Special Agent (Entry-Level)

United-States-Capitol-Police; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Capitol Police (USCP) safeguards Congress, Members, staff, visitors, and properties in Washington, D.C. The initial assessment phase includes an orientation session and the PoliceOfficer Selection Test (POST), followed by an examination phase with psychological, medical, and polygraph evaluations.

A full background check and permissive requirements apply before appointment. Eligibility rests on U.S.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship--Only United States Citizens will receive consideration. Naturalized citizens must be able to participate and complete a holistic and verifiable background investigation of their personal and professional background.
• Age Requirements– Sworn officer positions with the USCP are subject to the mandatory retirement provisions of the Capitol Police Retirement Act, which requires an officer to separate/retire from the USCP by age 57, but as the result of current critical mission requirement, the age has been increased to 59.

Responsibilities

• Candidates must meet the following requirements to be minimally qualified for this position: must be a United States citizen, must meet age requirements, must possess and maintain a valid REAL ID U.S. driver’s license, must show evidence of responsible driving in the past year, male applicants must be registered for Selective Service, travel for hiring assessments and training is at applicant's expense, must successfully complete a full field background investigation, polygraph, medical, criminal, credit, and tax checks, and must complete all required training and a probationary period.

Education

4-year college degree or 4 years of military experience

Job description

The United States Capitol Police (USCP) safeguards the Congress, Members of Congress, employees, visitors, and Congressional buildings and grounds from crime, disruption, and terrorism. The USCP protects and secures Congress so it can fulfill its constitutional and legislative responsibilities in a safe, secure, and open environment.

The Initial Assessment Phase consists of two components:

Orientation Session- An overview of the USCP mission, hiringprocess, training, and employment opportunities.

Written Exam- The PoliceOfficer Selection Test (POST) will test the candidate's knowledge of basicmath, reading, and grammar. A passing score of at least 70% (seventy percent)must be obtained ineachsection.

Note:All online portions of thehiring process require the use of a desktop or laptop computer. The use of cellphones and tablets will NOT be allowed for video conferencing. It is highlyrecommended that all candidates become familiar with the use of theircomputer's webcam and microphone.

Applicants who successfully complete the Initial Assessment Phase will beissued a Conditional Offer of Employment and will enter the Examination Phaseof the hiring process.

Examination Phase

The Examination Phase consists of psychological, medical and polygraphexaminations. This will be a candidate’s first required visit toour office in Washington, D.C. during the hiring process. Efforts will be madeto schedule these examinations consecutively to eliminate return visits tocomplete the examinations.

• Psychological –Candidates complete a battery of psychological assessments and a clinicalinterview. The psychological examination will last approximately four tosix hours. Candidates are encouraged to be well-rested and eat prior tothe examination. The psychological examwill occur online and require the use of a desktop or laptop computer, camera,and microphone.
• Medical - The medical examination will determine if a candidate is medicallyqualified to perform the functional requirements of the job. Candidateswill be required to fast (abstain from food) prior to the medical examination.
• Polygraph – The polygraph examination is used to confirm information obtainedthrough the selection process.
• Physical Readiness Test (PRT) - The PRT consists of three events: a timed300-meter run, push-up test, and a 1.5-mile run.

Background Investigation

The final phase of the selection process requires candidates to undergo a fullbackground investigation that will include a thorough review and verificationof the candidate's employment history, employer, residential, and personalreferences, in depth criminal and credit history, and academic records.

• Must be a United States citizen.
• Must meet position age requirements.
• Must possess and maintain a valid REAL ID U.S. driver's license.
• Must show evidence of responsible driving in the past one (1) year.
• Male applicants must be registered for Selective Service.
• Travel for hiring assessments and training is at applicant's expense.
• Must successfully complete a full field background investigation.
• Polygraph, medical assessment, criminal, credit, and tax check required.
• Must successfully complete all required training.
• Must successfully complete a probationary period.

Candidates must meet the following requirements to be minimally qualified for this position:

• U.S. Citizenship--OnlyUnited States Citizens will receive consideration. Qualified applicants will berequired to provide proof of citizenship early in the selection process.Naturalized citizens must be able to participate and complete a holistic andverifiable background investigation of their personal and professionalbackground.
• AgeRequirements– Sworn officer positions with the USCP are subject to themandatory retirement provisions of the Capitol Police Retirement Act, whichrequires an officer to separate/retire from the USCP by age 57, but as theresult of current critical mission requirement, the age has been increased to59.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old at time ofappointment and ordinarily not older than 37. However, the maximum entry agehas been increased to 39 years of age at the time of appointment (or 40 yearsof age if the individual turns 40 in the same month of their initialappointment), with required mandatory retirement after 20 years of Federal lawenforcement service (e.g., employed at 39 years of age and retire at 59 yearsof age).

Education-- 4-year college degree or 4 years of militaryexperience is required.

Valid Driver's License--Applicants must possess a valid U.S. driver's license that has not been revokedor under suspension for the past one (1) year.

Criminal History Check-- Mustsuccessfully pass a comprehensive criminal history check of the past 10 years.

• Acriminal history check will be performed on all qualified applicants.

USCP Police Officers arerequired to possess a firearm and ammunition.

Applicants who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violencecannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition and are ineligible fortheposition.

Credit Check-- Mustsuccessfully pass a credit check. Applicants must not be in default ordelinquent on any Federal guaranteed student loans.

Selective Service Registration-- Male applicants must provide verificationof registration with the Selective Service System or must verify exemption fromthe Selective Service System registration because of age or military status.Female applicants are exempt from Selective Service System registration. https://www.sss.gov/verify

Fingerprint Check--Applicants' fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation (FBI) for a check of the criminal history record.

Background Investigation--Must successfully complete all components of the USCP full field backgroundinvestigation.

There are few automatic grounds for rejection in the USCP backgroundinvestigation process. Issues of misconduct, such as illegal drug use, arrests,or convictions may not be automatically disqualifying. However, deliberatemisstatements, omissions, or intentionally withholding required information atany phase of the hiring process will result in a candidate's disqualificationregardless of the nature or reason for the misstatement or omission. Theprimary reason candidates fail a background investigation is due to deliberately withholding or omitting material facts. Providing false and/ormisleading information may be grounds for removal from the application andselection process.