Police Service (Department of Veterans Affairs)

Stored: Police Service (Department of Veterans Affairs)

Police Service (Department of Veterans Affairs) Type: Law Enforcement Agency Parent organization: Veterans Health Administration Top organization: Department of Veterans Affairs Employees: 4500 Executive: Deputy Assistant Secretary for Security and Law Enforcement Budget: Address: 810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20420 Website: https://www.va.gov/police/ Creation Legislation: Title 38 U.S.C. § 902 Wikipedia: Police Service (Department of Veterans Affairs)

Police Service (Department of Veterans Affairs) [{"name":"Police Service (Department of Veterans Affairs)","title":"\u003Ca class=\"mw-selflink selflink\"\u003EPolice Service (Department of Veterans Affairs)\u003C\/a\u003E","lat":38.90119,"lon":-77.03459,"otherValues":{"HeadquartersAddress":"810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20420"}}] +− Leaflet | © OpenStreetMap contributors This map created from a Cargo query ()

Mission To protect veterans, employees, visitors, and VA property by ensuring a safe and secure environment at VA facilities. It enforces federal laws and VA regulations to maintain order and safety.

Services Law Enforcement; Facility Security; Emergency Response; Crime Prevention

Regulations VA Directive 0730

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.

Official Site

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.

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.

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.

Partners

• Local law enforcement for mutual aid
• Federal agencies (e.g., FBI, DHS) for joint operations
• VA Office of Inspector General for investigations

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.

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.

Divisions

The divisions include:

• Field Operations for facility policing.
• Training Division for officer certification at LETC.
• Security Management for policy and oversight.

List of programs

• Physical Security Program
• 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.

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.

Funding

Since its formalization in 1988, the VA Police has been funded through VA appropriations, with FY 2024’s $112.6 billion VHA budget supporting its operations, supplemented by facility-specific allocations.

Services provided

The VA Police provides armed law enforcement at VA facilities, conducts patrols, manages access control, responds to incidents like assaults or medical emergencies, and offers crime prevention training, ensuring safety across 1,200+ sites.

Regulations overseen

The VA Police enforces VA Directive 0730 (Security and Law Enforcement), governing security policies, and federal laws under Title 38 U.S.C. § 902.

Headquarters address

810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20420

History

The VA Police traces its origins to armed guards at VA facilities in the 1920s, evolving into a formal force with Title 38 U.S.C. § 902 in 1988. It expanded post-9/11 with enhanced training at LETC (established 1970s), growing to 4,500 officers by 2025 to meet rising security needs at VA’s expanding network.

Related

See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations:

• Veterans Health Administration
• VA Law Enforcement Training Center
• Office of Security and Law Enforcement

External links

• Official Website
• wikipedia:United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police
• Office of Security and Law Enforcement