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VA Police

VA Police is the uniformed law enforcement service of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for the protection of the VA Medical Centers and outpatient clinics.

Are VA Police officers armed and can they make arrests?

Police officers employed by the VA are considered federal law enforcement officers who are armed and have the authority to enforce all federal laws and VA rules. Police officers can also make arrests on VA-controlled property.

Who are we?

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police is the uniformed law enforcement service of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for the protection of the VA Medical Centers (VAMC) and other facilities such as Outpatient Clinics (OPC) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) operated by United States Department of Veterans Affairs and its subsidiary components of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) as well as the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) respectively. The VA Police have several divisions and operate separately but alongside the VA Law Enforcement Training Center (VA LETC) under the umbrella of the Office of Security and Law Enforcement. The primary role of VA Police is to serve as a protective uniformed police force in order to deter and prevent crime, maintain order, and investigate crimes (ranging from summary to felony offenses) which may have occurred within the jurisdiction of the Department or its federal assets. Some cases are investigated in conjunction with Special Agents from the Office of the Inspector General (VA OIG).

VA Police forms

On this section, you will find a link to witness statement forms, release forms, forms for release from damages, and COVID-19 mask use policy in VHA Facilities.

VA Police forms and policies

Join VA Police

Find out if you are eligible to apply

Eligibility

  • Criminal justice education
  • or Experience as a Police Officer
  • or Experienced Military Police Officer
  • or Combination of Education and Experience

What is a status candidate?

COMPETITIVE AND EXCEPTED SERVICE - there are two classes of jobs in the Federal Government:

  1. those that in the competitive civil service, and
  2. those that are in the excepted service

SOURCES OF ELIGIBLES - in filling competitive service jobs, agencies can generally choose from among 3 groups of candidates:

  1. competitive list of eligibles administered by OPM or by an agency under OPM's direction. This list consists of applicants who have applied and met the qualification requirements for a specific vacancy announcement. It is the most common method of entry for new employees.
  2. A list of eligibles who have civil service status consist of applicants who are eligible for noncompetitive movement within the competitive service because they either now are or were serving under career-type appointments in the competitive service. These individuals are selected under agency merit promotion procedures and can receive an appointment by promotion, reassignment, transfer, or reinstatement.
  3. A list of eligibles that qualify for a special noncompetitive appointing authority established by law or executive order. Examples of special noncompetitive appointing authorities include the Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA) and Peace Corps.

What is Veterans' Preference?

VETERANS' PREFERENCE

If you’re a Veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and were separated under honorable conditions, you may be eligible for veterans’ preference, as well as other veteran specific hiring options. Visit USAJobs to Learn More about Veterans' Preference.

THE VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACT (VEOA)

This act gave preference eligibles or veterans with 3 or more years of continuous active service access to jobs that might otherwise be closed to them. When an agency advertises for candidates outside its own workforce under merit promotion procedures, it must allow these veterans to apply. Of course, all applications are subject to any area of consideration that the agency has specified on the vacancy announcement. VEOA applicants are not subject to a geographical area of consideration limitation.

What is VRA?

Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA)
Formerly, Veterans' Readjustment Appointment

  • What it provides: VRA allows appointment of eligible Veterans up to the GS-11 or equivalent grade level. Veterans are hired under excepted appointments to positions that are otherwise in the competitive service. After the individual satisfactorily completes 2 years of service, the Veteran must be converted noncompetitively to a career or career-conditional appointment.
  • When to use it: VRA can be a good tool for filling entry-level to mid-level positions.
  • Who is eligible? VRA eligibility applies to the following categories:
    • Disabled Veterans;
    • Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war declared by Congress, or a in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized;
    • Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a military operation for which the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) was awarded;
    • Veterans separated from active duty within the past 3 years.

 

VA OIG

 

Police Officer position information, please email, write or call:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police
VA Northern California Health Care System
10535 Hospital Way
Mather, CA 95655 (07B)
916-366-5401
Gabriel.Horton@va.gov