Dept. of VA Police Carry Policy

[jvale00]

Check out the DRAMA on yahoo groups...you'd be surprised to know that a lot of VA cops feel they are like the LAPD SWAT and should have helicopters and the authority to stop people and give them FST's on the way to work........despite the fact FST's aren't even taught at VALETC. HMMMMmmmmm in some ways I can understand the VA's liability concerns - we do have some bozos.

[tgis81]

I don't know much about VA police officers, but I've seen job openings here and there. What type of areas are they trained in and how long is the program... updates, etc? Just curious.
Thanks
Tony

[FotoTomas]

The VA Police have all of the same requirements of just about any small town police department. They simply have a very small piece of property to be a Police officer on as well as only one major tenant so to speak on the property.

The VA requires its officers to have prior experience in law enforcement before they will be hired. A hitch as an MP or some years on a small town department are necessary. Some type of prior police academy is required as well. MP school or state certification is the most common. Once hired on the VA requires all officers to attend a 5 week course on Law enforcement, firearms, intermediate weapons, defensive tactics and the law. This course is designed to refresh those officers with the skills they already acquired at other jobs. In addition is has some pointers on how to deal with the specific hospital environment we do most of our work in. All in all it is a good refresher course but very limiting in material due to the limited amount of time.

The VA runs this school and does not utilize the opportunities of the Federal Law Enforcement Training center in GA. Sort of a mini in house FLETC. with a limited market. There is currently no refresher training required of officers that attend the 4 or 5 week program at the LETC. Only in service training at the individual stations. That training can be very good or non existent depending on the senior officers and administration.

Due to the restrictive rules in the VA all in service training in the firearm and intermediate weapons must be conducted by instructors trained at LETC. There are occasional opportunities for individual stations to provide better training but the LETC trained instructors work is the one that counts for inspections.

VA firearms instructors attend a 96 hour course on the service pistol and instructor development at LETC. The PR24 baton, Pepper spray and defensive tactics instructors have a 40 hour class provided at the LETC. Other courses are available on occasion to include tactical firearms instructor, 40 hours and detective/ investigator training.

Many stations have a very quiet life due to the remote facilities and limited patient work loads. A few stations lock up people daily. We have about 2500 officers around the country but most are in departments with about 10 or less officers for 24/7 coverage. Each facility is run as a independent department with a chief and limited rank structure. Our Washington central office provides some general guidelines to be followed but the methodology is open to interpretation by the local chiefs and hospital directors. There is about 172 separate VA police departments under the loose oversight of Washington. A simple transfer from one station to another can be major culture shock.

It is a good job with emphasis placed on service and support. The term "Voluntary Compliance" is the magic phrase that governs the methodology of most VA departments. It is not covered under the LEO retirement plan and as such is full of retired military and police officers willing to serve in a new direction.

I like the job but it is VERY different from my prior small town cop career.

[lawofficer8930]

I believe there has been some info. spread around other threads about the on-duty/off-duty weapon's carry of VA Police Officers. But, I am curious if there are any differences from location to location on the policy, or rather, the policy acceptance.

It is my understanding (or misunderstanding) that VA Police are issued weapons prior to coming on to duty. But, may carry (via the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act) there own PDW. Do officers come to work with their own PDW, turn it in to the "armory," and get issued a duty weapon? How is this handled? Does anyone know the system in St. Louis?

Also, are there any other agencies out there (aside from military) that must undergo a similiar system (primarily with 083s)?
:confused:

Thanks.

Hey Feudal, I see you are from STL as well, I am trying to get on at the VA, have you worked at JC in St. Louis? Any pointers if you have? Thanks!

[Merlin]

Wow...reactivating a 3 year old thread!:eek:

Feudal hasn't log in since June of this year, good luck.

[FotoTomas]

Well the V.A. is sorta quiet at times.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

[bushhog22467]

we are the veterans affairs police. we work at the va facility's nation wide.

[basher52]

We actually place our personal weapons in a gun safe located in the locker room. This way they are not in the armory thus, the VA isnt responsible for it. Piggy pistol whips J walkers like crazy and our Chief doesnt want the liabilty of it being done with a Beretta 92D A.K.A Boat Anchor.

If your Chief thinks he (agency) or the city you work for won't be held lible for an officers off duty action, tell him I have a bridge in NY I'd like to sell him.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Why do these 1 post wonders keep reactivating this old and dead thread?? :rolleyes:

[Piggy]

Now everyone is going to know about my pistol whipping days.

The Chief has retired since this thread has started. I think he retired about 1-2 years ago.

I need to get a new bottle of thread-b-gone.