The Metropolitan Nashville Police Drill and Ceremony Team is a team of officers formed to honor the lives and memories of those killed in the line of duty. The Drill and Ceremony Team represents the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the city of Nashville in formal ceremonies such as honor guards, color guards, parades, casket watches, funerals, police academy graduations, and civic events. The team also commits to honoring the service of retired MNPD officers who have passed by attending these officers’ funerals. Many of them do this in their own time. The 28 members come from virtually all units and sections within the department. Its members are trained in basic rifle drills, police ceremonies, military ceremonies, and related tasks.
The Drill and Ceremony Team is comprised of highly trained members of the MNPD, specially selected for their dedication to the law enforcement profession and our department. Each member is selected and chosen specifically because of their dedication to maintain the highest professional appearance & skills. Each member brings a myriad of talents to the team.
Our Mission Statement
We will honor those who have dedicated and sacrificed their lives in the service of the city of Nashville, the State of Tennessee, and the United States of America. We serve as ambassadors of hope and strength to these officers’ families, who may need comfort in their darkest hour and support them as representatives of the City of Nashville, who is forever grateful.
Our Purpose
The main purpose of the team is to honor and stand watch over law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Our Drill and Ceremony Team takes pride in the law enforcement profession and strives to present a positive and professional image to the general public.
The MNPD Drill and Ceremony Team’s training is driven by the four pillars “Honor, Pride, Commitment, and Precision”. The team requires a member to have high levels of each to ensure that their uniform is spotless, buttons are shined, shoes are polished, and firearms are maintained in perfect order.
Each team member must have these traits so when it is time to train they are focused and dedicated to the task at hand. Training includes the basics of unarmed close order drill, armed close order drill, marching, organization, and preparation. The basics are what this team was founded on and support all other functions.
Pillars of Purpose
Honor
We honor fallen officers of our city and our nation for giving their lives in the service of the City of Nashville and the United States of America. Their service and selfless sacrifice shall never be forgotten.
Pride
Each member takes great pride in their appearance, both publicly and privately. Being a member of this team is a most sought after position within the department. Each member understands the importance of their individual role as it relates to the whole team. They must be willing to humble themselves as individuals for the opportunity to be part of such an important unit and take pride in the group as a whole.
Commitment
Team members attend monthly practice to perfect their skills and knowledge. Significant amounts of personal time are necessary and encouraged to perfect the basic movements and skills needed to function as a team and not simply as a group of individuals.
Precision
The basics of drill and rifle movements serve as the foundation of the team. Down to the smallest detail, each member works diligently to make sure their uniforms and movements look perfect for every event and they move in unison as one body. From hand placement to foot angles, the Nashville DCT members strive for perfection.
Awards
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department's Drill and Ceremony team are the current reigning National Honor Guard Competition Champions. They began competing in the National Honor Guard Competition in Washington, D.C. in 2007. This competition is held annually during National Police Week. Their first year to compete, the DCT represented the MNPD and Nashville in an exceptional manner and won top honors, being judged as the 2007 National Champions. They competed again in 2009 and again won the National Championship. They also placed 2nd overall in 2013. They won again in 2018. Links to videos of their National Championship exhibitions are located on this page.
The National Honor Guard Competition is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and began at John Marshall Plaza located in Washington DC. The competition is now held on the grounds across from the U.S. Capitol. The competing teams from across the United States and Canada are required to perform three different functions that are judged during the competition: the Team Inspection Drill, the Color Guard Posting of the Colors, and an Exhibition Phase. During each phase of the competition teams and team members are judged on uniformity, military bearing, precision, and creativity.
The 2018 National Championship team from left to right: FTO Austin Kendrick, Officer Micah Wright, Officer Kelcey Bell, Sgt Misty Hobbs, Sgt Ryan Hartley, SRO Tevares Hockett, Officer Joel Bontrager.
The 2018 National Championship Team pictured with team and family support personnel. Support personnel from left to right: Officer Melissa Flores, Officer Nakia Reid, Lt Matt Sears, Officer Shelby Hughes, Officer Matthew Cammarn.
In 2018 the MNPD added one of their own fallen officers to the wall. Officer Eric W Mumaw died in the line of duty in February of 2017. In addition to dedicating the exhibition phase of the competition to his memory, the Drill and Ceremony Team personnel had the privilege of escorting Officer Mumaw’s family in Washington DC during National Police Week.
Want to be a part of the Drill and Ceremony Team? Start by joining the Metro Nashville Police Department.
