United States Park Police

The primary duty of the U.S. Park Police is to protect lives. Police Officers are hired by our National Capitol Region and are initially assigned to the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, where most of the force operates. Police Officers may be assigned to areas in New York City or San Francisco and may be detailed to any park of the National Park System on a temporary basis, but men and women who are considering careers as Park Police should expect to work in a large urban area. Park Police Officers preserve the peace; prevent, detect, and investigate accidents and crimes; aid citizens in emergency situations; arrest violators; and often provide crowd control at large public gatherings. A very specialized group within the law enforcement field, the Park Police force includes horse mounted, motorcycle, helicopter, and canine units, a special equipment and tactics team, and investigations and security details. Park Police wear an official uniform. In spite of the fact that the Police Officers work irregular hours and exposed to hazardous and stressful situations, the competition for these jobs is great, and examinations for these positions are not always open.

Basic Qualifications
Unless they are eligible for Federal transfer or reinstatement, applicants must pass a written test administered by the OPM office in Washington, D.C. All applicants must be at least 21, but under 31 years old, have good vision, possess or be able to obtain a valid drivers license, pass a physical examination prior to final selection, and undergo a personal background investigation. The Park Police force looks for individuals who can exercise mature judgment in applying the law to a variety of situations. The abilities to learn and apply detailed and complex regulations and procedures, to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and to keep one's composure under pressure are indicators of successful job performance. Two years of progressively responsible experience demonstrating the types of knowledge, skills, and abilities just described, or the substitution of successfully completed education beyond high school at the rate of 1 year (30 credits) for every 1 year experience, qualifies you for entry-level consideration. Further information is available from our National Capitol Region.