Most VA police have not finished veteran suicide prevention training

Fewer than one-third of Veterans Affairs police officers completed their annual suicide prevention training last year, leaving thousands of law enforcement personnel underprepared to handle mental health crisis situations on department campuses, according to a report from department whistleblowers released Wednesday.

VA leaders said they are looking into reports of the training shortfalls, which were brought to light by Senate Veterans Affairs Committee ranking member Jerry Moran, R-Kansas.

In a statement, department press secretary Terrence Hayes said officials 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.”