Becoming a Police Officer
Is the Police Department hiring?
Yes! The Metro Police Department has recently instituted a "progressive hiring" stance. This allows us to hire the very best candidates to join our department and bring them on board very quickly prior to having established a definitive start date for the next recruit class. These employees are paid as Police Officer Trainees, but work in a civilian administrative capacity until enough people are hired to start the next recruit class.
How long is the hiring process for Police Officers?
On average, the hiring process for police officers is 4 to 8 months.
Is the Police officer hiring process different for lateral applicants and basic recruit applicants?
No, the hiring process is the same for both. However, the lateral training classes are different than the regular recruit training classes.
What do I need to do to physically prepare myself for the Police Training Academy?
Read the Police Officer Trainee Fitness / Wellness Program Summary.
Do my college hours (for the Police officer application) have to be in the Criminal Justice Field?
No, college hours for the Police officer application do not have to be in the Criminal Justice Field.
Body Worn and In Car Cameras
Can anyone request a copy of video recordings from the body worn or in-car cameras?
As with any other record maintained by the Metro Nashville Police Department, camera recordings will be released in compliance with applicable law. Necessarily, some videos or video content will be withheld or redacted. Examples include open criminal cases, certain victim information, private areas or incidents, such as the inside of a home that is not a crime scene or a person receiving medical treatment. To make a request, download the Public Records Policy/Request Form from Central Records.
Will the body worn and in-car cameras always be recording?
The cameras will only save recordings after the officer activates the camera. Each Body Worn and In-Car Camera will also record 60 seconds of video prior to each activation.
Will officers have discretion on when to activate a recording?
Officers will follow Metro Nashville Police Department policy on when to activate a recording with limited discretion. Officers will be required to record any investigative or enforcement activity involving a member of the public. Examples of when an activation should occur are: calls for service, traffic stops, arrest, and searches.
Can police officers delete video recordings?
Officers are not able to modify, alter, or delete video recordings.
Are officers required to get my permission or notify me when they are recording?
Officers are not required to obtain consent when the officer is lawfully in the area where the recording takes place, the same as a citizen who records an officer with their phone. However, officers are encouraged to inform individuals that they are being recorded whenever possible, safe, and practical.
Domestic Violence
How do I get an Order of Protection?
Visit the Office of Family Safety page for information on getting help with orders of protection.
What resources are available for victims?
Survivors have many options…from obtaining a protection order to staying in a shelter, exploring options through a support group or anonymous calls to a local domestic violence shelter or hotline program. The important thing to know, is that there is hope for victims, and they are not alone. Check out our Domestic Violence Division pages for more information.
Why do victims sometimes return to, or stay with an abuser?
There is a real fear of death or more abuse if they leave. In fact, a victim’s risks greatly increase when they are in the process of leaving or have just left. Batterers are very good at making victims think that the abuse is their fault. Victims often believe that if they caused the violence, they can also stop it. Victims often stay because they are made to think they cannot survive on their own, financially or otherwise. Survivors sometimes want the abuse to end, not the relationship.
Is it possible for abusers to change?
Yes, but they must make the choice to change. Once an abuser has had all of the power in a relationship, it’s difficult to change to a healthy relationship with equal power and compromises. Sometimes an abuser stops the physical violence, but continues to employ other forms of abuse – emotional, sexual, or financial. Some abusers are able to exert complete control over a victim’s every action without using violence or only using subtle threats of violence.
Do abusers show any potential warning signs?
There is no way to spot an abuser in a crowd, but most abusers share some common characteristics. Some of the subtle warning signs include insisting on moving too quickly into a relationship, insisting that you stop participating in leisure activities or spending time with family and friends, acting extremely jealous or controlling, not taking responsibility for their actions and blaming others for everything that goes wrong, criticizing their partner’s appearance and making frequent put-downs.
Horse Mounted Patrol
Where do you keep the horses?
Our horses are stabled at Ellington Agricultural Center, located at 400 Hogan Road, Nashville, TN 37220.
Can citizens volunteer at the barn to help with taking care of the horses?
No. We are a full time Mounted Patrol Unit, which cares for our own horses on a daily basis. Our officers take pride in caring for the horses each day. We do encourage people to come by and visit the horses anytime the Ellington Agricultural Center is open.
How does the Police Department acquire their horses?
The horses are acquired through both donation and purchase. More information is available on our standards page.
Find out more about our standards for acquiring a new horse.
Do the horses work everyday?
We work many different events throughout the city every year. In doing these events we ensure the horses receive adequate time to rest by trading out officers and horses for different events. If a horse has worked several events in the same week and needs to rest we have alternate horses to utilize so our primary assigned horses can rest as needed.
Is a horse assigned to a specific officer?
Yes, each officer partners with a specific horse that he or she is responsible for riding and training with on a regular basis. However, all the horses and riders are trained the same so any officer can ride any horse available if their primary horse is unavailable for any reason. We have alternate horses we utilize when needed.
Property and Evidence
What will I need to bring to retrieve my property?
A photo ID and a release from the officer/detective (if needed). If picking up a firearm, see our firearms section for a full list of details. An appointment is needed to retrieve a firearm with one of our officers.
