Police Service (Department of Veterans Affairs)
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Department of Veterans Affairs Police Service (VA Police) is a federal law enforcement agency under the Veterans Health Administration, employing approximately 4,500 officers to secure over 1,200 VA medical centers, clinics, and facilities nationwide, protecting more than 9 million enrolled veterans and their caregivers.
Mission
The VA Police Service aims to provide a safe, secure environment at VA facilities by enforcing federal laws, VA regulations, and state laws where applicable. It protects veterans, staff, and visitors, safeguards property, responds to emergencies, and prevents crime across the VA’s extensive healthcare network, ensuring uninterrupted delivery of medical services.[1]
Parent organization
The VA Police operates under the Veterans Health Administration, within the Department of Veterans Affairs, overseen by the Office of Security and Law Enforcement, ensuring security aligns with VHA’s healthcare mission.[2]
Legislation
The VA Police was formally authorized under Title 38 U.S.C. § 902, enacted in 1988, granting the Secretary of Veterans Affairs authority to establish a security force, with roots in earlier VA guard services from the 1920s.[3]
Partners
- Local law enforcement for mutual aid
- Federal agencies (e.g., FBI, DHS) for joint operations
- VA Office of Inspector General for investigations[4]
Number of employees
The VA Police employs approximately 4,500 officers as of 2025, stationed at over 140 major facilities and numerous smaller sites, with staffing levels adjusted to meet security demands.[5]
Organization structure
The VA Police is centrally managed with local implementation:
Leader
The Department of Veterans Affairs Police Service is overseen by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Security and Law Enforcement.[6]
Divisions
The divisions include:
- Field Operations for facility policing.[7]
- Training Division for officer certification at LETC.
- Security Management for policy and oversight.
List of programs
- Physical Security Program[8]
- Emergency Response Coordination
- Crime Prevention and Awareness
Last total enacted budget
The specific budget for VA Police is not publicly isolated; it’s funded within VHA’s FY 2024 budget of $112.6 billion, with security costs integrated into facility operations, though exact figures remain undisclosed.[9]
Staff
The VA Police staff includes 4,500 uniformed officers trained at the VA Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC) in Little Rock, AR, with skills in law enforcement, de-escalation, and emergency response, supported by administrative personnel.[10]
Funding
Since its formalization in 1988, the VA Police has been funded through VA appropriations, with FY
- ↑ "About VA Police". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/police/about.asp.
- ↑ "VHA Overview". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/health/.
- ↑ "VA Police History". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/police/history.asp.
- ↑ "Partners". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/police/partners.asp.
- ↑ "About VA Police". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/police/about.asp.
- ↑ "Security Leadership". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/security/leadership.asp.
- ↑ "Services". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/police/services.asp.
- ↑ "Services". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/police/services.asp.
- ↑ "FY 2024 Budget in Brief". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2024VAbudgetinbrief.pdf.
- ↑ "Training". Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/police/training.asp.