About Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Test

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) was identified by the U.S. Department of Justice as the 36^th largest law enforcement department in the country, with nearly 1,500 full-time sworn officers serving in the department. The department has been extremely effective in curbing crime and violence in the past decade, thus making it one of the safest cities in the state of Tennessee, according to the FBI’s 2018 analysis.

Mission Statement: “To provide community-based police service to the public, so they can experience a safe and peaceful Nashville”

Development: Nashville police department has evolved significantly over the years – now becoming one of the largest and most efficient departments throughout the United States. In 1976, Nashville police department formed its own SWAT team – to handle growing threats and high-risk tactical problems.

Size: The jurisdiction of MNPD extends over an area of 526 square miles. Due to the Nashville’s dense population, the department serves nearly 620,000 people, who reside in the 8 major precincts of the city.

Headquarters: 600, Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210

Divisions: MNPD is divided into 5 main bureaus: administrative services bureau, community services bureau, executive services bureau, investigative services bureau and a support services bureau. Each of these bureaus is headed by a deputy chief of police. The department also has a special operations division, with several ultra-specialized units, that help in policing the precincts more efficiently.

How to become a deputy: On submitting the online application for recruitment, candidates are expected to take a Civil Service Written Test and a Physical Agility Test (PAT). The written test evaluates basic skills and competencies such as math, interpersonal skills, self-awareness, and practical intelligence. The physical ability test comprises 1-minute sit-ups of 15 or more, 21 push-ups, 300-meter simulated pursuit run in 77.0 seconds and 1.5-mile run in 17 minutes and 27 seconds. Once candidates pass the tests successfully, a background investigation, an oral interview, and a psychological assessment are conducted. The final step is a CVSA (Computer Voice Stress Analyzer) Test.

Average salary: $46,500-$49,284 annually, rising with experience and responsibility.

Police academy: Candidates who pass the Metropolitan Nashville police exam proceed to join the Metro Police Training Academy, which is a CALEA accredited police training. The training is for a duration of 25-weeks and trainees receive of core skills that are necessary for policing in Nashville, such as professional and ethical conduct, first aid emergency medical training, patrol procedures, civil disturbance management, community service, report writing, firearms, community-oriented policing, physical defense techniques, basic drug investigation, traffic control, criminal and constitutional law and procedures, radio communications, human relations, mental illness, criminal justice system, emergency vehicle operation, diversity and cultural awareness, and physical training.

Registration: Further information on the application process and selection tests can be found on their MNPD’s official website. MNPD strives to ensure that only the highest caliber individuals serve as police officers. Therefore, the selection process is very lengthy and competitive.