In a shocking revelation that has ignited widespread outrage, Chief Beverly Banks of the Atlanta VA Medical Center Police Department was suspended after an audio recording captured her making discriminatory remarks during a staff meeting. The recording, obtained by the FOX 5 I-Team, reveals Chief Banks explicitly stating her reluctance to hire Black or Hispanic female officers, citing unfounded stereotypes about their attitudes.
The incriminating audio from the September 13, 2023, command staff meeting paints a troubling picture of the leadership at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. “I am to the point… I don’t want to hire black women no more,” Banks can be heard saying. “I ain’t got no white women beating down my door to come in and work. But I wish they would. Cause I don’t have these problems.”
Chief Banks, who is herself Black, did not stop at targeting Black women. She extended her offensive comments to Hispanic women as well. “I don’t have no Hispanic women. Hell, I don’t want them neither. Cause you know what comes with it? A whole of lot of f—–g attitude. And I don’t want it. I’m the only one with an attitude in this place. Me.”
The authenticity of the recording was confirmed by a second person present at the meeting, and the recording was subsequently forwarded to the Veterans Administration. In response, a VA spokesman stated unequivocally, “There is no place for racism or discrimination at VA, and these comments are unacceptable.”
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Despite repeated requests for comment, Chief Banks has remained silent. Her suspension, along with that of two other top commanders, came amid allegations of “unacceptable behavior” within the department, including serious accusations of sexual assault and harassment.
Chief Banks assumed control of the Atlanta VA Medical Center Police Department in late 2022, stepping into an environment already plagued by complaints of favoritism and sexism. One particularly egregious case involved Shaneka Jackson, who accused Deputy Chief Johnnie McCullor of sexual assault. A 2022 VA investigation found Jackson’s allegations to be “accurate and truthful,” yet no action was taken against McCullor. Instead, Jackson lost her job while McCullor remained as Deputy Chief under Banks’ leadership.
The toxic culture under Banks’ command did not improve. In December 2023, another Black female officer filed a complaint accusing McCullor of threatening to drag her down the hall by her hair. The outcome of this complaint remains unclear, but it adds to the disturbing pattern of abuse and neglect within the department.
At a January 2024 department-wide meeting, Chief Banks addressed McCullor directly, saying, “Deputy Chief McCullor, if you don’t know how to talk to people, tell me now so I can do whatever I need to do to get you disciplined… again.” This reprimand appears to be more performative than substantive, given the ongoing issues.
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David Bennett, a former VA police officer, served in the department for five years before quitting last month. Bennett, a combat veteran, filed an EEOC complaint against Banks, accusing her of sharing confidential information about him with his supervisors, which created a hostile work environment. “That created a toxic hostile work environment for me as an individual officer and didn’t feel as comfortable working for leadership as I did before,” Bennett explained.
Bennett was present at the January 2024 meeting where Banks attempted to defend her leadership, stating, “I have been made to sound like I’m a beast. I’m just the worst beast ever.” However, the recordings from the meeting suggest that her leadership style was indeed authoritarian and divisive.
The scandal has caught the attention of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), Chairman of the Committee, is demanding transparency and accountability, seeking all unredacted internal investigations involving the suspended officers.
Amid this turmoil, Major Daryl Gates, initially suspended alongside Banks, has been reinstated. The situation at the Atlanta VA Medical Center Police Department underscores a profound need for reform and accountability within the department to ensure a safe and equitable workplace for all officers and staff.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of discriminatory leadership and the urgent need for systemic change. The Veterans Administration must act decisively to root out such toxic behavior and restore integrity and fairness to the institution tasked with protecting those who have served our country.
