Park Police Trainee

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 66,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan

Dental plan

Pension

Paid leave

Job summary

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Parks & Recreation Department, is seeking a Park Police Trainee to begin a structured training program in police science while performing traffic control, enforcing laws, and policing park areas.

Trainees are paid at step 1 of grade PK00 ($66,204) during the academy, advance to PK01 at $70,904, then PK02 at $77,964 after six months of probation, with rotating shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Qualifications

• At least sixty (60) semester hours with a 2.0 C average or better.
• OR a high school diploma plus two years of military duty or two years as a certified officer or three years of work experience.
• Must complete Metro Nashville Police Training Academy.
• Active officer means permanent, full-time patrol-certified officer.

Responsibilities

• Perform crime prevention and law enforcement throughout the park system.
• Patrol assigned areas by car, on foot, horse, bike, or ATV.
• Monitor parks for illegal activities and assist citizens.
• Intervene in disputes to protect the public and maintain order.
• Make arrests, issue citations, direct traffic, and assist crowd control.
• Appear in court as required.

Skills

Traffic enforcement

Crime prevention

Patrol duties

Court appearances

Education

60 Semester Hours

High school diploma

Job description

Position Description

This position is with the Parks & Recreation Department, and performs law enforcement work such as, controlling traffic flow, enforcing state and local laws, and traffic regulations for all park areas and facilities. The Park Police Trainee will attend and complete an in-service and field training program in police science.

Salary

Park Police Trainee employees are paid at step 1 of grade (PK00) $66,204 while attending the MNPD Training Academy.

After successful completion of the academy, employees are reclassified to Park Police 1 (PK01) at Step 1. $70,904

After completing their six month probationary period, employees are reclassified to Park Police 2 (PK02) at Step 1. $77,964

Upon successful completion of academy and on-the-job training, Park Police employee are automatically moved into the Park Police 1 classification and begins a six-month probationary period.

• All Officers must be able to work varying shifts including nights, week-ends, and holidays.

Metro’s Parks and Recreation Department offers something for everyone through a wide range of facilities, programs, and natural spaces across Davidson County. Today, Metro Parks manages nearly 16,000 acres of parkland, including 189 parks, more than 110 miles of greenways, and 27 community centers. The system features cultural arts facilities, nature centers, historic sites, dog parks, playgrounds, golf courses, sports leagues, fitness programs, and hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails. From ice hockey and art classes to swimming pools, basketball courts, and community events that draw hundreds of thousands of participants each year, Metro Parks remains a vibrant, active part of life in Nashville where there is always something happening for residents and visitors alike.

Typical Duties

• Performing crime prevention and law enforcement duties throughout the Metropolitan Park System.
• Patrolling an assigned area in an automobile, on foot, horse, bike, or ATV vehicle.
• Monitoring parks, playgrounds, greenways and other park property for illegal activities.
• Assisting citizens to ensure the use of parks is safe and enjoyable.
• Intervening in private or public disputes to protect the public and maintain order.
• Making arrests, issuing citations, giving verbal warnings, directing traffic, and assisting with crowd control, as needed.
• Appearing in court as required.

Minimum Qualifications

At least sixty (60) semester hours of course work from an accredited college or university with an overall Grade Point Average of 2.0 C Average or above.

OR

High school diploma or equivalent, plus one of the following:

• At least two (2) years active military duty (Honorable Discharge)
• At least two (2) years as a full-time, certified (Tennessee P.O.S.T. Certification or equivalent State certification) active law enforcement officer*
• Three (3) years responsible work experience

NOTE: Once hired, employees are required to successfully complete the Metro Nashville Police Training Academy.

• Active law enforcement officer means a permanent, full-time, uniformed law enforcement officer functioning in a patrol capacity, determined from documentation or certification submitted to the Police Department.

CIVIL SERVICE STATUS

Park Police trainees are provisional (non-Civil Service) employees. Upon successful completion of academy and on-the-job training, the employee is automatically moved into the Park Police 1 classification and begins a six-month probationary period. The initial hire date will be used in computing leave accrual.

• No other substitution.****

License Required

Valid Driver License

Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.

Additional Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age at the time of hire. Candidates who have reached their 20th birthday may file applications, however, they may not be appointed to their probationary period until they are at least 21 years old.
• Per Tennessee House Bill 0765, a permanent legal resident of the United States who is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces may be employed as a Police Officer. The officer must apply for or obtain citizenship within six (6) years of the employment start date.
• Far visual acuity must be at least 20/20 in the better eye and 20/30 in the other eye binocular corrected with contact lenses or spectacles. Far visual acuity uncorrected must be at least 20/100 binocular for wearers of hard contacts or spectacles. Successful long-term soft contact lens wearers shall not be subject to the uncorrected criterion. Applicants must have worn soft contacts for at least six months prior to the employment physical.
• Must have normal color vision.
• Must pass a medical examination with standards set out in the Metropolitan Charter.
• NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may, at the request of the Chief of Police, allow an applicant admission to the Metropolitan Police Department Training Academy, provided the applicant's overall uncorrected vision is 20/20, and has previously demonstrated the ability to complete the curriculum prescribed by the Metropolitan Police Department.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• P.O.S.T. (Police Officer Standards and Training Commission) certified as a Law Enforcement Officer
• Bi-lingual, preferably Spanish
• Two years of college (60 Semester Hours)
• Experience in law enforcement or related field

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.

Metro Nashville Government respects the religious beliefs and practices of all employees and will make, on request, an accommodation for such observances when a reasonable accommodation is available that does not create an undue hardship on business operations.

Requests for ADA or other protected accommodations for the recruitment process should be directed to Human Resources at 615-862-6640.

Metro offers a generous core benefit package to eligible employees who are regularly and consistently working 20 or more hours per week. Insurance and benefit coverage is effective the first of the month after the employee has worked 30 days. Employees can change their benefits within 60 days of an eligible change in status or during Annual Enrollment. Metro also offers optional benefits from which the employee may choose. Family members, including eligible spouses, domestic partners and children, are covered under most of our benefits programs.

Core Benefits

Medical

Choice of two plans; Metro pays 75% of premium

Dental

Choice of two plans; Metro pays for single coverage

Basic Life

$50,000 basic term life coverage; Metro pays 100% premium

Pension

Formula-driven pension; 100% Metro funded; 10 year vesting for new employees

Paid Family Leave

Runs concurrently with time designated as FMLA leave (up to 30 days)

Longevity

Annual bonus beginning after 5 years of service; increases annually up to 20 years

Work Life/ Employee Assistance Program

Wide variety of counseling, referral and consultation services provided free

Other*

In-line-of-duty injury benefits, AD&D insurance, and Medical Disability eligibility after 10 years with Metro

Paid leave

• Vacation: 10 vacation days a year; increasing after 5 years of service (For Non Civil Service departments, contact the department's human resources office)
• Holidays: 12 holidays per year (For Non Civil Service departments, contact the department's human resources office)
• Sick leave: 12 days of sick leave per year
• Other leaves: Judicial leave, military leave, bereavement leave
• See the Human Resources webpage for more details and optional benefits at nashville.gov/hr