VA Police honored nationwide during National Police Week

A mission unlike any other

Across hundreds of medical centers, clinics and campuses, Department of Veterans Affairs police officers received recognition their mission deserves when the nation observed National Police Week and marked Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15.

From large, urban VA Medical Centers to rural outpatient clinics, more than 4,000 VA police officers serve as the frontline protectors of the nation’s Veterans, men and women who came home from war and now depend on VA facilities for medical care, mental health treatment and a sense of stability.

The observance, which President John F. Kennedy established by law in 1962, calls on Americans to honor law enforcement officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty and to recognize those who continue to serve. Reginald Neal, assistant secretary for VA’s Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness, said the week is about far more than just ceremony.

“VA Police Officers answer two callings at once. The calling of law enforcement and the calling of service to those who served this nation first,” Neal said. “Every shift they work, they are standing watch over the most honorable ground in America. That is not a small thing. That is extraordinary.”

Honoring the fallen, protecting the living

The VA Police mission is distinct from traditional municipal law enforcement. Officers are trained to respond to the complex and sensitive needs of a Veteran population that may include individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress, mental health crises or physical disabilities. They patrol campuses where the stakes of maintaining safety are uniquely high, and where the trust between law enforcement and those they protect is foundational to care.

During this year’s observance, VA facilities nationwide held wreath-laying ceremonies, moments of silence and memorial services honoring officers who have died in the line of duty.

At the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, officers and staff gathered to honor two of their own, Police Officer Leonard Wilcox and Police Officer Mark Decker, who gave their lives in service to Veterans and whose sacrifice continues to shape the culture of VA law enforcement decades later.

National Police Week also casts a broader light on the challenges faced by law enforcement families. Surviving spouses, children and parents of fallen officers are recognized in ceremonies in Washington and across the country, where the names of the newly fallen are added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

A department that stands with its officers

For VA police officers, the week serves as both a solemn reminder of the cost of their profession and a reaffirmation of why they chose it. Neal said the department will ensure that commitment is never taken for granted.

“To every VA Police Officer serving today: We see you, we are grateful for you and we stand right beside you,” Neal said. “The Veterans you protect deserve to feel safe, and because of the men and women wearing this badge, they do.”

VA serves millions of Veterans annually across its network of medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics and regional offices. VA police provide law enforcement and security services at VA-owned and leased properties in all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.