District of Columbia Special police officers are commissioned police officers by the Chief of the District of Columbia and they have full arrest powers on the property or within the geographical area that they are assigned to protect.

Pre-Qualifications:

• Have reached the age of twenty-one (21) years;

• Be a citizen of the United States;

• Be of good moral character;

• Possess a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma, or one year of experience as a special police officer in the District of Columbia;

• Be able to read, write, and speak the English language;

• Must be affiliated with a licensed Security Agency;

• Be certified by a licensed physician as physically and psychologically fit to perform the duties of a special police officer;

• An applicant who has been dishonorably discharged from the military shall be ineligible to be commissioned as a special police officer;

• Special police officers shall be required to satisfactorily complete pre-assignment, on the-job, and in-service training programs which have been prescribed and approved by the Mayor;

• Pre-assignment training shall include at least sixteen (16) hours of training on arrest powers, search and seizure laws, the District of Columbia Official Code, and the use of force. Pre-assignment training shall include an additional twenty-four (24) hours of training generally relating to the special police officer's duties and specifically including:

• Terrorism awareness, including building evacuation, unattended packages, and unknown substances;

• Emergency procedures, including evacuation and first-aid; and

• Customer service and interaction with tourists.

• Special police officers shall satisfactorily complete a 16-hour, on-the-job training course within ninety (90) working days following employment, and an 8-hour annual in-service training course;

• Special police officers shall also satisfy all additional initial and re-qualification training standards for firearms and other equipment, as applicable;