{"id":29722,"date":"2021-07-13T21:30:07","date_gmt":"2021-07-13T21:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/07\/13\/va-police-reforms-slowed-by-confusing-bureaucracy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:51:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:51:08","slug":"va-police-reforms-slowed-by-confusing-bureaucracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/management\/2021\/07\/13\/va-police-reforms-slowed-by-confusing-bureaucracy\/","title":{"rendered":"VA police reforms slowed by confusing bureaucracy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lawmakers want Veteran Affairs leaders to provide department police officers with more suicide prevention training, body cameras for enhanced visitor safety, and easier communication with other VA staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, they need to figure out who is in charge of the law enforcement force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know the department recognizes that we must continue reforming and modernizing VA police. However, it still has a confusing leadership structure, causing many to wonder who\u2019s in charge,\u201d said Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., chairman of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee\u2019s panel on oversight, during a hearing on VA police Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the VA Police Service employs about 4,000 officers and support personnel, charged with securing more than 170 department medical sites. The average tenure of an officer is about 12 years, according to department records.<\/p>\n\n\n\t