Police staffing crisis at VA hospitals leaves ailing veterans, staff in danger: report

Police staffing shortages astatine Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals are leaving seasoned workers successful danger, according to a study from nan VA's Office of nan Inspector General. 

The audit, released past Wednesday, recovered workers and veterans receiving curen astatine VA accommodation were susceptible to crime because of a 33% vacancy complaint of officers from nan constabulary section that serves nan aesculapian centers - pinch immoderate sites seeing a vacancy complaint arsenic precocious arsenic 63%, according to Military.com. 

The study recovered that successful 2022 location were 36 "serious incidents" crossed 32 aesculapian facilities, according to Military.com. "Serious incidents" are defined arsenic ones that "draw attraction aliases origin harm," nan outlet reported, including disturbances specified arsenic displaying a firearm, nan theft of VA property, aliases wounded to group aliases property.

"All 36 incidents presented important concerns and item VA's request to protect its spot and systems, arsenic good arsenic unafraid its accommodation to thief guarantee nan information of staff, patients, and visitors," Larry Reinkemeyer, VA's adjunct inspector wide for audits and evaluations, wrote successful nan report.

The superior incidents astatine VA centers past twelvemonth included a explosive threat astatine nan Wichita aesculapian halfway that was later deemed a hoax, a lockdown astatine a halfway successful Ohio erstwhile a man fired a information of his shotgun conscionable extracurricular nan facility, and erstwhile a diligent grabbed an officer’s weapon and fired it astatine a installation successful San Diego. 

VA HIRED HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES WITH DRUG-RELATED CRIMINAL HISTORY, PUTTING VETERANS AT RISK: WATCHDOG

A Marine Corps seasoned is treated by a aesculapian worker successful a antagonistic unit room successful nan COVID-19 ward astatine nan Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare strategy field and aesculapian center. (JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

The Veterans Health Administration System has 171 hospitals crossed nan U.S. and 1,100 clinics. Of those facilities, a 3rd of them reported terrible constabulary staffing shortages successful 2022.

The audit was conducted by 150 inspectors who were sent to 70 VA aesculapian centers crossed nan federation unannounced for a three-day period.

SENATORS RIP VA SECRETARY FOR TRAPPING VETERANS IN GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE: ‘BLATANT BIAS’

VA officials person since said they are "aggressively" moving to enlistee qualified candidates for nan Veterans Affairs Police Services department, Military.com reported. 

 A metallic plaque connected nan destruction of nan Department of Veterans Affairs building successful Washington, D.C., features a quotation by erstwhile President Lincoln. ( Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

"We are ever aggressively recruiting for high-quality VA constabulary candidates," a VA spokesperson told Military.com. "Law enforcement is presently a highly competitory marketplace successful nan country, pinch much vacancies than applicants."

A VA spokesperson added successful remark to Fox News Digital connected Monday that nan "VA continues to return action to amended information astatine its aesculapian accommodation nationwide.

"Included among our galore efforts is focusing connected recommendations successful nan 'Review of Security and Preparedness astatine VA Medical Facilities' OIG Report," nan spokesperson continued. "We are presently monitoring information related vacancies, reporting monthly connected hiring trends, ensuring due levels of staffing for inspections and different information staff, and ensuring that installation information instrumentality is good maintained and operational."

Beyond nan staffing shortages, information measures specified arsenic cameras astatine nan accommodation were recovered to beryllium insufficiently monitored.

PHILADELPHIA POLICE FACE STAFFING CRISIS THAT'S PROJECTED TO GET EVEN WORSE

A Virginia man goes done beingness therapy astatine nan Veterans Affairs Medical Center successful Washington, D.C. (Jeff Hutchens/Getty Images)

"The OIG acknowledges that nan beingness of operational information cameras results successful a ample magnitude of footage to review, and galore accommodation whitethorn not person capable unit to do so," nan study stated. "However, having this footage disposable to reappraisal would thief accommodation and different authorities analyse immoderate reported incidents."

The study besides recovered that constabulary officers still connected nan unit person been overworked. Police officers astatine 70 VA accommodation crossed nan state logged a full of 292,000 overtime hours, worthy $13.4 million, Military.com reported.

"Continuous monitoring will make VA accommodation much unafraid and safe for Veterans, their families, caregivers and employees," nan VA spokesperson added successful remark to Fox News Digital.  "Veterans and families should cognize that while we are actively attempting to grow constabulary coverage, our accommodation stay safe."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Staffing issues person plagued police departments across nan state successful caller years, pinch galore constabulary leaders blaming nan emergence of nan "defund nan police" activity and anti-cop sentiment that swept nan federation successful 2020 arsenic protesters and rioters pursuing nan sidesplitting of George Floyd.