The first official police force was authorized at the National Home in Dayton at the April 11, 1882 Board of Managers meeting in order to preserve "the peace and quiet of the branch."

Drunkenness, fighting, violation of passes, profanity, disorderly conduct, and creating a nuisance were the most common offenses.

In the 19th century, "dump duty" meant emptying and cleaning cuspidors, bedpans, and picking up trash from the grounds.

Three years later, Secretary Jesse Brown directed development of a pilot program to arm VA police at no more than six facilities.

The pilot program proved successful, so around 1998, Secretary Togo West expanded the arming of VA police at a rate of about 16 sites per year.

VA contracted with Beretta USA for specially designed pistols and firearms training for its police force.

In 2002, Jose Rodriguez-Reyes, an officer at the San Juan VAMC in Puerto Rico, was the first policeman to be killed after the VA Police force became armed.

Additionally, all VA police officers are required to be trained and qualified on the authorized long gun (rifle).

The following specifications are required for the long gun: M4 carbine, 11.5 inch short barrel configuration, .223/5.56 mm caliber, with collapsible stock, tactical mounting equipment, and sling.

Long guns were added to the VA police inventory in approximately 2016, in order to respond to increasing active threat incidents occurring nationwide.

Today's VA Police officers face innumerable challenges when compared to the guard force of the past.

The Office of Security and Law Enforcement (OS&LE) is the parent agency of the VA Police within the Law Enforcement Oversight & Criminal Investigation Division (LEO/CID) which provides national oversight to individual VA Police Services at each location throughout the United States.

Upper level management and specialty positions other than Police Officer include (in no particular order); Detective (1811 Series Criminal Investigator).

The VA Police also maintain groups of specialty service elements such as K-9, bicycle, boat and motorcycle patrols.

The Veterans Affairs Police Officers do not receive FERS Federal Law Enforcement/Firefighter Special Retirement benefits unlike their VA Fire Service counterparts.

The VA Police are an armed, federal law enforcement and protective service entity that operates in and around the various Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, National Cemeteries and other VA facilities located throughout the whole of United States to include Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.