October 1, 2027
*Dates subject to change
October 1, 2027
*Dates subject to change
The Metro Police Training Academy has been developing elite police officers since 1970. Since that time, the Training Academy has graduated nearly 4,000 police officers, and boasts an Academy staff, which represents a multitude of areas of expertise. In addition to being one of the most respected police academies in the country, it is a CALEA accredited public safety training academy.
The primary role of the Training Division is the operation of the Police Training Academy where it serves as the foundation of the agency by providing students with the highest quality training and knowledge, to support the needs of the department and the community they serve. The Training Academy provides training to newly hired police officer trainees, in-service training to all police officers annually, and thousands of hours of specialized training to officers from across the MNPD and the Metropolitan Government. All basic and in-service training is approved and monitored by the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards Training (P.O.S.T.) Commission.
Because our commitment to the citizens of Nashville demands that only the highest caliber individual serve as a police officer, our selection process is lengthy and competitive. The Metro Police Department is not in the habit of just handing out badges; to get one, you have to earn it.
The Metro Police Basic Training Program provides more training hours than the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA), Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Agent Academy, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) New Agent Training, and U.S. Military Basic Training.
Trainees do not reside at the academy. It is a commuter academy meaning that trainees go home every evening. They will attend training Monday through Friday and will be paid during their time at the academy. In addition to earning a paycheck, trainees will also be furnished with all necessary training equipmen/departments/police/document/fri-09/12/2025-1015-am/194056t.
For police officers, there are many critical elements trainees must learn while attending training. Academics, Ethics, Physical Fitness, Community Service, Firearms, and Emergency Vehicle Operations are all crucial to graduating the police academy. Over the course of approximately 24 weeks, trainees receive instruction from the Basic Course Curriculum. Currently, trainees receive approximately 1000 hours of training courses. The basic training program is designed to challenge the trainee – both physically and mentally. The curriculum is developed with the goal of providing Nashville with the most qualified officers.
Nashville provides the opportunity for qualified officers from across the country to join our department and attend a lateral training course. Officers who apply must have at least two years of uninterrupted, full time, state certified, law enforcement experience and they will be required to pass the same rigorous selection process as any other officer candidate.
Lateral Officers receive the same training curriculum as a Basic Police Candidate. This ensures Lateral Officers meet the high standards of the Metro Nashville Police Department while providing them with an opportunity to further hone their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although Lateral Officers must earn the MNPD badge, during training they will be given the respect they have earned as fellow law enforcement professionals.
The Graduation Ceremony represents the successful completion of the Basic Training Academy and is a memorable occasion for all officers.
The following special awards are presented at graduation:
After graduation, officers are on probation while they train and patrol with Field Training Officers (FTO’s) in preparation for individual patrol duty. The Metro Nashville Police Department Field Training Program is a four month program, one month for lateral police officers, designed to provide continued training to newly graduated officers of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Training Academy. The training is to supplement that of the Training Academy and provide each Officer in Training the opportunity to apply the concepts taught in the Training Academy to real life scenarios. Under the guidance of Field Training Officers, each Officer in Training must engage with and serve the community while demonstrating foundational legal and policy knowledge, critical problem-solving skills, appropriate decision-making ability, and collaborative teamwork.
Field Training Officers are expected to be role models, teachers, mentors, and leaders among their peers. Each Field Training Officer has requested the right to directly oversee the development of the Metro Nashville Police Department’s newest officers, which carries an outstanding responsibility to ensure they always maintain the highest standard of conduct.
The Training Division is committed to continued training and education for all employees. Elective training classes are held throughout the year in addition to required training. State law and department policy require all sworn officers to attend an annual in-service training program consisting of a minimum of forty hours of relevant topics. Officers must also qualify with any firearm they carry annually. Officers earn $800 (state supplemented) in addition to their regular salary for this training. The Training Academy Division takes great pride in providing excellent and updated training to their employees.
The Metro Police Training Academy has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation Program since 2011. The accreditation program focuses on basic as well as advanced curriculums, with the emphasis on sound instructional techniques, facilities management, student safety, records integrity, and a host of other issues that promote the professional delivery of training within the public safety industry. The Training Academy continues to participate in ongoing CALEA assessments and received its last re-accreditation in 2025 with an Excellence Award. An Excellence Award is given to select agencies which demonstrate the effective use of accreditation as a model for the delivery of enhanced public safety services and management professionalism. The Training Academy also participates in the overlapping CALEA Law Enforcement Accreditation Program which the Metro Police Department has been a member of since 1994.
CALEA hosts a public portal to accept comments regarding the agency’s compliance with the accreditation process.
The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency's compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence.
CALEA Accreditation Public Comment Portal
Visit Join Our Department for detailed information on the hiring process, salary and benefits of being Nashville's Finest! Questions may also be directed to an MNPD Recruiter by e-mail [email protected] or by calling 615-862-7341
Assistant: Christine Davis
615-862-7617
Metro Police Training Academy
2715 Tucker Rd
Nashville,
TN
37218
