Investigator (Applicant)

There is only one city in the country that can say it is the Nation’s Capital – Washington, D.C. Given that distinction, The Metropolitan Police Department is the premiere law enforcement organization in the city. We receive over 22 million visitors a year, have almost 700,000 residents, and 21,000 private business. The Department consists of more than 4,200 members: approximately 3,550 sworn members and over 650 civilian employees. We are one of the most diverse and highly trained departments in the country. We have the honor of safeguarding and protecting not only our nation’s residents, but also people from all over the world.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) offers an attractive benefits package. The benefits package includes competitive compensation, health insurance, prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, short and long term disability and life insurance, as well a strong retirement benefit and savings options. Employees are also eligible for our employer contributed 401a plan after one year of employment. Additional perks such as discounts on wireless carriers, gym memberships, amusement park tickets and much more! Additional information can be found at: DCHR Benefits

This position is located in the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Professional Development Bureau (PDB), Recruiting Division.

This Investigator (Applicant) position is covered under the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) bargaining unit and you may be required to pay an agency fee through direct payroll deductions.

The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that applicants for sworn and civilian positions with the MPD meet the Department’s employment standards; ensuring the best qualified applicants for employment are hired; ensuring the actual and perceived integrity of MPD and its personnel; and maintaining the fiscal integrity of MPD by eliminating or reducing the costs associated with hiring unproductive or underproductive personnel.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following:

• Plans, organizes, and conducts full background suitability investigations of MPD applicants to include, sworn, civilian, cadet, and DC Fire Department Aron Investigators.
• Handles investigations involving substantial difficulty in resolving conflicts, the confirmation or suspected activity which would render an applicant unsuitable for employment, and coordination with a significant number of outside agencies.
• Conducts extensive interviews with employers, supervisors, co-workers, relatives, neighbors, friends and associates, members of other law enforcement agencies and others who may be able to furnish information concerning the suitability of an applicant for employment; attempts to corroborate, refute or reconcile the information obtained from the various sources; takes notes and documents the interviews.
• Defers processing at the applicant’s request, advises the applicant of the effect of the deferral on his/her likelihood of employment; ensures that the applicant is notified in writing as required; re-activates the case at the appropriate time. When applicants decline further processing for employment; ensures the applicant is notified in writing as required; closes out the investigation according to procedure.
• Writes comprehensive employment suitability investigative reports; summarizes the findings in view of the job-related employment standards; draws conclusions concerning the suitability of the applicant for employment; submits the report and background folder for supervisory review; modifies the report and documentation folder to meet reporting standards; and makes recommendations for hire or disqualification.
• Establishes and maintains a professional relationship with the applicants; responds to inquiries or complaints regarding the progress of cases; provides information concerning investigative policies and procedures to improve the understanding of the background investigation process.
• Attends training to maintain and develop new skills and keeps informed of employment suitability investigative strategies and techniques.
• Operates a computer to retrieve, analyze and use data related to investigative activities; prepares narrative and statistical material using a computer.
• Reviews and processes fingerprint applicants (both ink and scanning), take photos, and verifies official documents.
• Conducts checks to include the Washington Area Law Enforcement System (WALES), national criminal investigation check, interstate identification index check, local and out-of-state criminal checks, law enforcement information exchange check, Justice Information System (JUSTIS) check, credit checks, Lexis-Nexis check, local and out of state driving record checks, local and out of state civil checks, and various other required local stateside checks.
• Travels within the Washington, DC Metropolitan area to review and conduct background investigations, as deemed appropriate.
• Occasionally, participates in City Job Fairs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the policies, rules and regulations of the Police Department relevant to carrying out work assignments.
• Knowledge of the employment processes governing the position for which employment suitability investigations are being conducted.
• Knowledge of the District of Columbia and Federal laws, rules, and regulations governing employment suitability investigations.
• Knowledge of employment suitability investigation procedures and techniques.
• Knowledge of investigative interviewing techniques and procedures.
• Knowledge of criminal offenses and the type of offense (i.e., felony, misdemeanor, statutory misdemeanor) in accordance with District of Columbia.
• Knowledge of court terminology and of the judgments issued by a court (i.e., stet document, probation before judgment).
• Knowledge of reporting, record-keeping and case documentation requirements.
• Knowledge of the geography of Washington, D.C. and the Metropolitan Area.
• Ability to listen to, understand and respond to information in one-on-one and group situations.
• Ability to treat persons of many cultures and of all levels of society courteously and with dignity and respect.
• Ability to work effectively with others inside and outside the Police Department.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas in writing. Ability to retain, recall and record detailed information. Ability to mitigate case information.
• Ability to elicit detailed, in-depth information relevant to investigative goals.
• Ability to determine when sufficient information has been generated with which to complete a case.

Licensures, Certifications and other requirements:

Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and acquire a license to operate District of Columbia government vehicles.

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree preferred.

Work Experience:

Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the CS-11 grade level, or its non-District equivalent, gained from the public or private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position directly related to the position. Specialized experience for this position includes experience using policies, rules and regulations of the Police Department; using employment processes governing the position for which employment suitability investigations are being conducted; applying investigative interviewing techniques and procedures; and understanding criminal offenses and the type of offense.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office setting, departmental sites, and various businesses throughout the District of Columbia.

Other Significant Factors:

A background investigation, to include a criminal, traffic and credit check are required for positions with the Metropolitan Police Department.

This position is deemed as “Security Sensitive” pursuant to Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations, in addition to the general suitability screening and criminal background check (pre-employment and periodic), individuals may be subject to the following checks and tests:

a. Traffic record check (as applicable);
b. Pre-employment drug and alcohol test (as applicable);
c. Consumer credit check (as applicable);
d. Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test;
e. Random drug and alcohol test;
f. Return to duty or follow-up drug and alcohol test; and
g. Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.

The incumbent is required to possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator’s permit.

The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer: all qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which is also prohibited. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited.

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