Park Police Trainee

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) $54,900.89 while attending the Police Training Academy.

After successful completion of the academy, employees are reclassified to Park Police 1 (PK01) at Step 1. $60,501.08

After completing their six month probationary period, employees are reclassified to Park Police 2 (PK02) at Step 1. $66,185.22

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 has something for everyone through its variety of strategically placed facilities and programs. Parks offers cultural arts and fitness classes, dog parks and nature programs and 16,000 acres of open space, including 121 parks and 19 greenways. Ice hockey, sports leagues, art galleries and much more are among the offerings. Parks is a fun place where there's always something going on.

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 orequivalent, 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.

Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.

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 of the armed forces of the United States.

• P.O.S.T. Certification- If you are an existing Police Officer.

• If you wish to qualify under the three+ years of full-time work experience, be sure to include a detailed employment history in the Work Experience section of the application.

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 accommodation for the recruitment process should be directed to 615-862-6640.