National Park Service (NPS) Special Agents provide high quality investigative
and other specialized law enforcement support functions throughout the National
Park System. The Investigative Services Branch (ISB) and the Office of
Professional Responsibility (OPR) serve to complement the investigative role
of the National Park Service law enforcement Park Ranger. The overall
vision of the National Park Service Law Enforcement program is to provide for
a safe and enjoyable visitor experience and protect our nation’s treasures.
- Where do Special Agents Work?
- What do Special Agents do?
- How do I become a Special Agent?
- Are there any special requirements?
- What opportunities exist for training and career advancement?
- What benefits do Special Agents earn?
1. Where do Special Agents Work?
Unlike Park Rangers who primarily work for an individual park, all NPS Special
Agents are assigned to the Washington Office, but are stationed in parks
and regional offices across the country. Their assignment is the entire
agency, usually with a focus on a specific region or group of parks.
2. What do Special Agents do?
NPS Special Agents investigate crimes and enforce laws that protect people,
property, and resources and work in a symbiotic relationship supporting parks
and their law enforcement rangers.
Within the ISB and OPR are experts in computer forensics, criminal analysis,
use of technical electronic equipment, and specialized investigative areas
such as homicide, drug manufacture and cultivation, arson and archeological
crime enforcement.
NPS law enforcement Park Rangers and NPS Special Agents perform the full
spectrum of law enforcement duties including detection, investigation, apprehension
and prosecution of persons that violate criminal laws of the United States
for offenses related to the National Park System.
Special Agents of the Investigative Services Branch (ISB) primarily assist
parks with complex cases or cases that require specific subject matter expertise. Special
Agents of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) meet the service
requirement of providing professional accountability for the behavior and
conduct of the National Park Service Law Enforcement program. Overall
these two units provide specialized Investigative law enforcement support
services to the agency.
The ISB and the OPR employ at least 45 GS-1811 Special Agents in the National
Park Service as well as support personnel including Criminal Analysts.
The ISB operates similarly to a traditional Detective Division, assisting
law enforcement Park Rangers in the investigation of cases they initiate,
leading the investigations of many of the more serious crimes initiated by
Park Rangers, and initiating many of the most complex, multi-state, multi-agency
and long term investigations that occur in the NPS. Rather unique among
most federal law enforcement agencies, the National Park Service investigates
virtually all manner of offenses that occur in or affect the more than 390
units in the National Park Service, and operate in all states and territories
in the country.
The OPR is the smallest investigative unit in the NPS, with only a couple
of full time agents assigned to it. As the agencies Internal Investigation
Unit, the OPR assigns, oversees and directs significant investigations involving
accusations made against the law enforcement employees and programs in the
NPS. Investigations are often assigned to Park Rangers and Special
Agents across the country, however OPR Agents directly conduct investigations
of the most serious allegations in the NPS.
3. How do I become a Special Agent?
Special Agents are hired following the same procedures as all other permanent
law enforcement Park Rangers in the NPS. Because of the investigative
expertise required for these positions, in almost all cases NPS Special Agents
are selected from eligible applicants that have three or more years of active
law enforcement experience in an applicable state or federal agency, with
the majority of the agents hired coming from within the National Park Service.
For some selections a broad base of law enforcement experience is preferred,
while in other instances a particular area of expertise may be sought. The
NPS does not hire Special Agents for seasonal positions.
4. Are there any special requirements?
NPS Special Agents are hired in the GS-1811 series at GS-12 grade as the
journeyman level field agent. Advancement within the Special Agent
ranks can include Senior and Supervisory Special Agents, and Regional Special
Agents-in-Charge. All NPS Special Agents are covered by Law Enforcement
Availability Pay (LEAP) in which they receive a 25% base pay increase above
pay grade, but are expected to work a yearly average of fifty hours a week,
and more hours as needed. Special Agents are generally expected to
be available to work at all hours without additional compensation. They
must meet fitness standards, participate in a fitness program, are subject
to entry and random drug testing, and must complete a SBI background investigation
with a top secret clearance. A higher clearance level is required for
some positions.
Candidates who have not already completed the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center (FLETC) Criminal Investigators Training Program (CITP) will be required
to do so. Based on prior training and experience some applicants may
be eligible to attend a more abbreviated program if available.
5. What opportunities exist for training and career advancement?
Within the ISB and OPR programs there is an almost infinite variety of advance
training and career enhancement available, with emphasis on training and skills
that promote the investigation program. Training is also supported that
involves career enhancement. Special Agents are not only eligible to
attend the variety of training offered at FLETC, but use is made of training
offered by other federal, State and local agencies. Many ISB and OPR
members attend training offered thought the International Association of Chiefs
of Police. Special Agents have been sponsored to the FBI National Academy as
well as management training internship programs within the Department of Interior.
6. What benefits do Special Agents earn?
NPS Special Agents earn the same benefits as law enforcement Park
Rangers. In addition, their 25% Law Enforcement Availability
Pay (LEAP) enhances their retirement benefit. Beyond that, NPS
Special Agents, like all NPS employees, have the opportunity to work
a career in one of the most diverse agencies in the Federal Government,
live and work in some of the most spectacular places in the nation,
and have a direct role in protecting some of the most special places
and valued natural, cultural and archeological resources in the world.
