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Professional Perspective / Audience / Topic

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Professional Perspective / Audience / Topic

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• I am a student in Administrative Leadership and work in public safety with a focus on ethical policing and federal law enforcement.

• The intended audience includes students, VA personnel, and public administration and law enforcement professionals.

• Legal and ethical standards of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services.

• I chose this topic because the VA Police have a unique dual role: providing law enforcement within a healthcare setting while navigating federal and veteran-specific laws. Their work presents ethical dilemmas and legal complexities not found in many local police departments.

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• Federal Level: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Security and Law Enforcement oversees VA Police operations nationwide.

• State Level (Texas): Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) provides licensing and oversight for peace officers, including inter-agency coordination with VA Police.

• What I Learned:

•  Federal oversight ensures standardization across VA facilities.

•  Texas law requires coordination when state and federal jurisdiction overlap.

•  Accountability exists through federal inspectors and state enforcement boards.

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• Federal Law: Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-4/

• Requires probable cause for searches/seizures.

•  Limits use of excessive force.

•Texas Law: Texas Constitution, Article I, Section 9

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CN/htm/CN.1.htm

• Mirrors federal protections against unreasonable searches.

•  Emphasizes personal privacy under state law.

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• Federal Statute: 38 U.S.C. § 901

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38/901

• Authorizes VA police enforcement authority on VA property.

• Texas Administrative Law: Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Part 7, Chapter 211

https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=3&ti=37&pt=7

• Governs the training, licensing, and ethical conduct of peace officers in Texas.

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• Federal Case: Camreta v. Greene, 563 U.S. 692 (2011)

https://www.oyez.org/cases/2010/09-1454

• Clarifies the limits of questioning without a warrant or exigent circumstances.

•Texas Case: State v. Doyal, 589 S.W.3d 136 (Tex. Crim. App. 2019)

https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2019/pd-0254-18.html

• Reaffirmed standards for warrantless searches in state facilities.

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• 38 C.F.R. § 1.218 – Conduct and arrest authority on VA property

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/part-1/section-1.218

• Defines prohibited conduct and enforcement procedures on VA campuses.

•  Authorizes arrest powers and outlines penalties for infractions.

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• Central Texas VA Health Care System Police SOP

https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=928

• Defines local protocols for responding to incidents, arrest procedures, and use of force.

• Includes coordination plans with local police departments like Waco PD or Bell County Sheriff.

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• Require VA officers in Texas to undergo TCOLE-compliant training for inter-agency coordination (TAC, Title 37).

• Maintain active MOU agreements with local police to manage jurisdictional clarity.

• Implement regular reviews of use-of-force incidents to identify legal risks (38 C.F.R. § 1.218).

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• Code of Ethics: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)

•  Ethical Principle: “All officers shall maintain the integrity of their profession by upholding the public trust.” https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/IACP_Ethics.pdf

• Connection to Topic:

• VA Police in Texas must apply both federal and state ethical standards.

- Officers are expected to manage veterans’ needs with discretion, trust, and cultural competency.

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Personal Connection to Legal and Ethical Standards

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Personal Connection to Legal and Ethical Standards

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• Studying these laws helped me understand how the VA Police fit into both federal and Texas public safety structures.

• I’ve come to value how legal knowledge supports ethical decision-making in health care and law enforcement settings.

• This topic has enhanced my commitment to fair and lawful policing.

• I appreciate how Texas law emphasizes privacy and ethics.

• Learning these laws helped connect my studies to real-world responsibilities.

• I now feel more prepared for my career supporting veterans and law enforcement agencies.

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Personal Connection to Legal and Ethical Standards

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Recommendations / Best Practices for Compliance

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Recommendations / Best Practices for Compliance

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• Align VA police procedures with both federal and Texas laws.

• Maintain current MOU agreements with local law enforcement agencies.

• Provide yearly ethics and state-approved training (TCOLE).

• Regularly review federal policies for changes (38 C.F.R. § 1.218).

• Promote trauma-informed policing within veteran populations.

• Require detailed reporting on use-of-force or arrest incidents.

• Encourage cross-agency exercises and training with local PDs.

• Ensure SOPs are site-specific and updated annually.

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Recommendations / Best Practices for Compliance

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Camreta v. Greene, 563 U.S. 692 (2011). https://www.oyez.org/cases/2010/09-1454

Constitution of the United States. (n.d.). Amendment IV. https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-4/

International Association of Chiefs of Police. (2020). Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/IACP_Ethics.pdf

Texas Constitution, Article I, Section 9. (n.d.). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CN/htm/CN.1.htm

Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Part 7, Chapter 211. (n.d.). https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=3&ti=37&pt=7

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2020). VA Handbook 0730. https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=928

•U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). 38 C.F.R. § 1.218. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/part-1/section-1.218

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). 38 U.S.C. § 901. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38/901

State v. Doyal, 589 S.W.3d 136 (Tex. Crim. App. 2019). https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2019/pd-0254-18.html