The Nashville International Airport Department of Public Safety is a dual-certified agency that provides full police services as well as aircraft fire rescue and emergency medical services to airport visitors. The department adheres to all hiring, training and performance standards established by the Tennessee Police Standards and Training Commission (POST). The department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). All new officers receive training at both the Tennessee State Fire and Police Academies, as well as an in-house academy and sixteen-week Field Training Officer (FTO) program.

The Nashville International Airport handles over 7.5 million commercial aviation passengers each year with more than 200 daily flight operations. The department utilizes foot, bicycle and vehicular patrols to provide safety and public assistance.

The police work in cooperation with a number of local, state and federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, FBI, U.S. Customs Service, Federal Aviation Administration, IRS, Secret Service, State Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Naturalization Service, U.S. Postal Inspector, Metropolitan Nashville Police and Fire Departments and the Metropolitan Nashville Office of Emergency Management.

The Department of Public Safety is headed by a chief under the general direction of the president and CEO. The department consist of 64 officers and 20 civilian Traffic Enforcement Officers. All sworn officers meet all FAR Part 1542.217 and FAR part 139 requirements. One third of the department’s sworn positions are trained Emergency Medical Technicians.

The top priority of the department is to provide excellent safety and security while using the very best customer service.

Go to Top

Selection Process

Since the expected duration to fill a vacancy varies by position, the following language will provide an applicant with a better understanding of the overall selection process and anticipated timeframe to fill the position.

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s (MNAA) selection process can be lengthy, based on the position, and as such a candidate may anticipate the process lasting up to six (6) months.  Every application is reviewed in its entirety.  An applicant whose qualifications best meet the needs of MNAA will be contacted to participate in a two-step oral interview process.  In order to proceed to the first oral interview, an applicant must successfully pass any required written and/or physical fitness examinations.  A candidate who successfully completes the first oral interview will advance to the departmental interview. 

For an Officer Trainee position, an applicant selected to participate in the written and physical fitness examination phase of the process will be notified electronically.  Those who do not successfully complete this phase can not reapply for six (6) months.  An applicant not selected to test will be notified electronically, and may reapply as positions become available.  An applicant who passes all portions of the process will be placed on an eligibility list according to their performance in the departmental interview.  Once this list is established, a member of the Human Resources Department contacts all candidates who are interviewed. 

If an applicant is extended a contingent employment offer and eliminated due to a disqualifying factor identified during the background investigation, he or she may not reapply until all requirements are successfully met to complete the investigation. 

A kiosk is available in the Human Resources Department located on the fourth (4th) floor of the terminal.  Free online access is also available at Career Centers and Public Libraries. 

ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY BY THE CLOSE DATE LISTED ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Go to Top

The Nashville International Airport's Department of Public Safety Airport Containment Team (A.C.T.) was formed in 1994. This team of specialized members was created to handle extra-ordinary situations that might arise, including:

• V.I.P. Protections
• Hostage Situations
• Area Containment
• Other unusual situations (large-scale arrest, barricaded subjects, etc.)

• Crisis Negotiators
• Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit
• Hazardous Materials Unit
• Other Federal, State, Local agencies

Go to Top

In 1994 the Nashville International Airport anticipated a possible need for several highly trained individuals in the area of negotiation techniques. This need laid the groundwork for what is today called the Crisis Negotiation Team (C.N.T.) These specially selected members of the Department of Public Safety can be used to assist other specialized units and outside agencies with a myriad of problems including:

• Hostage Situations
• Mentally Ill Persons
• Suicidal Persons
• Intelligence Gathering
• Other unusual occurrences (combative prisoners, etc.)

Crisis negotiators receive training from other federal, state or local agencies in the areas of intelligence gathering, threat evaluation and problem resolution. The crisis negotiator's abilities are used to reduce the threat of otherwise volatile situations and minimize suffering.

Go to Top

The Department uses professionals trained in the identification and safe disposal of explosive ordnance and resolving explosive threats to airport users and property.

Go to Top

The Nashville International Airport Department of Public Safety's explosive detection program consists of teams of officers and K-9s trained to detect explosives. The program began in 1988 with one team and evolved to a total of 6 teams in 1993. The canines were locally procured and trained, then certified through the United States Police Canine Association. During this time, several breeds were used in the program, including: German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers and Belgium Malinois.
The present explosive detection K-9 program is controlled by the Transportation Security Administration. The dogs are the property of the Transportation Security Administration. The teams receive training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. The school is an intensive twelve-week training program focusing on bonding, socialization and detection. The K-9s are used for explosive detection for vehicles, cargo, buildings, aircraft and baggage. They are not used for apprehension or attack work.

Go to Top

A seven-member team that responds to all hazardous materials incidents on the airport property and supports mutual aid departments in hazardous material incidents. The team is responsible for responding to off-airport aircraft incidents when requested for mutual aid. Team members are both state and nationally certified and utilize a 20' trailer and response vehicle when called. The team is equipped with the latest technology to handle up to a Level 3 incident.

