Anyone with the VA Police in Los Angeles?

[CO1989]

If so please PM me for some questions. I'm on the list of qualified applicants. Thanks.

[ejay]

Why why why why.......

So many other jobs out there that pay better and offer better chances for advancement. I've never worked for the VA but I've known ppl who have.

[vacop4274]

I work for the VA, and we have advancement, good pay and are doing actual police work. But that is just here!!!!!!

[ten08]

Why why why why.......

So many other jobs out there that pay better and offer better chances for advancement. I've never worked for the VA but I've known ppl who have.

I was making over $100K and was Acting Chief when I left 11 years ago. Perhaps your friends should look to themselves for their lack of pay and advancement.

[CO1989]

There's been so many different opinions on the VA Police. I'm just going to have to try it for myself and see if I like it - if I don't then I'll try something else. As for the LA Hospital - that place is HUGE and I would love to start out there. I'm on the list, but there appears to be a hiring freeze. 8-(

[ten08]

Another place to look would be Martinez, Ca. They get the 35% Locality Pay and housing is cheap there now. So it should start around $45-$50K a year.
It's about halfwway between San Francisco and Sacramento.

[irishlad2nv]

This is at the GS-5 rate?

CO, realize that you would be moving across the country, going to a 5 week academy, which does not transfer anywhere. Why not try locally where you are?

[ten08]

This is at the GS-5 rate?

CO, realize that you would be moving across the country, going to a 5 week academy, which does not transfer anywhere. Why not try locally where you are?

San Francisco Bay Area, SF, Palo Alto and Martinez get about 35% Locality Pay plus you go to step 10 at GS-5 and GS-6, which is an Officer. They now have a senior Officer at GS-7 Step 8. Look it up the Pay scales are on the web. Housing is the biggest problem, that's why I recommended Martinez or Livermore (which is part of Palo Alto), housing has taken big dips in both those two areas, houses that were going for $700,000 are now barely $300,000.

I was working for peanuts at a VA in Pennsylvania when I figured this out and headed west.

[irishlad2nv]

The locality pay is included in the salary. If you are a GS-5 step 1, under SF it's 36K, that is not liveable there. Every GS/GL pay grade goes up to a step 10. Now if they start them off at a GS-5 Step 10, thats still only 47K.

Yes you can make money at the VA, if you work overtime, etc, but realize that you fall under the FERS retirement, not the LE payscale or retirement.

And yes you can get promoted with the VA, you have to move.

[ten08]

You are not a GS-5 step 1, you are a GS 5 step 10 until you finish school. Then you are a GS6- step 10.

If you aren't willing to move then promotions will take much longer. The reason I mentioned Martinez is that you can get a nice house in Antioch for $200,000.

I am certainly not recruiting for the VA, it's a different system, but to make the blanket statements you made is just not true.

[CO1989]

San Francisco was recently looking for GS-6 Officers with a starting salary of over 50k a year. LA's current announcement for a GS-5 starts at $51,353.

[ten08]

San Francisco was recently looking for GS-6 Officers with a starting salary of over 50k a year. LA's current announcement for a GS-5 starts at $51,353.

I was over 40 when i started with the VA and used my military time toward my retirement. It isn't for everyone but there are opportunities there.
Good Luck, whichever way you go

PS

Problem with San Francisco is housing. Houses nearby are about $1 Million, nearest affordable is better than an hour commute with toll bridges. I rented nearby but I was paying $2,100 a month for two bedrooms, that you could see the ocean from. It worked out being that close because there was plenty of OT. It may not count toward your pension but I maxed Social Security, almost doubling my salary.

[DOAcop38]

San Francisco was recently looking for GS-6 Officers with a starting salary of over 50k a year. LA's current announcement for a GS-5 starts at $51,353.

