Park Police Trainee

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 66,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department is seeking a Park Police Trainee within the Parks & Recreation Department. The role includes traffic control, enforcing laws, and protecting park areas.

Trainees will attend in-service and field training in police science and progress through PK00, PK01, and PK02 classifications with pay steps. Successful candidates must meet education or experience requirements and complete the Metro Nashville Police Training Academy.

Qualifications

• 60 semester hours of college coursework from an accredited college or university with GPA 2.0 or above.
• High school diploma or equivalent plus one of: two years active military duty, or two years as a full-time certified law enforcement officer with Tennessee P.O.S.T., or three years of responsible work experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform crime prevention and law enforcement duties throughout the Metropolitan Park System.
• Patrol assigned areas by car, foot, horse, bike, or ATV.
• Monitor parks, playgrounds and greenways for illegal activities.
• Assist citizens to ensure park use is safe and enjoyable.
• Intervene in disputes to protect the public and maintain order.
• Make arrests, issue citations, give warnings, direct traffic, and assist with crowd control.
• Appear in court as required.

Education

60 semester hours of college coursework

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Tennessee P.O.S.T. Certification or equivalent State certification

Job 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.”

• 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 and 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.

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.

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.

Review the Police Officer Trainee Employment Standards before applying.

The following required documents MUST be submitted at the time of application

• Birth Certificate
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Official College Transcripts - If you wish to qualify under the college path, we need a copy of your official college transcript. Transcripts Issued To Student are accepted only if they include the registrar's signature/seal (showing 60 semester hours and 2.0 GPA).
• Military Discharge, long form DD214 - If you wish to qualify under the military path. According to the Tennessee P.O.S.T. Commission Law Enforcement Officer Certification Requirements, applicants must not have been released or discharged under any other than honorable discharge from any ...
• P.O.S.T. Certification - If you are an existing Police O