Go to Top

The Department uses bike patrols as a way of providing better security and customer service at the airport. The officers work mainly in the public parking lots and around the terminal building. Bike patrol officers are more mobile and flexible, allowing them access to places they can't otherwise access with patrol cars. Several officers are trained for bike patrols. The officers selected for the program are chosen because of their strong customer service skills. Additional benefits of bicycle patrols, include:

• Subjects on foot can't generally outrun officers on bicycles.
• Officers can approach silently on the specially designed bicycles.
• Much more ground can be covered on a bicycle patrol than on foot.
• Bicycles can go where cars are unable to go.
• Costs are less for bicycles than cars.

The airport bicycle patrol officers rotate on shifts throughout the day but perform their regular duties when not on assignment. The officers are trained by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, which is certified through the International Police Mountain Bike Association (I.P.M.B.A.). The program has been adapted for the airport.

Go to Top

One third of the department's officers are EMT licensed. The unit provides advanced emergency medical care to all airport employees and the traveling public. The unit carries a full compliment of EMS equipment, including public access Automated External Defibrillators(AED) and Intravenous Therapy equipment. AEDs are located throughout the airport terminal building.

Go to Top

The Department of Public Safety has been fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies since 1996. An accreditation specialist oversees department compliance and record maintenance. The department is a member of the Law Enforcement Accreditation Coalition of Tennessee (LEACT). The accreditation specialist can be reached at (615) 275-4420 or by e-mail.

Go to Top

The ID Office controls the issuance of all ID access media, involving parking and security for the airport. Identification access media and parking cards are available Monday through Friday from 8:00a.m. until 4:30p.m. The office is closed on holidays and weekends. Classes to obtain unescorted access to airport security areas are conducted at 8:30a.m. each Monday. On weeks where Mondays are holidays, the classes will be conducted at 8:30a.m. on the following Tuesday.

Go to Top

The Training Unit is responsible for all new recruit training as well as maintaining training for the department's post-certified Police Officers and Firefighters. An officer is assigned to coordinate training for each discipline. The office can be reached at (615) 275-2323 or by e-mail.

Go to Top

In October of 1997, the Department of Public Safety established the Traffic Enforcement Officer Program. The Officers in the Traffic Section are civilian employees trained in customer service, traffic enforcement and first aid. After basic training, the TEO is placed with a training officer to work the traffic levels at the terminal area for on-the-job training. Once all training is completed, TEOs are assigned to perform their duties. Since the beginning of the TEO program,
both traffic control and customer service compliments have excelled beyond original expectations. Travelers enjoy a safe, friendly and efficient Nashville International Airport, thanks to this dedicated group of professionals.

Go to Top

The Department's Investigations Unit conducts a wide variety of criminal and internal investigations. The Investigations Unit can be reached at (615)275-4482.

Investigations

Go to Top

Thank you for your interest in the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority's Airport Equestrian Program. The Airport Equestrian Program is made up of volunteers that ride their horses along the eastern perimeter of the 4,500 acre Nashville International Airport. While equestrians enjoy a pristine location that includes wooded trails to ride, the airport has extra eyes and ears in areas that most security patrols cannot easily access.

All program participants are required to fill out an application and undergo background checks. Once the application is approved and background checks are completed (fee required), riders are issued a photo-identification airport badge giving them access to certain remote parts of the airport property. All riders must be equipped with cell phones, so they will be able to call for the airport police if they spot suspicious activity. Riders are given the phone numbers to call when picking up their photo-identification airport badge. The trails are being well-marked to give points of reference.

Application Process

Click here to download the Airport Equestrian Application - Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
Click here to download the Airport Equestrian Application - MSWord (DOC)

• Via fax to the attention Airport Equestrian Program Coordinator, Department of Public Safety, (615) 275-1451.
  
• If you are unable to download, then call the Airport Equestrian Program Coordinator at (615) 275-4420 and provide your name, fax number, e-mail address or mailing address, and an application will be promptly sent to you.
  
• If you do not have the ability to fax, then please return a copy (retain the original) by mail to:
  

  Airport Equestrian Program
  Department of Public Safety
  Nashville International Airport
  921 Airport Service Road
  Nashville, TN 37214

After the Department of Public Safety receives the application properly filled out and signed, it will be processed by verifying the information and running a background check (fee required), including a criminal background and registered sex offender check. If approved, you will be contacted to set an appointment to attend a one hour training class, have your picture taken and an ID badge prepared, to sign some other documents, including a waiver and release of liability, to receive a manual that includes a set of the Rules & Regulations, a list of what to look for in terms of suspicious activity when you are out riding, and a map to the trailheads.

Trail Information
The Airport Equestrian Program Trailhead is located on Pulley Road at Airport Perimeter gate #17 just north of Couchville Pike. On older maps this area is listed as McCrory Creek Road that turns into Pulley Road.

Go to Top