U.S. Supreme Court Police
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Qualifications and Requirements


Qualifications:

The criteria listed below must be met in order to be eligible to apply:

  • An applicant’s education/experience must include at least one of the following to be considered:
    • An Associate’s Degree or higher from an accredited institution (or being within six months of graduation);
    • A minimum of one year of full-time experience as a sworn police officer;
    • A minimum of three years of active duty military service (or one year of active duty military service for Military Police, Master-at-Arms, Security Forces, and Maritime Enforcement Specialists);
    • A minimum of three years of extensive work history in positions that develop skills and competencies that are transferrable to the role of an entry-level law enforcement officer (consideration under this category will be on a case-by- case basis and take into account all other suitability criteria).
  • Applicants must be mature, reliable, skilled in oral and written communication, and have excellent interpersonal skills. Must have the ability to display a high standard of ethical conduct and be trusted in all work situations.
  • Applicants must have no record of felony convictions, and must not currently be involved in any pending criminal charges. Applicants who possess prior military service must have been separated under honorable conditions (honorable discharge).
  • Applicants must be at least within six months of turning 21 years of age, but not yet 39 years of age at the date of application, with some exceptions as noted below:
    • Applicants over the age of 39 may still be considered if they can demonstrate sufficient prior coverage under the federal law enforcement retirement system special provision to allow them to achieve at least 20 years of total service before reaching age 60. See 5 U.S. Code 8425(d) for details on the special provision.
  • Applicants must be licensed to drive for at least one year at the time of application, and have an excellent driving record.

Education:

  • A high school diploma is required of all applicants.
  • An Associate’s Degree or higher is required of applicants unless they meet one of the other eligibility criteria listed in the Qualifications section above.

Requirements:

  • U.S. Citizenship.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See: www.sss.gov.
  • Meet Experience Requirements (see Qualifications).
  • Applicants must be licensed to drive for at least one year at the time of application, and have an excellent driving record.
  • A Supreme Court Police Officer must be able to maintain proficiency in the use of a firearm. Applicants who have been convicted of a misdemeanor. crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm and are ineligible for the position.
  • Officers are prohibited from having visible body markings (including, but not limited to: tattoos, body art, facial piercings, gauges, and brandings) on the head or neck (above the uniform collar), hands, and fingers (any area below the wrist bone).
  • Hair of female officers shall not exceed more than four (4) inches (to include being restrained by hair restraints) below the top of the collar of the uniform. Hair color shall consist of only natural hair colors.
  • Hair of male officers shall not extend more than half an inch below the top of the collar of the uniform shirt. Hair color shall consist of only natural hair colors.
  • Well-trimmed, neat mustaches and beards are permitted. The length and bulk of the mustache or beard shall not exceed more than a quarter of an inch.
  • Employment is subject to successful completion of a medical exam, which includes rigorous fitness standards. Medical exam consists of blood work, drug screening, height, weight, stress test, EKG, vision, hearing, and body fat.
  • Body fat will be measured using a body composition analyzer at the time of the medical exam.
  • Vision requirements: For distance, corrected 20/20 or better binocularly with at least 20/40 in each eye. Uncorrected distant visual acuity should be 20/100 or better binocularly.
  • Colorblindness: Applicant must be able to pass the Ishihara’s Test for Color Deficiency.
  • Hearing Requirements: Applicant must be able to pass the hearing test without the use of hearing aids.
  • Police Officer Selection Test (POST): You must receive a 70% or higher on each section of the POST. The exam consists of four sections, which include Math, Spelling, Reading Comprehension, and Report Writing. The exam is multiple choice and timed.
  • Completion of a psychological exam, which includes a Personal History Questionnaire, the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) Exam, the Inwald Personality Inventory (IPI) Exam, and a structured psychological interview with a clinical psychologist.
  • Successful completion of a Physical Abilities Test (PAT): The PAT will consist of four events, completed as one continuously timed exam. The maximum allowable time (regardless of age or gender) is three minutes and forty-five seconds (3:45).
  • Successful completion of a comprehensive background investigation, which will include employment references dating back 10 years, personal references, driving history, credit history, criminal history, drug history, and academic records.
  • Failure to provide correct information, or omitting information, at any point during your application will be grounds for termination from the hiring process.

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SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES POLICE DEPARTMENT 1 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20543