I'm assuming you are comfortable with FED LE ( uniformed) The VA police are somewhat "Active"( they patrol their area, and are sometimes called upon to handle incidents at the adjacent federal building east of the hospitial on large protests, disturbances, and certain criminal activity) - you will be in LAPDs "backyard"( West L.A. Division) and LAPD doesn't give up ground , so don't expect alot of off facility activity unless you obs it( see it )or get a radio call for it. Still, being L.A. there is plenty of problems you'll encounter, and people usually don't give a hoot "which" police you are, if you can do something about it.( they only care later if they want to complain about you)

If the VA police is what you want, go for it-everyone has their politics and "rules of the road". The only caveat is the COL here .the avg suburban PD around L.A. starts their trainees at $64K yr BEFORE taxes ( City of L.A pays same $60K/yr ,and with little abundant OT$$) ,and even then you have to count your pennies every now and then when a decent 2 bdrm apt costs about $2K/ mo.............

I'm at a point in my career where you make as much lemonade as possible with the lemons the "mean kids"( society, bill collectors, bosses) throw at your head ! If you are simply looking for a LEO job, and you can put up with whatever B.S. the VA police throw at you, then you are ahead of the curb ,'cause no matter where you go, there'll be fertilizer on the grass....

[nevets616]

I'm assuming you are comfortable with FED LE ( uniformed) The VA police are somewhat "Active"( they patrol their area, and are sometimes called upon to handle incidents at the adjacent federal building east of the hospitial on large protests, disturbances, and certain criminal activity) - you will be in LAPDs "backyard"( West L.A. Division) and LAPD doesn't give up ground , so don't expect alot of off facility activity unless you obs it( see it )or get a radio call for it. Still, being L.A. there is plenty of problems you'll encounter, and people usually don't give a hoot "which" police you are, if you can do something about it.( they only care later if they want to complain about you)

If the VA police is what you want, go for it-everyone has their politics and "rules of the road". The only caveat is the COL here .the avg suburban PD around L.A. starts their trainees at $64K yr BEFORE taxes ( City of L.A pays same $60K/yr ,and with little abundant OT$$) ,and even then you have to count your pennies every now and then when a decent 2 bdrm apt costs about $2K/ mo.............

I'm at a point in my career where you make as much lemonade as possible with the lemons the "mean kids"( society, bill collectors, bosses) throw at your head ! If you are simply looking for a LEO job, and you can put up with whatever B.S. the VA police throw at you, then you are ahead of the curb ,'cause no matter where you go, there'll be fertilizer on the grass....

do you know where va police in la is stationed? do they work out of the fed building on wilshire? how many officers roughly? only time ive ever seen them was at the va compound across the street. i never understood where fed le worked out of, and do they each of own dispatchers?

[orlandofed5-0]

do you know where va police in la is stationed? do they work out of the fed building on wilshire? how many officers roughly? only time ive ever seen them was at the va compound across the street. i never understood where fed le worked out of, and do they each of own dispatchers?

They patrol the VA hospital in West LA, Los Angeles Outpatient Clinic and
Sepulveda Medical Center. They DO NOT patrol the federal building across the street as that is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Protective Service (FPS). Yes they do their own dispatch and no longer have the SRT team.

[DOAcop38]

They patrol the VA hospital in West LA, Los Angeles Outpatient Clinic and
Sepulveda Medical Center. They DO NOT patrol the federal building across the street as that is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Protective Service (FPS). Yes they do their own dispatch and no longer have the SRT team.

Really,now? they were out in FULL force when the last Israel/Palestinian conflict was brewing and the protestors were acting like ***** hats in front of the Fed bldg( oh ,and "Yes" the FPS officers were deployed also). and from what I heard about the SRT, a certain command staffer had a problem with it .....

But if VA is hiring and somebody wants the badge and job, congrats if they get it- you gotta work somewhere......

[IronBruin]

you will be in LAPDs "backyard"( West L.A. Division) and LAPD doesn't give up ground , so don't expect alot of off facility activity unless you obs it( see it )or get a radio call for it.

The "campus security" also likes to go over that way because JRS is there.

[CO1989]

DOACop -- thanks for the best rundown on the VA Police. As far as the BS, I been in NYS Corrections for over 20 years! I can put up with anything! :-)

[CO1989]

I have my interview with Los Angeles next week 8-) Everyone wish me luck.