>> There are more gun-carrying agents employed across the federal government by inspectors general .. than there are ATF agents nationwide; the roughly 4,000 inspector general agents nationwide, in fact, is roughly equivalent to the entire size of the DEA. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ police department, who guard the nation’s veteran hospitals, facilities and cemeteries, is larger than the entire U.S. Marshals Service.
Why don't security guards guard hospitals and normal investigators work in watchdogs? Why are they all police-style groups? Is there some historical reason?
Note: I performed security audits of VHA facilities for a couple of years.
Unlike non-federal hospital, this is due to jurisdiction. VHA Hospitals are federal land so local police departments wouldnt have any jurisdiction, and the federal government typically looks at its responsibility to enforce laws within the land it owns. Also, some VHA facilities are on large campuses in more rural/less urban areas which effects the size of the police forces there.
Why don't security guards guard hospitals and normal investigators work in watchdogs? Why are they all police-style groups? Is there some historical reason?