Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness
Police Services
Michael Franklin, Director, Police Service
Program Development and Guidance
The Director of Security and Law Enforcement is responsible for ensuring that VA has an effective program in place for the protection of the Veterans, staff and visitors who use our Medical Centers. The Director, Police Service, is the primary official in the Office of Security and Law Enforcement. Through an active program of policy reviews and development, along with researching and applying the most modern of police techniques, the Director works to ensure that VA Medical Centers has highly effective VA Police programs.
Each Special Agent/Inspector has responsibility for certain regions of the country and provides direct technical support to the VA Police Chiefs and facility management within those regions. The Special Agent/Inspectors are in regular contact with their respective VA Police Chiefs; responding as needed to trouble spots.
Police Program Inspections
In order to ensure the effectiveness of the Security and Law Enforcement programs of VA Medical Centers, the Police Service provides a comprehensive program of on-site inspections. Field Inspectors from the Office of Security and Law Enforcement conduct a careful review of the OS&LE’s posture of each facility at least once every two years. The Inspectors spend several days at each site and review all of the elements of the OS&LE program in a detailed manner. After the visit, the Inspector prepares a comprehensive report of findings, which is provided to the facility management through the VHA Network Office for action.
Law Enforcement Oversight and Criminal Investigations Division
The Law Enforcement Oversight and Criminal Investigations Division’s primary responsibilities include the oversight of the VHA (Veteran’s Health Administration) Police Inspection Program, conducting and overseeing criminal and internal affairs investigations, and providing technical advice and guidance to VHA facility managers and Police Service Chiefs. This sector oversees the use of force reports and weapons use through VA Police Officers and other significant emergent events.
The Special Agents/Inspectors are empowered by statute to exercise Federal arrest authority for offenses occurring on Department owned property. The Special Agents/Inspectors of the OS&LE also provide oversight and support to criminal investigations conducted by VA Police units at over 150 VA Medical Centers in support of the organizational mission.
Criminal Predictive Analysis Division
The Criminal Predictive Analysis Division’s primary mission is to collect and analyze local, as well as national crime data. The CPAD (Criminal Predictive Analysis Division) use’s predictive analysis to develop pro-active crime prevention strategies and mitigations for the safety, security and protection of persons and equipment located on Department property.
Infrastructure Protection Division
The Infrastructure Protection Division’s primary mission is the protection of VA’s personnel, property and assets through the development of physical security policy and law enforcement programs and requirements. This Division provides vulnerability and risk assessment tools to field activities and provides direct technical support to VA facility programs.
Executive Protection Division
The Executive Protection Division’s primary mission is to detect, deter, and defend against any threat of harm to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Consultation with other VA Elements
The OS&LE provides direct support and consultation services to all elements of the VA in the areas of Physical Security and Law Enforcement. The Service has worked throughout the Department to ensure the highest level of protection and enforcement is provided to all Veterans and staff who use VA facilities.
Liaison with other Federal Law Enforcement
The OS&LE works regularly with several Federal law enforcement agencies in areas such as information sharing, training, planning and policy development.
