Training

The Spring Hill Police Department places a high emphasis on training. The Training Coordinator is responsible for the development of training courses, scheduling of training classes, and documentation of the training attended by all personnel. The Training Coordinator ensures that training meets the requirements of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST). While POST requires 40 hours of training a year for police officers, Spring Hill Police Department exceeds the minimum required by conducting an average of 55 hours per year of training. This training includes 16 hours of Firearms, 16 hours of Defensive Tactics, 8 hours of Active Shooter, 8 hours of Emergency Vehicle Operations, and Law updates to name a few.

Field Training Program

The Spring Hill Police Department Field Training and Evaluation Program is designed to provide individual instruction to police officer trainees by trained and experienced officers; Field Training Officers (FTOs). The goal of the program is to expose the trainee to a wide range of law enforcement duties and develop the knowledge and skills of the trainee to ensure that he/she is ready to perform to the high standards of the Spring Hill Police Department.

After graduation from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, which provides ten weeks of state-mandated training, recruited officers are assigned to the FTO Program. Trainees with no prior experience are assigned to the program for no less than 14 weeks while those with prior experience may be placed in an accelerated program of no less than 6 weeks. While in the FTO Program recruited officers are assigned to a number of different FTOs. Trainees are evaluated daily on a series of tasks including performance, knowledge, attitude, relationships, and appearance. The program concludes with the Solo Phase which allows the trainee to operate as a solo officer while being evaluated by an FTO. Upon graduating from the FTO Program, officers are assigned to the Patrol Division and are evaluated monthly by a shift supervisor until completing a one-year probationary period.

Recruitment

The Logistics Officer is responsible for coordinating the department’s recruitment efforts in seeking qualified applicants for the police department. The recruitment process consists of a physical fitness test, written test, multiple interviews and extensive background investigation. Once the applicant has been selected, he/she enters the Field Training Program. Contact Recruiting.

Accreditation

This assignment has the responsibility of managing the department's Accreditation Program. This program is designed to (1) increase law enforcement capabilities to prevent and control crime; (2) increase agency effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services; (3) increase cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and with other agencies of the criminal justice system; and (4) increase citizen and employee confidence in the goals, objectives, policies, and practices of the agency. In addition, it provides law enforcement agencies an opportunity to demonstrate, voluntarily, that they meet an established set of professional standards.

Fleet Maintenance

The responsibilities of this assignment include ordering new vehicles and equipment, maintaining all vehicles operated by police personnel including patrol, administrative, and investigator vehicles, tracking fuel usage, selling of service vehicles and equipment and coordinating scheduled maintenance, repairs, and equipment installation.

Property and Evidence

The responsibilities of this assignment include the intake, proper storage, ensuring chain of custody, submittal of evidence to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory, and disposal of all property/evidence. The Evidence Manager prepares evidence for court proceedings when requested and testifies at trials as to the procedures of evidence. Citizens are urged to call Melissa Wilson at (931) 486-2252 ext. 251 or email mwilson@springhilltn.org to inquire about property they have lost and/or to schedule a time to pick up their property.