The results were positive. The following year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs signed a decision paper to expand the number of facilities authorized to arm their police officers. In accordance with this directive, officers at 15 more facilities were armed during fiscal year 2000. At present, approximately 600 police officers are armed at 27 facilities. VA soon will begin the next phase by arming officers at 30 facilities during fiscal year 2001 and another 30 facilities during fiscal year 2002.
Leadership realizes there are concerns and that a firearm demands special responsibility and care.
Consequently, VA is meticulous in its training program and evaluates each site for readiness before the officers are armed. Following this initial training, each officer must complete continuing training on such subjects as the use of force, handgun retention and reduced-light firing. The Beretta 9 mm semiautomatic pistol was chosen for its special safety features. This double-action handgun was modified for VA to include a disconnecting device that renders it inoperable when the magazine is removed. This allows an officer to remove the magazine and make the pistol safe when entering certain areas of a hospital such as a psychiatric ward.