Anyone here a VA cop?

[myke]

I have read the other post in this forum on the subject I just have a few questions for the people who currently serve in this field. I recently put in a application for VA police and got a letter back saying I am eligible and will be contacted within the next few days, etc etc. what I am wondering is..

Is the training more advanced than the training DOD police get at fletc?
Because I have talked to numerous DOD police and most of them said the training was basically a power-point presentation and wasnt even in depth.

Once you go through training are you committed for a certain ammount of time?

I am not trying to cut you DOD guys but I need something that I am going to learn alot from because I already have experience as a military cop in the NAVY. I dont really want to except this if I wont be challenged or have it be beneficial to the outside world....

How do you like this position? And what are the advantages and disadvantages? Are you armed or unarmed? CCW?

what is the pay like? Because on the GS5 scale it is like 30 thousand. That isnt hardly anything...Is there additional pays or something....

How long have you been there and is it something worth while or just a part time thing. Anyone else with some info feel free to post.

[FPS207]

I have read the other post in this forum on the subject I just have a few questions for the people who currently serve in this field. I recently put in a application for VA police and got a letter back saying I am eligible and will be contacted within the next few days, etc etc. what I am wondering is..

Is the training more advanced than the training DOD police get at fletc?
Because I have talked to numerous DOD police and most of them said the training was basically a power-point presentation and wasnt even in depth.

Once you go through training are you committed for a certain ammount of time?

I am not trying to cut you DOD guys but I need something that I am going to learn alot from because I already have experience as a military cop in the NAVY. I dont really want to except this if I wont be challenged or have it be beneficial to the outside world....

How do you like this position? And what are the advantages and disadvantages? Are you armed or unarmed? CCW?

what is the pay like? Because on the GS5 scale it is like 30 thousand. That isnt hardly anything...Is there additional pays or something....

How long have you been there and is it something worth while or just a part time thing. Anyone else with some info feel free to post.

First of all, I am not a VA police officer and I can't give you much insight into their job. I know one VA police officer who left VA to work with the Federal Protective Service and he thought it was the best move he ever made. I can tell you that I have been a County Police officer in the Metro-Atlanta area for about five years and you may want to get into local law enforcement or State first. Federal law enforcement is different and isn't like what you see on cops or worlds scariest police chases. Some of the Federal police officer jobs are good ones with good pay, however the consensus is that VA police isn't in that catagory, even though location does play a key factor. The other Federal police agencies USSS UD, Park Police, Captiol Police, BIA police, FPS Police, may give you a little more of what you are looking for if you want to stay federal. The most coveted positions appear to be the criminal investigator positions and special agent positions, these are usually referred to as 6(c) covered positions or 1811 series.

Honestly it depends on the type of police work you want to do. Federal police work tends to be on the security side more unless you are in the investigation series and of course local law enforcement gives you everything in one police agency.

Hope this helps

[Darin]

I agree with the VA police being more security. And I'm not a VA cop either. My wife works at the VA so I see them often. Here in Virginia they are armed. They do parking tickets and they even run RADAR which I think is funny. They basically are running RADAR in a parking lot.

[JudgeDredd]

I'm not a VA cop, but I know a couple and was offered a job by them at one point. Your duities will depend o your location. Here, they run radar on regular city streets as well as thier compound. You will go their training academy at Little Rock, AK. The downside to that is that it isn't recognized by other federal agencies. Part of your training will consist of responding to the "psych" ward, so you get a kind of correctional officer training as well as patrol. All VA hospitials are going to be armed at some point, your facility sounds like it is based on what you stated the pay is. There are no 1811's in the VAPD (those are in the VA's OIG), but you can move up to Detective status working things like drug cases. Here in St. Louis, the FPS do more "security" work than the VA. Like I said, it all depends on your area. If you are in an urban area with a high crime rate, you'll see action. As far as the pay goes, you will get night/shift deferential and sunday premimum. If you do decide to transfer later in your carrer, you do get preference as a fedral employee (As opposed to ,say, a Federal Reserve Bank Police Officer). The letter you got is only the first step. Next you will get a questionaire, followed by an interview, then psych test, medical exam, then training and LEO test at the academy in LR. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[JudgeDredd]

BTW, the "next few days," usually means a couple of months. Welcome to the federal hiring system!...lol

[alf501]

Myke,
I recently got hired as a VA police officer trainee in Palo Alto,CA and it's great. First, you'll go through a FTO program for 16 weeks, then attend the academy at Little Rock,AK for 5 weeks. Once you graduate you'll have a firearm to carry but only on property. My pay is 44 a year GS-4 step 7,but that depends on your location. Fortunately for me its okay because the job isn't hard, if you know what I mean. Just think of it as a good stepping stone for law enforcement and your badge will say police officer not security officer.

alf501

[tunlrat]

Good for you alf501! I see you went through with it. Nice salary you got there for for a GS4. But it is the bay area so I'm not surprised. Hope you're not based in "East" Palo Alto...

[alf501]

Nope, it's not in EPA. It's by Stanford hospital...
Have you got any bites or are you in already, tunlrat!


alf501

[tunlrat]

Nice!!

