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H.R. 1853, The Jose Medina Veterans Affairs Police Training Act of 2007 (15 comments ↓)
H.R. 1853 would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that Department of Veterans Affairs police officers receive training to interact with visitors and patients at Department medical facilities who are suffering from mental illness.
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Visitor Comments
mike myers
As a VA Police Officer and a Combat veteran we do receive training on this issue. WE mostley deal with PTSD and mental health related calls. So I am not sure what the need is. If it passes more training can only help.
Vic Workinger
Currently VA Police officers must get most of this sort of training when and if the state police offers it thru Federal/Bureau of Justice funding grants.
U.S. DVA POLICE
Stop wasting our time with acts that serve absolutely no purpose at all! We already get an immeasurable amount of training from the VA, CO, Letc, management, Police supervisors etc; What congress needs to really focus on is H.R.1073 and stop attempting to divert our attention from proposed legislation that will really make a difference not just for us but for all 0083-Police Officers and non-covered LEO-Positions that put their lives on the line everyday!
G-Police Man
Instead of congress focusing on this bill for the VA, they need to focus on the Law Enforcement Officers Pay Parity Act! What ever happend to that? The difference in grade levels and pay scales between the VA and other Federal Police Agencies with the same duties is simply rediculous!
M. Roberts
Give me a break! The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police already receive extensive training to interact with visitors and patients at Department medical facilities who are suffering from mental illness. Ms. Watson, it is apparent that you have absolutely no idea about the VA or its Police Force because if you did you would know that the VA Police Force has one of the highest turnover rates in the Federal Government. Primarily due to “low pay, no 6C retirement, maximum journeyman level of GS-6 and no upward mobility! What good is all of this extra training if there are no officers left to train!
ALL CURRENT VA POLICE
Congress is a joke and should be VOTED OUT OF OFFICE!!! LEO needs to happen ASAP if they want to maintain a professional working Federal Police Dept. within the VA system.
VAPD SGT
Ms. Watson, it is apparent that you have absolutely no idea about the VA Police because if you did you would know that they have one of the highest Federal Law Enforcement Officer turnover rates in the U.S. today. Primarily due to “low pay, NO FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RETIREMENT PROVISION, No LEAP, No Hazardous Duty Pay, Next to No Retention Allotment, maximum journeyman level of GS-6, permanent rotating shift schedules, Mis-Managed and Decentralized Police structure, Anti-police policies (directly aimed at VA POLICE by VA Management), no upward mobility,-NOTHING”!! Now factor-in that we are not treated like Police Officers by any one (Including our employer) and are more commonly referred to as “Security Guards” and paid 10-20k a year less than other Federal, State and Local, Law Enforcement Officers! Congress needs to pass bills that are going to really make a difference instead of wasting the dollars of American TAX PAYERS on senseless legislation.
VA Police - (Scapegoat)
Why doesn't congress focus on legislation that will ensure VA doctors are adequately interacting with visitors and patients at Department medical facilities who are suffering from mental illness. Instead of dumping this responsiblity on its POLICE OFFICERS!
davocop
I say get rid of the va police patch and go back to the guard days. We are still considered as security guards and are contunually being treated as guards. I really dont care anymore and have wasted 10 years of my life waiting for that big day.
Security Guard
I love my job and wish we would focus more on others rather on are own well being. Im really happy that we got guns now without additional pay. I feel even more powerful like a cop but without the responsiblity and the pay. Also when my eight hours are up I still feel like Im someone driving home in my Personal Owned Crown Vic. All I want is to feel complete by knowing how to deal with those PTSD patients. Then I will have the perfect job. I cant wait till we get the taser guns. Heck , I dont need LEO pay, retirement cause Im to fat and old anyways. I know , Im just a wantabee and just happy to carry a gun like Barney. I just love it when I fool other people when I tell them Im A Federal police officer man I Love it !!
fomer VA Police detective
I agree with the comments. I had no problem dealing with patients and visitors who had mental health issues. A number of them consider a very good friend. This bill is an overreaction to one incident. There are medical staff who need this training more then the officers.
If Little Rock and Central Office see a problem then they need to research it and address the need for training in this area.
MS. Watson and the rest of congress need to quit spending money for useless programs.
BikeMan
I am an Iraq Veteran and A VA Police Officer and if you need special training to deal with Combat Veterans then you do not need to be in the VA!!! I work in a rather large facility that receives a good number of Iraq Vets and It does not take a rocket scientist to know how to speak to Us(Iraq Veterans). If you feel that you do not have the proper training to deal with PTSD or Combat Veterans, Please do us the favor and quit, Remember 90 percent of the Veterans we serve are Vietnam Veterans and I believe they could tell you a thing or two about Combat or PTSD....
U.S. VAPD RESTRUCTURE
Congress needs to amend title 38, United States Code to remove the facility Director’s authority to govern the VA Police and give that responsibility to VA Central Office in Washington D.C. instead of working on legislation that we all ready receive abundant training on.
Tybarious
Waaah Waaaaah Waaaaa, get a job loosers! They only promote liers and jack asses in the va. What a bunch of crying clowns!
Tybarious = looser
You must have been a former customer of mine.