State Facility Protection Unit

Sgt. James Gatlin
301 6th Avenue N.
Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243

Phone: 615-741-7965
Fax: 615-253-5277

During the 2014 Legislative Session, the Tennessee General Assembly approved TCA 4-3-2019 authorizing the placement of armed security in state owned or leased facilities located within Davidson County. This law authorizes the commissioner of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to commission peace officers to fulfill the security requirements. The commissioned peace officers are known as State Facility Protection Officers, and are authorized to conduct investigations and make arrests for public offenses committed on state property. The Facility Protection Unit was created to oversee the State Facility Protection Officer program. The primary function of the Facility Protection Unit is to ensure that the State Facility Protection Officer program provides a secure environment for visitors and State agencies to conduct business.