Washington DC VA Medical Center
Washington DC VA Medical Center Improves Salary and Retention Rates of Its Police Officers
September 17, 2019
Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center Improves Salary and Retention Rates of Its Police Officers
To improve the safety and security of the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s campus, leadership has worked for months to improve the salary and retention rates of its police officers. The medical center now offers a 64.69% Special Rate Supplement for Police Officers in the GS-0083 series for those in GS-6 to GS-11 positions.
According the Medical Center Director Michael Heimall, a pay disparity between medical center police officers and our local law enforcement counterparts has existed for years. “Our starting salaries for police officers were significantly less than officers in Baltimore City, Arlington County and DC Metro Police. This pay gap of $10,000 to $18,000 annually presented a challenge to recruit and retain experienced officers to meet our organization’s goals.”
The medical center would have a number of selectees decline the job offers and would lose many of its officers to the private sector. “We were even losing police officers to other VA’s and other Federal Agencies who were able to offer a more competitive salary,” said Mr. Heimall.
Removing this pay gap was necessary to ensure safety in the medical center’s urban environment. The team has a vital mission 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Being a police officer is a dangerous job and I’m glad we’re finally able to provide a competitive salary for these brave men and women who keep our campus secure,” said Mr. Heimall.
This Special Rate Supplement is part of a comprehensive plan to improve the medical center’s Police Service. In January, Director Heimall onboarded a new Chief of Police, Robyn Hardy, a 13-year Army Veteran who brings more than 20 years of government leadership and law enforcement experience to the position.
The medical center’s Human Resource Office has announced open positions in Police Service. The primary purpose of these positions is to perform law enforcement work in the protection of life, property, and the rights of individual citizens. All hired police officer recruits will have the opportunity for ongoing training at The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC).
Please visit the USA jobs website for details, https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/544878500.
