Nashville Police closer to being fully staffed with latest officer graduation

After five months of training, six women and 22 men joined the ranks of the Metro Nashville Police Department in the fifth graduating class this year.

The 28 officers add to the ranks pushing the department closer to their goal of being fully staffed.

In June, Chief John Drake told the Rotary Club that the department is funded for just over 1,600 officers. At that time, the department employed 1,515 and had 75 in various stages at the academy.

That left a gap of about 20 officers to reach full strength.

"There's very good odds we'll reach capacity," Drake said in June.

Three more classes are scheduled to graduate by the end of the year.

During the graduation ceremony Thursday at Christ Presbyterian Church, Mayor John Cooper said the city is hiring at a faster rate than ever before. In his term, the department has hired 466 officers, just shy of the 500 goal, he said.

"But 500 is on the way and then to 1,000," he said. "We've increased pay by 34% in these last years. That is unmatched by any city that's a peer of ours in the country."

Drake on Thursday thanked Cooper for his work to support the department.

"Because of his support, the starting pay for Nashville police officers has risen significantly as of July 1," the Chief said.

With their graduation Thursday, the new officers will enjoy an equivalent salary between $60,000 and $64,000, depending on prior experience. Once they complete a four-month probationary period, that salary will again increase by $6,000, the chief said.

"Mayor Cooper, this salary increase and your commitment to our police department in a number of areas has helped us to attract the best and the brightest new officers like those in session 102 and has enhanced the safety of our city," Drake said.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Police shortens gap in officer shortage with graduating class