Security and Law Enforcement
The Office of Security and Law Enforcement (OSLE) is led by an Executive Director. OSLE is responsible for developing policies, procedures and standards that govern VA’s infrastructure protection, personal security, and law enforcement programs. OSLE provides oversight of VA Police Service units VA-wide ensuring the safety and security of Veterans, visitors and staff on VA facilities and grounds. OSLE regularly partners with other Federal law enforcement agencies to share information, conduct joint planning and coordinate policy development.
OSLE is comprised of four divisions led by a Director of Police Services. OSLE’s Police Services provides support to the VA Police Units in the field, conducts inspections and investigations, carries out executive protection services to the VA Secretary and Deputy Secretary, manages infrastructure protection and coordinates criminal intelligence and analysis.
Organizational Units
Executive Protection Division (EPD)
The Executive Protection Division (EPD) provides personal security to the VA Secretary and Deputy Secretary. EPD agents work closely with other OSLE divisions. They liaise with Federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to detect, deter and defend against a wide spectrum of threats. EPD conducts ongoing threat and vulnerability assessments for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary to include assessments of their official staff suites, residences, and travel locations. EPD supports National continuity and preparedness by facilitating safe and secure movement of the Secretary and/or Deputy Secretary during emergencies, continuity events, and/or national security special events.
The Law Enforcement Oversight and Criminal Investigations Division (LEO-CID)
The Law Enforcement Oversight and Criminal Investigations Division (LEO-CID) conducts highly complex investigations into allegations of criminal activity, as well as VA Police misconduct. The LEO-CID also conducts investigations into allegations of excessive force used by VA Police Officers and officer-involved shootings. These investigations involve collaborating with other Federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
The LEO-CID plans and conducts recurring comprehensive VA Police program compliance inspections. These inspections are intended to ensure that VA Police field units are adhering to Department policies and procedures. In addition, the LEO-CID provides oversight and guidance to VA Police field units throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. This guidance is often related to the management of criminal investigations, infrastructure protection, workplace violence prevention, and the overall management of VA Police field units.
Policy, Infrastructure Protection
The Law Enforcement Policy and Infrastructure Protection Division establishes and oversees VA police policy across the enterprise. The division develops standardized data methods, techniques, and protocols for conducting crime and crime trend analysis. Additionally, the division provides technical guidance for the development of meaningful agenda discussions, such as loss prevention, strategy, methods to improve police operations, risk management analysis plans, improvement of personnel performance and statistics. The Law Enforcement Policy and Infrastructure Protection Division is responsible for designing physical security strategies for the entire VA enterprise.
Intelligence and Crime Analysis Division (ICAD)
The Intelligence and Crime Analysis Division conducts criminal analyses to identify and track trends, develops measures to identify potential threats, and serves as the subject matter experts for VA Police throughout the Nation. ICAD provides vulnerability and risk assessment tools to field activities and furnishes direct technical support to VA decision makers. ICAD supports the VA Integrated Operations Center (VAIOC) by providing subject matter expertise and predictive analysis on all law enforcement and security related matters. ICAD conducts personal security vulnerability assessments and target threat assessments to identify foreign or domestic threats against the VA’s Secretary and Deputy Secretary. ICAD ensures VA’s compliance with the Department of Justice guidance for mandatory National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS). ICAD liaises with other law enforcement intelligence entities and data fusion centers on matters of mutual interest or concern and maintains relationships with regional security and law enforcement councils.