Dept. of VA Police Carry Policy

[FeudalBaron]

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.

[Super Six 5]

We all have assigned weapons that stay in our armory, and are drawn at the beginning of each shift. You are correct; We are covered under HR 218 and may carry our personal weapons off duty. Participation in the program is optional. We have some officers that carry their personal weapon everyday. We have others that never carry a personal weapon.

Here's how it works. If I carry my glock to work, I stop in the armory before going to the office or locker room and place the glock in my arms locker. At shift change I draw my Beretta. At the end of the day, my Beretta goes back into the armory, and I draw my glock. It's not a big deal.

As far as St. Louis, you'd have to contact that department directly. Central Office in Washington came up with the policy, and left it up to the Chiefs to put it in place. It's my understanding that there are some places where officers are not allowed to carry a personal weapon into work.

[FeudalBaron]

Super Six 5,

Thanks for the info.

[Piggy]

We do the same here. There was a memo that came from DC giving us the green light. However, I've heard on another board that there are still some duty stations out there that have gone against the memo and still won't let their officers carry their personal weapons on station.

[Ironhead]

I've heard on another board that there are still some duty stations out there that have gone against the memo and still won't let their officers carry their personal weapons on station.

That sucks.

We do the same thing that everyone else has been describing.

[FeudalBaron]

However, I've heard on another board that there are still some duty stations out there that have gone against the memo and still won't let their officers carry their personal weapons on station.

Do you think this happens more with smaller facilities versus larger ones? Or is due to a few anachronistic, holdouts that occupy the senior positions wherever they are?

[chiefhuntr]

I work for a 14 man Department and we do it the same way as the others have talked about. It has never been a problem here.

[Piggy]

My opinion, I think the hold-outs are the facilities who have Chief that are puppets for the Directors.

The day HR218 was passed, we got the memo and it was approved here....I've carried everyday since.

[squad51]

It took about a week to get the policy in place..but I must say that our director and former chief did a good job of getting it done..they came to the officers and asked that we wait the week so they could write a policy and thats what they did.

[jvale00]

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.

[Denny]

OK First HR218 is a law signed by the President of the United States. The director or chief can not circumvent the law. Central Office under the direction of the Dept of Justice said that VA police officer fall under HR218. you can carry conceal any where in the US on your police ID. Now Central Officer also provided other "guidelines" You can not be in uniform and it must be concealed. You have to go straight to the armory and secure your PDW. We have seperate boxes outside the armory to secure your PDW. I have recommended that officers use paddle holsters and just place the entire weapon and holster in the box. Every VA department is different and this is one thing that is killing the VA Police Everyone reads 0730 and gets a different idea of what it says. Our officers have discussed about qualifying with their PDW and I have told them there is no requirement for it. I talked to VALETC who said not only no but hell no. Liability we all know how the VA is with it.

[Ironhead]

OK First HR218 is a law signed by the President of the United States. The director or chief can not circumvent the law. Central Office under the direction of the Dept of Justice said that VA police officer fall under HR218. you can carry conceal any where in the US on your police ID. Now Central Officer also provided other "guidelines" You can not be in uniform and it must be concealed. You have to go straight to the armory and secure your PDW. We have seperate boxes outside the armory to secure your PDW.

What about facilities that refuse to purchase gun lockers for personally owned weapons? The facility can say, "No weapons can be secured in your vehicle." The facility can say, "You must secure your personally owned weapon immediately upon arrival on property." Then they just don't provide a place to secure it.

Law Circumvented !!!

[fatboyjim154]

Excuse me ignorance, but what is DEPT of VA Police???
:confused:

Jim

[DetSgt.]

The Veterans Adminstration

[GoDirectly2Jail]

The United States DEParTment of Veterans Affairs Police.