VA Police Firearms Program Modernization Memo.pdf

Department of Memorandum Veterans Affairs

Date: August 21, 2024

I:rom: Director, VA Law Enforcement Training Center (07B/NLR)

Subj: VA Police Firearms Program Modernization

To: VA Chiefs of Police

1. On August 1, 2024, the Office of Security and Law Enforcement (OSLE), the Office of the Senior Security Officer (OSSO), and the Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC) met regarding the modernization of the VA Police firearms program. After the meeting, there are several significant updates to the program, outlined below:

a. Optic sights are mandatory for all Sig Sauer P320s and Long Guns. Weapon-mounted lights are mandatory for all uniformed Officers carrying the Sig P320. Officers with the Beretta 92D, Sig P229, or Sig P239 cannot use Optic sights and weapon-mounted lights; they are unauthorized. No exceptions exist.

b. Officers will still be issued a flashlight with a holder per the VA Handbook 0730 (2000) appendix D, pg. D-4, para 1. No one can use the weapon-mounted light for traffic control.

c. Uniformed officers’ Level Ill holsters must accommodate the Axon signal sidearm activator.

The list of holsters is on the firearms program modernization price list below.

d. The Beretta 92D is being phased out and must be replaced by January 1, 2026. These stations will have first ordering priority when ordering the P320s, followed by stations operating the oldest serial number series of the Sig P229s and 239s.

e. The Federal Acquisition Regulation is a maximum of $20,000.00 per order.

f. Due to the limited availability of ammunition, LETC reviewed the FBI’s ballistic research and identified additional ammunition brands and grains approved for duty use; see below.

g. A new firearms qualification course was approved; see below. The new qualification course utilizes the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) standard target for implementation in FY26.

h. VA POST pistol (P320) and Long Gun qualification will begin using optics in FY25.

2. If you have any questions, contact Special Agent Bruce Bivins, Acting Supervisory Law Enforcement Specialist, Technical Programs Division Chief, at 501-257-4102.

CON RAD HAMP

DgtII gned by CONRAD

Date: 20240826 14l830 -0500

Conrad W. Hamp, Jr.

Director, VA LETC

VA POLICE APPROVED FIREARMS AMMUNITION AND HOLSTERS

EFFECTIVE DATE: 10/01/2024

Reference VA Police Model SOP IV

Pistols:

P320 Full Size: $359.00

P320 Carry Size: $354.00

Optic: Mandatory - Minimum Specifications (Optics outside the minimum specifications are not authorized)

1. Dot size: Between 2 and 8 Minutes Of Angle (MOA)

2. Optics with a larger ring-style reticle must also have a center dot that meets the dot size standards.

3. Battery life: Must be checked before the beginning of each shift and replaced annually or as needed.

4. Optics that rely solely on solar power are NOT authorized.

5. Mounting: The RDS will directly mount to an optics-ready slide.

6. Power activation will be a push button.

Examples:

Eotech EFLX Product Detail (qsaadvantace.qov)

Trijicon SRO Product Detail (qsaadvantaqe.qov)

Trijicon RMR Product Detail (csaadvantage.gov)

Sig Sauer Romeo 02 Product Detail (gsaadvantaqe.ov)

Flashlight: Mandatory Uniform Duty — Minimum Specifications (For screw-on mounted lights (Not Authorized:

detachable lights).

1. Light source: Light Emitting Diode (LED).

2. Lumen Requirement Minimum 300 lumens.

3. Battery Runtime: Minimum of 1 hour at the highest light output setting.

4. Type of Activation Switch — Momentary or constant on.

5. It must be mounted via a screw-on mounting system.

6. Must be compatible with Axon Signal Sidearm Activator (SSA):

Options:

Stream light TLR-1

Stream light TLR-1 HL

Surefire X300-B

Reference VA Police Model SOP IV

APPROVED ON-DUTY HOLSTERS FOR DEPARTMENT FIREARMS

Handgun Officer Holster Brand Approved Holsters Assignment

Beretta 92D 6390HP-73-41 1/412 SIG P229R Uniformed Safariland: No Light, 6390HP-744-41 1/412

No Optic

Safariland Or 7360RDS-7505-41 1/412 SIG P320 Uniform Blackhawk T Series Blackhawk T Series for a WML and Optic

It must be a level 2 retention holster.

Beretta 92D It must be a strong side draw only.

P229R Plain Clothes Any brand holster Must be of high-quality materials.

P239 It must be a pancake, paddle, or belt loop

SIG P320 attachment.

NOTES: All Sig Sauer P320s must be equipped with slide-mounted optics. Uniform officers must also have a weapon-mounted light; weapon-mounted lights are optional for plain-clothes personnel. Adding WML or Optics to the Sig Sauer P229 and Beretta 92D is prohibited.

The Beretta 92D will be phased out by 1/1/2026.

An Axon Signal Sidearm Activator is mandatory for uniform officers; no other alterations to the duty holster are authorized.

All long guns are required to be equipped with optics and weapons-mounted lights.

Duty ammunition substitutions are only authorized, with an exception to the policy memo from OS&LE.

Reference VA Police Model SOP IV

APPROVED DUTY FIREARMS AMMUNITION

Neapon type Make/Model Cal/Gauge mm unition

Service Pistol, Uniform BERETTA 92D 124/1 47 Grain Jacket Hollow Point:

SIGSAUERP229 9mm SIG SAUER P320 X Full- Speer Gold Dot ize/Carry Federal HST

Remington Golden Saber Sig Sauer V Crown Mnchester Bonded JHP

Service Pistol, Plain BERETTA 92D 124/1 47 Grain Jacket Hollow Point:

Clothes SIG SAUER P229 9mm

SIG SAUER P320 X Full- Speer Gold Dot ;ize/Carry Federal HST SIG SAUER P239 Remington Golden Saber

Sig Sauer V Crown Mnchester Bonded JHP

NINDOM WEAPONRY M-4 32 Grain:

Long Gun ;tyle rifle. With an 1 1 .5” .223 barrel Speer Gold Dot Soft Point (SP) 62 rain (gr) .223 Rem or 5.56mm.

Federal Tactical Bonded 62 gr .223 Rem or 5.56mm.

Federal Tactical Bonded, 62 grain .223 Federal Trophy Bonded Tactical, 62 jrain 5.56mm.