The Office of Security and Law Enforcement (OS&LE) falls under the Office Operations, Security and Preparedness. The Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC) is an organizational part of OS&LE. (http://www.osp.va.gov/OSandLE_Overview.asp) All requests and releases are posted here. It is important to look at what was requested and what was released. In other words, either they complied with FOIA laws and released everything or they did not release all requested documents in violations of FOIA. My interpretation of what was released confirmed that the headquarters branch of the VA Police operated without activity oversight, supervision, or review and that these organizational groups were not in compliance with regulations regarding VA Police standards. This lack of oversight was directly answered in one of the releases with the offering that OS&LE and LETC oversee themselves which seems at odd with the idea that government agencies cannot oversee themselves. The release that identifies the standards OS&LE and LETC personnel must maintain can be found in the first paragraph in the memorandum found in in 12 VA Release (6). This identifies that credentialed special agents must comply with VA Directive and Handbook 0730. Most if not all of the requested documents are directed to be maintained by these regulations, but these documents were not released. So again, either FOIA laws were complied with and the files do not exist or the files exist and were not released in violation of FOIA.
The conclusion based on my interpretation of what was released is that OS&LE (which includes LETC) is an armed organization with no oversight whatsoever and based on the lack of released information (specifically a case assignment register or other record of investigations assigned and completed) a strong probability these positions are over graded. They assert oversight an internal review to ensure compliance. Of course, the irony is that not only is this an armed organization with no external assurances they are in compliance with agency regulation, but that they conduct inspections of field departments to ensure they are in compliance with the agency regulations (no leading by example here).
Corrective actions would be for an appropriate office within the Department of Veterans Affairs should undertake a detailed inspection or review of the activities of the Office of Security and Law Enforcement and Law Enforcement Training Center; someone from the Department’s Human Resource Classification Office should review the position
My requests (10 18 12 Request 11 12 05 Request 11 12 05 Request (2)) which essentially encompassed:
– Position descriptions of Office of Security and Law Enforcement (OS&LE) and Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC)
– Organizational charts
– Documents submitted to the US Marshal Service (USMS) showing OS&LE and LETC personnel were compliant with USMS deputation standards
– The guidance and requirements that OS&LE and LETC personnel were to follow to maintain qualifications and certification
– Annual Training Plan
– Oversight records that assessed or inspected OS&LE and LETC personnel training records, training compliance, certification, qualification, etc. along with review results 2006-2011 and action plans addressing deficiencies and noted best practices
OS&LE and LETC FOIA Releases 