Department of the Army Civilian Police


Department of the Army Civilian Police are the uniformed and plainclothes civilian police officers of the United States Army. They are also referred to as DoD Police. The Department of the Army Civilian Police are responsible for law enforcement on U.S. Army–owned and –leased buildings, facilities, properties and other U.S. Army assets. In overseas locations or in areas of concurrent jurisdiction, Department of the Army Civilian Police are responsible for the protection and policing of DOD-affiliated personnel. It is important to note that "Department of Defense Police" is a phrase that refers to any civilian engaged in police duties for the Department of Defense and its component branches of the US Armed Forces. There is no one unified agency that goes under the title "Department of Defense Police". There are several police forces that use the title "DoD police", such as the Pentagon Police, Defense Logistics Agency Police, Navy Civilian Police, Army Civilian Police, Marine Corps Civilian Police and Air Force Civilian Police.

Civil service series 0083

A Department of the Army civilian police officer is assigned the federal occupational series code "0083", the code reserved for police and federal protective officers in the civil service. Some installations have detectives, which share the same occupational series code as police officers. These detectives investigate minor crimes that are not pursued by a special agent from CID. Beginning in FY 2011, the Installation Management Command began replacing contract security guards with Department of the Army Civilian Security Guards. These civilian employees, GS-0085 series security guards, perform the primary access-control functions at Army installations.

Jurisdictionhttps://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section2672&num=0&edition=prelim

DACP officers and investigators derive their law enforcement authority from Section 2672 of Title 10 of the United States Code.
10 USC 2672: The Secretary of Defense may designate military or civilian personnel of the Department of Defense as officers and agents to perform the functions of the Secretary under subsection, including, with regard to civilian officers and agents, duty in areas outside the property specified in that subsection to the extent necessary to protect that property and persons on that property.
Powers- While engaged in the performance of official duties pursuant to this section, an officer or agent designated under subsection may—
  1. enforce federal laws and regulations for the protection of persons and property;
  2. carry firearms;
  3. make arrests—
  4. #without a warrant for any offense against the United States committed in the presence of the officer or agent; or
  5. #for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if the officer or agent has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a felony;
  6. serve warrants and subpoenas issued under the authority of the United States; and
  7. conduct investigations, on and off the property in question, of offenses that may have been committed against property under the jurisdiction, custody, or control of the Department of Defense or persons on such property.

    Duties

At many installations, Department of Army Civilian Police officers augment military police personnel. Some smaller installations have only civilian police present. The officer can expect to perform a variety of law enforcement roles.
One major function of a Department of the Army Civilian Police officer is to conduct force protection duties. Department of the Army Civilian Police officers conduct law enforcement patrols within the installation and, depending on local policy, in areas off of the installation where military affiliated personnel frequent. Officers patrol the installation and check that physical security measures such as fences and lighting are in good working order. An officer can conduct traffic stops for motor vehicle violations. Each base adopts the surrounding state's motor vehicle laws under the Assimilative Crimes Act. There are two types of citations that may be issued: the DD Form 1408 Armed Forces Traffic Ticket, and the DD Form 1805 Central Violations Bureau Violation Notice. The type of citation issued are authorized at the local command level. The DD Form 1408 does not have any monetary fines associated with it. The DD Form 1805 Violation Notice does however establish fines and a hearing system through the U.S. Magistrate. Department of the Army Civilian Police officers and military police personnel respond to all calls for law enforcement assistance that take place within the installation. If the crime is found to be a major felony, then the matter is generally referred to the special agents of the applicable military investigative agency.
There are increasing opportunities for participation in specialized roles. Department of the Army Civilian Police officers may serve as K-9 officers or members of a special reaction team.

Requirements

A major requirement of any potential Department of the Army Civilian Police officer is to pass a medical exam. There is typically an uncorrected vision requirement, candidates must have normal color vision, depth perception, and sufficiently good corrected vision.
Department of the Army Civilian Police officers are required to obtain and maintain a "Secret" clearance. The background investigation must show the candidate to be free of substantial debt or foreign influence. Under the Lautenberg Amendment, officers cannot have any convictions for domestic violence. Some installations may require an interview with the candidate.
Candidates are currently required to take and pass a physical fitness test. This test is a modified version of the test that is required by military members. Army regulations require the officers pass this test annually, something not typically required of local city or town police officers.
As of 2014 the Department of the Army is no longer granting waivers to any patrol level officer, all interested candidates must now attend a 9-week academy at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

Training

Department of the Army Civilian Police officers must attend a police academy approved by the Office of the Provost Marshal General. The U.S. Army sends their civilian officers to a police academy that is a minimum of nine weeks long. A waiver of training may no longer be given by the OPMG, unless reclassifying from an 1811 to 0083. Or transferring from another 0083 agency and have completed a DoD approved or VA approved course.
There is one academy in Missouri. They give an overview of topics such as IED detection, basic patrolling techniques, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, physical security concepts, and other police skills. This academy is designed around the specific needs of the US Army, and do not resemble a state or FLETC run academy. However, the DACP Academy is accredited by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation organization. FLETA also accredits FLETC, U.S. Marshals, F.B.I and numerous other federal law enforcement agencies. The curriculum in these academies is based upon the same topics that a military member would learn in their advanced individual training schools after basic training. Annual in-service training for the DACP normally totals about two hundred and forty hours a year. This refresher training is conducted in conjunction with the officer's military member counterparts.
Officers selected for a position on an installation's special reaction team must attend the same training as their military counterparts. Training is held at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
Department of the Army Civilian Police officers are highly trained and skilled professionals, many of whom have prior law enforcement and military experience. Post 9-11 Police Departments have tightened their professional standards. Both classroom training and physical training have been intensified in response to real world terrorist threats.
Department of the Army Civilian Police officers wear typical police style uniforms, more often than not in a shade of dark navy blue. Many installations now issue solid navy blue or black BDUs/TDUs for officers with cloth badges and name tapes. These uniforms are worn with bloused pants and combat style boots. The pattern and style of Badges and patches is dictated by Army Regulation.
Department of the Army Civilian Police officers carry pepper spray, a police baton, handcuffs, radio, spare ammunition, a X-26 Taser, latex gloves, and other commonly seen police equipment such as a CPR mask. Bulletproof vests are issued. During higher threat conditions, officers could be equipped with Kevlar helmets and other protective equipment.
The vast majority of officers working for the branches of the Armed Forces are armed with the M-9 pistol. The military does not normally use hollowpoint ammunition due to the Hague Convention, however the Department of the Army has recently authorized the use of hollowpoint ammunition for DACP and Military Police law enforcement duties due to recent incidents involving active shooters on military installations. Thus, Department of the Army Civilian Police officers working on a military base have ammunition loaded with full metal jacket and/or hollow point ammunition. Department of the Army Civilian Police Detectives can be armed with the M11 pistol. Other firearms that may be issued include the Mossberg 500 shotgun and the M16 rifle or M4 carbine.
Department of the Army Civilian Police vehicles vary widely, with vehicles ranging from Chevrolet Silverados to Ford Explorers and even Jeep Cherokees. However, most installations and agencies use the Ford Taurus or Ford Explorer. Vehicles may be marked or unmarked and utilize emergency blue and red lights from a variety of manufacturers.

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