Department of Veterans Affairs

Police

Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System Brockton Division 940 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301

Training Site Information Department of Veterans Affairs Brockton Campus 940 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301 Chad Sartini, Chief of Police: 774-826-1107 LT Mark Chadwick, Training Officer: 774-826-2535 Brockton Police Headquarters: 774-826-2530/31 Fax: 774-826-1961 VA Computers are available for use M-F from 0700-1730 in Employee Education, Building 5, 2nd Floor, Room B203.

Local Hotel/Car Rental Information Residence Inn Boston Brockton 124 Liberty Street · Brockton, MA 02301 (508) 583-3600 (located 1 mile from Brockton VAMC)

Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Brockton 50 Christy Dr, Brockton, 02301 (508) 559-0099 (located 2.5 miles from Brockton VAMC)

Enterprise Rent-A-Car (across the street from Brockton VAMC) 94 Manley Street, Brockton, MA 02301 Tel: 94106603

KEY:

= Directions to Bldg. 2#. Enter at front of VA, take first left. Follow Pilgrim Road to Winick Way. Enter Bldg.. Conference Room directly ahead.

Bldg. 22

From RI, CT: Take I-95 North to Route 495 South to Route 24 North. Take exit 17A, Brockton Route 123 East. At the second traffic light, turn right to enter Medical Center.

From ME, NH, VT: Take I-95 South to Route 128 South to Route 24 South. Take exit 17A, Brockton Route 123 East. At the second traffic light, turn right to enter Medical Center.

VA Boston Healthcare System Brockton Campus

Nearby Restaurants RESTURANTS – SIT DOWN

CHINESE

99 Restaurant – American – Sit Down 99 Belmont St, South Easton, MA (508) 238-2999 (1.2 miles)

#1 Buffet – Chinese – Sit Down 863 Belmont St, Brockton, MA (508) 588-5088 (across street from VA)

Owen O’Leary’s Restaurant – American – Sit Down 1280 Belmont St # 1280, Brockton, MA (508) 584-2221 (1 mile) Bertucci’s - Italian 1285 Belmont Street, Brockton (508) 584-3080 (1 mile)

Jade Leaf – Chinese – Take Out 1050 Pearl St, Brockton, MA (508) 584-6366 (1 mile)

Charlie Horse Restaurant – Sit Down 674 West Center Street #1, West Bridgewater, MA 02379 (508) 583-7252 (4 miles)

DELI/SANDWICHES

Pasta Bene Restaurant – Italian – Eat In/Take Out 1050 Pearl St, Brockton, MA (508) 583-1515 (1 mile) Texas Roadhouse Restaurant – Sit Down 124 Westgate Drive, Brockton, MA 02301 (508) 427-6244 (4 miles) Olive Garden and Smokey Bones 301 and 401 Technology Center Drive Stoughton, MA 02072 (7 miles south)

China Chef – Takeout/Delivery 92 Torrey Street, Brockton, MA 02301 (508) 583-8898 (1 mile) Georgio’s 1041 Pearl Street, Brockton, MA 02301 (508) 580-0160 (1 mile) Subway 768 Belmont St, Brockton, MA (508) 580-2222 (1/2 mile) D ‘Angelo Restaurant – Sandwiches – Eat In/Take Out 739 Belmont St, Brockton, MA (508) 580-4322 (1/2 mile) Panera Bread – Sandwiches – Eat In/Take Out 1301 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301 (508) 587-1520 (less than 1 mile)

FAST FOOD Burger King Restaurant 606 Belmont St, Brockton, MA (508) 588-1963 (1 mile)

Boston Market 756 Belmont St, Brockton, MA (508) 580-8551 (1/2 mile)

McDonald’s Restaurant 715 Belmont St, Brockton, MA (508) 583-6413 (1/2 mile)

Papa Gino’s Restaurant – Italian – Eat In/Take Out 885 Belmont St, Brockton, MA (508) 588-1911 (across street from VA)

Taco Bell 675 Belmont St, Brockton, MA (508) 588-2400 (1/2 mile)

COFFEE Dunkin Donuts – Coffee/Sandwiches – Take Out 1000 West Chestnut Street, Brockton, MA (508) 586-3186 (right behind VA)

Dunkin Donuts – Coffee/Sandwiches – Take Out 37 Belmont St, Brockton, MA (508) 586-5798 (1/2 mile)

Starbuck’s Café – Coffee Shop – Take Out 1285 Belmont St Ste 14, Brockton, MA (508) 584-4223 (less than 1 mile)

