The conversation, ‘VA Police: Perspectives from the Front Line,’ was led by Pappas and joined by VA police officers, VA police leadership, and members of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
On Thursday, January 20th, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, led a closed-door, closed press roundtable conversation, "VA Police: Perspectives from the Front Line," to hear from both rank-and-file officers and VA police leadership and examine issues related to the VA Police force, including pervasive staffing shortages, oversight and accountability, and officer training requirements regarding veteran suicide awareness and prevention.
"A VA police officer is often the first person a veteran encounters, and the last person a veteran sees at VA hospitals," said Chairman Pappas. "The VA police have an important duty and a great responsibility, and for that, we owe them a word of thanks. And while we know our VA police operate in difficult situations, there remain consistent, pervasive issues that we must continue to work to address to ensure VA has an effective and efficient police force to keep our veterans, their families, and VA staff safe. I commend the Veterans Health Administration for taking some strides in the right direction, but of course, more work is needed–that's why I'm grateful we could have a frank discussion today about the way forward. Our Subcommittee will continue to find additional opportunities to seek accountability and welcome more voices like the ones we heard today to further move the VA Police Force in the right direction and ensure the best possible outcomes for all our veterans."
The VA Police force is a federal law enforcement agency consisting of approximately 4,000 officers at 138 VA Medical Centers located throughout the United States. VA Police officers are authorized to investigate crimes within the jurisdiction of the Department.
Original source can be found here.