Are items sold online that are seized as part of an investigation?
Can I pick up another person's property for them?
Only if the owner sends us a notarized letter stating specifically who can pick up their property.
Are owners notified when their property is found?
Yes. When items are turned in and can be released, such as found property, and contact information is available, a notification letter is sent to the owner listed.
How do I retrieve my personal property?
Call or email first to make sure we have your property before making the trip to our department. Some of the property turned in will need a release by the officer/case detective before given back to the owner. If you have a complaint/case number, date of arrest, date of theft, and/or other pertinent information with the case, this information will help us to locate the property when calling/emailing to locate your property in our computer system.
Traffic Operations
How do I submit a report to the Tennessee Department of Safety on an accident which has happened on private property?
Download, print, and fill out the form linked on our Private Property Accident Reporting page. The page and the form have the instructions and where to send it.
How Do I Request Police Radar or Traffic Enforcement Near My Home?
Check out our Police radar / traffic enforcement service page.
Where do I register my vehicle or renew my vehicle registration?
The Davidson County Clerk's office is where you register your vehicle or renew your vehicle registration. You can also renew your registration online.
Where do I get my driver's license or renew it?
The State of Tennessee web site has all the details on getting or renewing your driver's license.
Does the Metro Nashville Police Department use unmarked vehicles?
Yes, we use unmarked vehicles for traffic stops.
Learn more about the Police Department's Use of Unmarked Vehicles and Traffic S…
Uncategorized Questions
Is this Gang Activity email a hoax?
A hoax email is presently circulating through Nashville warning people to be aware of increased gang activity and random shootings. The Metropolitan Police Department's Gang Unit has determined that the email has no validity. Hoax emails on crime issues are common in the United States. Citizens can refer to the Snopes.com website to dispel many myths and urban legends.
I've been getting calls from the Police Protective Fund based in Austin, Texas. Is this legitimate?
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has received numerous calls from citizens who have been solicited via telephone by a charity known as the Police Protective Fund. Research shows that the Police Protective Fund is based in Austin, Texas. It has no connection whatsoever with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, nor does this police department in any way endorse the Police Protective Fund.
Where can I find out if there are any convicted sex offenders in my neighborhood?
The Sexual Offender Registry at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. This registry shall consist of all public information regarding persons who are required to complete a TBI sexual offender registration/monitoring form pursuant to existing legislation related to the sexual offender registry.
Where can I get Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) statistics?
A good source of information for overall crime statistics is the FBI web pages on the Uniform Crime Report (UCR). This site lists the index crimes for all reporting cities across the U.S.
Where can I go to be fingerprinted?
The police department’s fingerprint service for members of the public who need to be printed as part of job applications, certain overseas travel, etc., is available at the Madison Precinct/Crime Laboratory building at 400 Myatt Drive. A valid US photo identification is required.
What happens to an immigrant if pulled over and they have no driver license?
The handling of a person stopped for a traffic violation who has no driver license is the same, irrespective of immigrant or citizenship status.
How does MNPD cooperate with ICE?
Realizing that ICE is an acronym for a department which includes Customs enforcement, and their role includes investigating or enforcing the attempted importation of controlled substances and counterfeit goods, and these offenses are also a violation of state law, the MNPD occasionally cooperates or assists US Customs and Postal Inspectors with these offenses.
Does the MNPD make immigration notifications to ICE?
Immigration enforcement remains solely a function of federal law enforcement and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has no authority to investigate or enforce immigration laws. We expect to have no role in that activity. Similarly, the MNPD does not make inquiry about immigration status in the course of routine duties, except as described below in U-Visa matters.
Does immigration status impact enforcement of law?
Considering that immigration status is irrelevant to police in carrying out our duties, there is no foreseeable impact to most of the interactions-enforcement activities, investigation of crimes, or providing services to victims. However, we occasionally process a U-Visa for immigrants. This form is used most often for victims of a crime, who due to their status may otherwise be eligible for removal by the federal government. The processing of this U-Visa allows them to remain.
Immigration
What happens to an immigrant if pulled over and they have no driver license?
The handling of a person stopped for a traffic violation who has no driver license is the same, irrespective of immigrant or citizenship status.
How does MNPD cooperate with ICE?
Realizing that ICE is an acronym for a department which includes Customs enforcement, and their role includes investigating or enforcing the attempted importation of controlled substances and counterfeit goods, and these offenses are also a violation of state law, the MNPD occasionally cooperates or assists US Customs and Postal Inspectors with these offenses.
Does the MNPD make immigration notifications to ICE?
Immigration enforcement remains solely a function of federal law enforcement and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has no authority to investigate or enforce immigration laws. We expect to have no role in that activity. Similarly, the MNPD does not make inquiry about immigration status in the course of routine duties, except as described below in U-Visa matters.
Does immigration status impact enforcement of law?
Considering that immigration status is irrelevant to police in carrying out our duties, there is no foreseeable impact to most of the interactions-enforcement activities, investigation of crimes, or providing services to victims. However, we occasionally process a U-Visa for immigrants. This form is used most often for victims of a crime, who due to their status may otherwise be eligible for removal by the federal government. The processing of this U-Visa allows them to remain.