Parks Police Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $66,204.00 Annually
Location : Nashville, TN
Job Type: Full-Time Civil Service
Job Number: C200 FY25
Division: Parks
Opening Date: 04/01/2026
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.

Review the Police Officer Trainee 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 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% of 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: (Full-time employees)

• 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
01
Are you a United States citizen or a permanent legal resident of the United States who is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces?

• U.S. Citizen
• Permanent legal resident of the U.S., honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces
• None of the Above

02
Do you have a valid Driver License?

• Yes
• No

03
Do you have a High School Diploma or Equivalent

• Yes
• No

04
Applicants must be 21 years of age by the time you start the MNPD Training Academy. I have attached a copy of my birth certificate to this employment application.

• Yes, I have attached a copy of my birth certificate to the application
• No, I have not attached my birth certificate

05
Are you fluent with a language, other than English, in both written and spoken word?

• Yes
• No

06
If you are bilingual, list the language(s) other than English in which you are fluent.
07
Do you have a felony conviction?

• Yes
• No

08
Have you ever sold any kind of narcotic, dangerous drug or marijuana?

• Yes
• No

09
Have you used marijuana within the past six-months?

• Yes
• No

10
Which of the following best describes your qualifications for Park Police Officer Trainee?

• I have earned 60 or more semester hours of college credit from an accredited college or university and have a 2.0 GPA or higher
• I have two or more years of active military service and have/will receive an honorable discharge
• I have three or more years of full-time work experience (post high school graduation or 18th birthday).
• I am/was a Police Officer for two or more years and have POST certification or equivalent

11
Based on your qualifications, mark the answer below to indicate which document(s) you will attach to your application for Park Police Officer Trainee. NOTE: Each document must be attached as a separate file.

• College credit - Attach a copy of your "official" college transcripts. "Official" transcripts can be those Issued To Student and they must have the schools registrar's signature. Transcripts printed from the school's website are not acceptable
• Military credit - Attach a copy of your DD214 - LONG FORM that lists discharge information. If you are currently serving a letter from your commanding officer stating that you will receive an honorable discharge is acceptable. Also attach copy of proof of education (i.e. High School Diploma, G.E.D. transcripts, or college transcripts)
• Work experience - Attach a copy of High School Diploma or G.E.D. Transcripts
• Prior police experience - Attach a copy of high school diploma, G.E.D. transcripts, or college transcripts and a copy of P.O.S.T. certificate or equivalent

12
Per TCA code 38-8-106, applicants for Public Safety positions shall "Not have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to or entered a plea of nolo contendere to any felony charge OR to any violation of any federal or state laws or city ordinances relating to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor, controlled substances". Do you have any violations related to the above stated code that would prevent you from continuing in the application process?

• Yes
• No

13
I understand that all related work history/experience, education, certification and/or licenses must be reflected on my application for this position. All required documents should be attached before I click the submit button on my application for Park Police Officer Trainee. I further understand that an incomplete application or missing documents will result in disqualification

• Yes
• No

Required Question