Committed to ensuring Veterans feel safe
VA Police are committed to ensuring Veterans and their loved ones, visitors and VA staff feel safe when they are in our care. The primary role of the VA Police is to deter and stop crime, keep order, and investigate crimes that may have happened within the legal authority of VA.
Here, we break down specifics about VA Police and how its officers protect those under their charge from unsafe situations.
What is VA Police?
VA Police is the armed and uniformed federal law enforcement service of VA. VA Police officers are responsible for the protection of VA Medical Centers and other facilities such as Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, Health Care Centers, annexes and other facilities operated by VA. The VA Police also serve VA’s National Cemetery Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration, including locations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Each local VA Police Service has a rank structure and roles that range from sergeant to chief. The VA Police also have groups of specialty jobs or service elements, such as K-9, bicycle and motorcycle patrols.
Where do VA Police get their legal authority?
VA Police and police specialty positions, such as detectives, get their authority legally from Title 38 of the United States Code, Sections 901 & 902. Rules, regulations and enforcement actions specific to VA are written in Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
What sort of training do VA Police officers receive?
The Law Enforcement Training Center provides training for all VA Police officers working throughout VA. The center is organized into four divisions: the Academic Programs Division, Technical Programs Division, Advanced Programs Division, and the Training Standards Division. VA Police Criminal Investigators receive their certification training by attending the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Criminal Investigator Training Program.
How do VA Police officers protect VA facilities?
VA Police use both obvious and covert security measures, including use of physical screening, cameras, silent alarms, electronic access control systems and deployment of security staff (VA police officers) to patrol VA facilities and grounds for safety.
VA Police looking for qualified applicants to join the team
Safety services include:
- Law enforcement
- Criminal investigations
- Crime prevention
- Exterior vehicle patrols
- Interior foot patrols
- Physical security surveys
- Vulnerability surveys
- Predictive crime analysis
- Telecommunication services
- Partnerships with surrounding jurisdictions with information sharing
- Workplace violence prevention
- High-level facility committees that address workplace violence and physical security
Interested in becoming a VA Police officer?
VA Police is looking for qualified applicants to join its team. Desirable candidates must have either criminal justice education, experience as a police officer, experience as a military police officer or a combination of education and experience.
Search VA Careers for positions with VA Police.
Topics in this story
More Stories
For the Great American Smokeout, explore VA resources and learn why every attempt to stop smoking is a step toward success.
If you’ve lost a loved one to suicide, resources and support are available to help you cope during your grieving and healing.
Army Veteran Denis Velez donated a painting of his VA hospital as a way of giving back for his treatment there.
The police at my local VA hospital does absolutely nothing to help veterans but are quick to help the VA staff to take advantage of the veterans. It does no good to talk to the police because they will make up an excuse for the staff.
Wrong in so many ways, at least at the Birmingham, Al VA. Many of the VA police are poorly trained, have zero knowledge of laws/directives governing government property, and more than a few have “Rambo Syndrome”. They refuse to properly patrol government property, especially the parking deck, to prevent crime (car break-ins/vandalism, speeding, stop unauthorized parking by veterans and the public, gross amounts of littering, etc. They physically threaten and try to intimidate permanently disabled/very mobility impaired elderly veteran on scooters with arrest and “loss of health care” for calling out a belligerent veteran and asking the receptionist to call the VA Police. Imagine my surprise when they got there. I could go on. Don’t get me wrong the majority are “great people”, but the VA needs to supervise and vet those they hire carefully…. (Just the opinion and experience of one old physically accosted veteran that was abused by two VA police for simply calling out a belligerent veteran for endangering other veterans. An occurrence those in authority at the Birmingham VA refused to address or even acknowledge)…….