NOAA OLE Agent or Officer - Criminal Justice Career Description
Criminal Investigators (GS-1811) grade 5/12, Enforcement Officers (GS-1812) 5/9, computer specialists, technicians, and administrative staff.
Training As with every federal law enforcement position, candidates must meet strict qualification and physical standards as defined in the Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions.
Once selected to become an OLE special agent or enforcement officer, a candidate will receive highly engaging and intense training.
OLE Special Agents attend the Criminal Investigation Course, while OLE Enforcement Officers attend the Natural Resource Police Training program which replaced the Land Management Training Program.
The special agents' course is designed to provide traditional investigative law enforcement skills with further expertise in criminal human behavior, modern technology, law, and other interdisciplinary approaches to effective law enforcement. Courses are taught in fraud investigation, undercover operations, electronic surveillance, and advanced interrogation.
The enforcement officers' course is designed for natural resource management agencies with emphasis on the patrol functions of enforcement in a natural resource environment. The enforcement officers receive training in patrol techniques including; interviewing, suspect control, arrest techniques, driving skills, law, firearms, narcotics and communications.
These courses are taught at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Gynco, GA. FLETC, designed to train all federal law enforcement agents and officers, also trains United States Customs Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. Marshal's Service, the Secret Service and numerous other federal law enforcement personnel.
Both agents and officers attend various specialized courses in emergency medical response, witness and suspect interviewing, marine vessel operation, firearms qualification and survival training. Optional courses included Spanish, computer forensics, and photography. All employees assigned law enforcement duties attend annual refresher training.
Training continues for special agents and enforcement officer throughout their careers, as regulations change and new technologies and tactics are implemented.
With the vast array of federal statutes and regulations, and the ever changing complexity of fishery and environmental issues, these special agents and enforcement officers need to be cognizant of changing laws which they are required to enforce. These also need to be able to explain these laws, and regulations and any recent modifications or changes to those working in industry, environmental organizations or the general public.
The OLE is also called upon by Federal, state, local and tribal agencies, non-governmental organizations, educational groups, and the general public to conduct OLE specific-training on a variety of issues. These training sessions are conduct all over the country and have subject matter ranging from specific fisheries, to interaction with marine mammals, to law enforcement specific issues.
Mission of the OLE
We are dedicated to excellent service through partnerships that build trust, protect resources, create a safe environment, reduce crime, and enhance the overall quality of life for all Americans.
We adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards. We are honest and sincere in dealing with each other and the public. We have the courage to uphold these principles and are proud that they guide us in all we do.
We recognize the value of our unique cultural diversity in America and treat all people with kindness, tolerance and dignity. We cherish and protect the rights, liberties and freedoms of all as granted under the Constitution and by the laws of the United States.
We are consistent in our treatment of all persons. Objective, impartial decisions and policies are the foundation of our interactions. Our actions are tempered with reason and equality