Back Bay Bagel 1280 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301 (508) 580-6565 (less than 1 mile)

BREAKFAST Stonebridge Café – Meals/Sandwiches 1285 Belmont St Ste 9, Brockton, MA (508) 584-5200 (less than 1 mile)

BAKERY Whites Café – Pastry/Sandwiches – Take Out 1041 Pearl St, Brockton, MA (less than 1 mile) (508) 584-5100

IHOP Restaurant - Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch 400 Westgate Drive, Brockton, MA 02301 (508) 521-6050 (4 miles)

Beyond the Written Duties of Law Enforcement The VA Police are an armed enforcement and protective service unit that operates in and around the various Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, National Cemeteries and other VA facilities located throughout the United States including Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. They are a specialized federal law enforcement agency, whose officers have full police powers to enforce all federal laws, VA rules and regulations, and to make arrests on VA controlled property whether owned or leased. The primary role of VA Police is to serve as a protective uniformed police force to deter and prevent crime, maintain order, and investigate crimes (ranging from summary to felony offenses) which may have occurred within the jurisdiction of the Department or its federal assets. Before 1971, civilian security guards were charged with protecting VA Boston’s Medical Facilities. The guard hiring process consisted of a background screening and a minimal requirement of formal training. As the overall level of criminal activity began to increase nationwide the Veteran Administration, as it was named then, recognized the need for a more trained, professional and responsive force. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC) was established in 1971 to train officers uniquely qualified to the new VA standards. Unaccredited at first, the Department of Justice later approved the course due to the intense training requirements that met the needs of policing a health care facility. Veterans Affairs Police currently have entry qualifications comparable to other law enforcement agencies in the United States. All VA Police Officers are required to have either a minimum of two years’ experience in law enforcement with arrest authority (in federal, state, municipal, or military police), or have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Applicants must also undergo a physical abilities test, fingerprinting, physical examination, Minnesota Multi-phasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) psychological evaluation and a background investigation. Upon selection, officers go through a supplementary eight-week training course at LETC located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Additionally, VA Police Officers receive continuous in-service and specialized training (written, practical, and scenario based) including intermediate weapons, tactical and low light firearms, and contact and arrest procedures. Officers may also partake in a series of advanced training courses offered by LETC on a selective basis that includes crime scene investigations, traffic accident investigations, and technical surveillance. Through the years, the Department of Veteran Affairs has expanded its program to ensure that officers are well prepared to provide a safe and secure environment for all Veterans, employees and visitors at our facilities. Today’s VA police officers are well equipped to handle all law enforcement functions. “VA Boston Police Service Has seen a daily progression of professional services being made available to our patients and staff at all campuses.” said Officer Zach Pearlstein, West Roxbury. VA BHS’s police officers have the unique advantage of developing long-standing relationships among Veterans who return to our facilities for continuing care. “I’m a Veteran and I take a lot of satisfaction in assisting other Veterans who have some of the same beliefs in serving their country as I did.” says Officer Patrick Rogers, West Roxbury. Many VA police officers are Veterans themselves and are able to relate to certain conditions and situations with a degree of insight that others may not have.

“As a fellow Veteran, it’s nice to engage the patients with similar stories and of course share many laughs that make the job all that more rewarding,” said Officer Keith Lazaron, Brockton. The Police at VA Boston hold themselves to a higher standard resulting in a Highly Satisfactory rating in 2010. The same rating is anticipated for their recent inspection completed in August 2012. “Ratings such as these speak to the tremendous work each and every one of the police staff accomplishes each day across all VA Boston locations.” said Chief of Police Chad Sartini.

About the VA Boston Healthcare System The VA Boston Healthcare System, the largest consolidated facility in VISN 1, encompasses 3 main campuses and 5 outpatient clinics within a 40-mile radius of the greater Boston area. The consolidated facility consists of the Jamaica Plain Campus, located in the heart of Boston's Longwood Medical Community; the West Roxbury Campus, located on the West Roxbury/Dedham line; and the Brockton Campus, located 20 miles south of Boston in the City of Brockton. In addition to the 3 main medical centers, the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) that make up the VA Boston Healthcare System (VA BHS) are located in Framingham, Lowell, Quincy, Plymouth and Causeway Street (Boston).

Brockton: 940 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301 West Roxbury: 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132 Boston: 150 S. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130 Causeway OPC: 251 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02114 Lowell OPC: 130 Marshall Road, Lowell, MA 01852

VA Police – Training