Nope, still hurrying up & waitin' like everbody else. Congrats again.

[alf501]

Thanks tunlrat!!!..... what agency are you more favoring to?

alf501

[tunlrat]

Anybody who will hire me alf501. Anybody who will hire me. Stay safe.

[FotoTomas]

I am a VA Police officer. I will try to answer your questions as best I can.

Is the training more advanced than the training DOD police get at fletc?
Because I have talked to numerous DOD police and most of them said the training was basically a power-point presentation and wasnt even in depth.

The training is not more advanced. As I understand it DoD will send you to a local state academy or FLETC basic. The VA sends you to Little Rock Arkansas for a 5 week basic course. Most officers hired in the VA system have completed another school such as MP, state certification or FLETC "Before" they are hired. All must go to Little Rock (LR). The entry level is GS6. If you have correction experience or no experience it is harder to get hired. At the GS4 level LR is all you will get as far as training and you will not make GS6 for two years.

Once you go through training are you committed for a certain ammount of time?

No comitment required. If you do not have "status", a US Civil service term, you will be on a one year probationary appointment to start. You can quit at any time after LR, before LR and during LR.

I am not trying to cut you DOD guys but I need something that I am going to learn alot from because I already have experience as a military cop in the NAVY. I dont really want to except this if I wont be challenged or have it be beneficial to the outside world....

Any job can be a challange if you make it so. The VA system is large and varied. There are Medical Centers and Clinics that are literally war zones to glorified Security Guards. Both extremes are represented. The majority however are of the slower variety and to this day the term "Security" is often used by staff and visitors.

How do you like this position?

It's ok. A great job if you have retired from somewhere else.

And what are the advantages and disadvantages?

One advantage is that you are in the Federal Civil Service. It makes looking for federal jobs with Law Enforcement retirement easier if you are under the age of 37. The Federal Benefits for health and such are generally good.

Are you armed or unarmed? CCW?

All VA Police stations are now armed sites. The issue pistol is a Beretta 92D (DAO) Centurion with a magazine disconnect safety. The rules for carry are very strict. You will not be issued or allowed to carry the pistol until you have completed the basic course in LR. The weapon is left on station and issued out at the beginning of your watch. There is NO authority to carry the VA pistol or any other weapon off duty. Your authority stops at the property line. It gets worse but that is the nutshell answer.

what is the pay like? Because on the GS5 scale it is like 30 thousand. That isnt hardly anything...Is there additional pays or something....

Pay is the regular GS schedule, Not the LE tables. You would start out with your MP background as a GS6 step 1. This is the standard around the country but there are exceptions. The Federal Government makes allowances for the geographical region where you work. This is called locality pay. It is in addition to your base pay. Southern California for example will get a lot more money added to your check than a small town in Georgia. The pay is not comperable to the locals on both extremes. In that small town in GA you will be making a lot more than the locals with more authority. Back in California you will be the lesser than your bretheren.

How long have you been there and is it something worth while or just a part time thing. Anyone else with some info feel free to post.

I joined the VA police the first time right out of the Army in 1978. It is hard to describe how different it was then. I lasted a year and returned to GA to work some small town police jobs. In time I returned to Federal Civil service in Firefighting and then photography. I went back to the VA Police due to my photo job being closed. I would not plan on making it a career myself but as a second career its is top dog. Some officers have been quite happy with the VA police service and put in many years. Like in all places you have your good and bad examples. It is definatly worth a shot to see. Make up your own mind. As for me...I am looking to get back in to photography full time with civil service. When one of those jobs opens I am gone! The VA police has a relatively high turnover rate and there is always around 50 to 100 openings around the country. Not to bad for an agency with over 2000 uniformed officers. It gives you the added advantage of moving around the country if you want to transfer.

I hope this helps.

[Norm357]

FotoTomas, very good post!

[darrell]

I know some DOD guys from the local airbase in Michigan. They get **** on all the time by the goverment pay wise and equipment wise. (Where has Nardo been he can back me on this!) Their pay is one of the lowest in the goverment branch, their equipment has been and in most cases is subpar to the other federal departments. I could go on but before I do I will call a friend and get more 411 from him. I don't know thing 1 about VA cops.....Your on your own there.

[FotoTomas]

I did want to mention there are non LE Retirement 1811's in the VA. From what I hear they can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Not the norm at all. In addition there are several VA Officers that have won admission into the LE retirement system. This was also not the norm. The stories and rumors about pay and such is rampart. I recently transferred from one facility and had to give up my "10% retention pay". The new facility is a detachment from a major medical center. The parent organization recently received a 10% "special pay". Due to our location in a different metro area we are not eligible. We have to apply on our own. More examples of the VA's lack of a central direction in the Police Service.

Another example on the negative side is this. When out big boss the Secretary of Veterans Affairs visits for whatever reason the loval VA Police provide additional security for the visit to include drivers, advance security and such. If leaving the property for any reason as a driver or advance security you are required to LEAVE THE PISTOL LOCKED UP BACK AT THE VA!

I would recomend strongly that the VA and DoD be an option only if you can not get picked up by the FPS or other agencies. Not a lot of company loyalty there I know. Oh well tell it like it is.