United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police
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The United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police is the Uniformed Police and Security Service of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for the protection of the veterans hospitals and medical centers and other facilities operated by the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. This is a SPECIAL PURPOSE AGENCY - with full powers of arrest for Federal, State & Local Violations of Law - Criminal, Traffic, etc., The VA Police, make arrests and transport suspects to and from County Jails and Federal Courthouses under the direction of the US Marshal Service, VA Police operate as individual services in VA healthcare facilities throughout the U.S. and are ultimately under the direction of the individual facility directors. The VA police have "FULL POLICE POWERS" and are empowered under Title 38 of the U.S. Code to enforce rules and regulations on VA controlled property and have "LIMITED" law enforcement powers outside of the facility and "NO FEDERAL" authority while off-duty. The VA Police occasionally provide bodyguard services for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and comprise over 2700 "appointed" personnel.
The Veterans Administration was founded in 1930 and the VA Police began as the VA Protective Service that year. They were assigned the role of maintaining order, protecting persons and property, and providing fire safety services. As the VA evolved, the fire safety role was turned over to Engineering Service and the Protective Service became a security guard force 0085 series.
By a 1973 federal law, the guard force was abolished and the VA Police 0083 was established. This evolution was brought about due to the changing needs of the VA and an increase of police related matters that could not be handled by a guard force or community law enforcement agencies.
The majority of VA Police applicants must have a minimum of two years law enforcement experience with arrest authority (obtained through federal, state, or municipal Police experience or through service as military police), or have an Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. Applicants must also undergo a physical examination, MMPI psychological evaluation and background investigation.
Upon selection, VA Police Officers go through a basic five-week training course at the Law Enforcement Training Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas to supplement training most have already received in previous occupations. Additionally, VA Police Officers receive continuous in-service and specialized training. VA Police Officers are certified in CPR (as First Responders), use of Chemical Irritant Projector (O.C. spray), the PR-24 Police side handle baton, and the Beretta 92D 9 mm firearm.
Similar to the Department of Defense Police, the VA Police are not members of the Law Enforcement Retirement System (LERS), and do not enjoy the same retirement benefits as most other federal law enforcement officers. Legislation has been proposed to change this (HR 1002), but the last effort failed to make it out of committee in the 109th Congress. The legislation is expected to be reintroduced in the 110th Congress.
