the VA.

Responsible for training the canine and administrative functions not limited to budget and contract responsibilities related to the care and certification of the canine. Performs law enforcement duties in accordance with Title 38 U.S.C. §§ 901 and 902, enforcing federal, state, and local laws on VA-controlled property. Conducts patrols with the assigned canine to deter criminal activity, detect contraband, and provide rapid response to security threats.

Ensures proper care, feeding, and housing of the canine, and maintains equipment and vehicles assigned for canine operations. Adherence to strict safety and handling procedures to prevent injury to personnel, the public, or the canine. Responsible for receiving accounting and maintaining appropriate security of canine training aids used for proficiency training. Conducts training to maintain a high level of proficiency and must be certified on a regular and reoccurring basis.

Enforces laws and initiates investigations into possible violations of laws on government property and federally controlled assets across a wide geographically dispersed area. Apprehends wanted persons who are accused of crimes in other jurisdictions; stops, questions, and detains such persons and notifies the appropriate law enforcement or judicial agencies.

Serves as a member of a Crisis Intervention Team, responding to and recognizing through the canine, Veterans experiencing mental health crisis, utilizing advanced deterrence, detection, and de-escalation strategies and knowledge of VA resources to ensure the best possible outcome for our nation's Veterans. Ensures the Canine Program maintains compliance with all required training and certifications.

Analyzes problems, determines deficiencies, finalizes inspection results to include draft, review, editing, and evaluation, and takes corrective action. Prepares a report of findings, providing detailed conclusions and recommendations for program deficiencies, improvements, corrections of irregularities, and rectification of injustices revealed by inspections. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Varies, 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#: Law Enforcement Specialist (Canine Handler/Coordinator)/PD00225A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: On-site work requiring prolonged walking over flat and even surfaces, working in confined spaces, crouching, bending, crawling, standing, and climbing. The work requires outside exposure to all temperatures.

Also requires moderate to arduous physical exertion and possible exposure to personal danger. The incumbent must maintain physical fitness to handle the canine during enforcement actions and training exercises. Occasional lifting of items weighing up to 50 pounds may be required. Some work is performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office.

The position requires exposure to varying climate and environmental conditions, including cold and warm weather conditions and/or exposure to high noise levels and dangerous substances. Appropriate safety practices will always be utilized.

Requirements & Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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/.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $64548 – $83918/yr.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Other security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-09-25.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.