Senator Jerry Moran, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, led a committee hearing on May 13 with Department of Veterans Affairs employees and the Government Accountability Office to review VA police classification, reorganization efforts by the VA Office of Operations, Security and Preparedness, and campus security at VA facilities. Chad Allan, Chief of Police at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, was among those who testified.
Moran said the hearing was important for addressing safety concerns for veterans and staff at medical centers nationwide. The session took place during National Police Week and included discussion about a recent Government Accountability Office report that examined security at VA medical facilities.
“I want to take this moment to thank VA police officers for the work that they do every day to keep our veterans, visitors and VA staff safe,” said Senator Moran. “In particular, thank you to Wichita, Kansas, VA Police Chief Chad Allan who joins us today, for his hard work and dedication to protecting his fellow Kansas veterans. Close to 90% of the VA Police workforce is made up of veterans themselves. By combining their personal experience with advanced crisis intervention training, VA Police are uniquely equipped to manage difficult situations with veterans in crisis.”
During the hearing Moran also discussed findings from a GAO report he requested in 2023. Reginald G.A. Neal from the Department of Veterans Affairs committed during testimony that recommendations from this report would be implemented to improve safety for all individuals on campus.
“This seems to me to a be circumstance that the VA should have never been in, in regard to law enforcement and the well-being of those officers and the people they serve,” continued Moran. “It also seems to me that this Department of Veterans Affairs is working to correct what I see as a poor history in law enforcement support at the VA.”
Moran said he previously called on officials after learning only 28% compliance existed among officers taking crisis intervention training; since then compliance has increased above 96%. A new command structure for police will begin implementation later this year.
The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee oversees benefits and health care programs supporting U.S. veterans across all states as part of its jurisdiction within Congress according to its official website.
