Alarm bells are ringing in the corridors of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as revelations surface that a mere 29% of the department’s police force have completed vital suicide prevention and crisis intervention training mandated by Congress.

Senator Jerry Moran, R-Kan., has taken a firm stance, challenging the VA’s commitment to the well-being of its veterans, citing recent tragedies and demanding accountability and a concrete plan for compliance.

“The importance of crisis intervention training cannot be overstated, especially when it concerns those who have served our country,” said Moran in a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, which he made public.

“There is no excuse for VA not taking all the steps the department can — much less the steps that Congress requires — to prevent the unnecessary loss of life.”

The training in question is stipulated by the 2020 COMPACT Act, which focuses on equipping VA police officers with skills in behavioral science procedures for suicide prevention, crisis intervention, de-escalation techniques, and knowledge about mental health and substance abuse disorders.

It aims to bolster the ability of first responders to handle situations that could mean the difference between life and death for veterans in crisis.

The urgency of this training is underscored by disturbing statistics: in 2021, the VA reported 6,392 veteran suicides, reflecting a 1.8% increase from the previous year, despite suicide prevention being a top healthcare priority.

With approximately 17.5 veteran deaths per day, the situation is dire.

Moran’s assertion that “recent tragedies indicate there is much more work to do” is backed by the troubling report of a veteran’s death after being escorted off VA property and the indictment of a VA police officer for excessive use of force.

These incidents suggest that when faced with a critical incident, VA police may lack the training to respond in a way that mitigates harm.

Although the VA did not specifically comment on the allegations, spokesperson Terrence Hayes said, “We at VA are focused on ensuring our employees at all levels, including police officers, have the robust training required to intervene and protect veterans during a crisis.”

Moran has set a deadline of May 24 for the VA to explain the shortfall in training compliance and outline a path forward.

The senator’s insistence on action is fueled by a commitment to preventing future tragedies and ensuring that the VA workforce is adequately prepared to support veterans in their most vulnerable moments.

“When Congress passed and the president signed the COMPACT Act into law, it was with precisely these types of cases in mind,” Moran wrote.

“VA leadership has prided itself on being ahead of the curve nationally when it comes to training officers in de-escalation and crisis intervention, yet recent tragedies indicate there is much more work to do.”

Relevant articles:
– VA Not Complying with Law on Suicide Prevention Training for Police Officers, Senator Alleges, Military, 05/10/2024
– Most VA police have not finished veteran suicide prevention training, Military Times, 05/09/2024
– Most VA police have not completed suicide prevention training for veterans, The Bharat Express News, 05/09/2024