Police Officer

TVA Police Inspector Jason “JT” Thomason and Inspector Jason Cleveland have four-legged partners in their work: K-9 officers Money and Jet. They’re part of TVA Police, a federal law enforcement agency charged with protecting TVA infrastructure, employees and assets.

To an outsider, dogs like Money and Jet are just sniffing around. But that zigzagging pattern isn’t aimless – it is intensive data collection.

“We take in the world through our eyes,” Cleveland said. “They take it in through their nose.”

Once the dogs catch a scent, they begin zigzagging to find the edge of the plume – a technique known as bracketing. The dog moves back and forth to find the strongest source of odor. Once the dogs zero in on the scent, they alert their handler. Jet sits. Money gets stiff – almost pointing.

Training doesn’t stop once the dogs leave their academy.

“There has to be continuous reinforcement,” said Cleveland.

Readiness is a never-ending task. That means staying focused, even at home. Although Money and Jet go home with their handlers, they aren’t exactly family pets.

“At the end of the day, Jet is a working dog,” Thomason said. “I don’t want her to get so comfortable at home that when we are out working she thinks, ‘When are we going home to the couch?’”

Cleveland agreed. “If they get too comfortable, it can affect their drive.”

That drive is what keeps the dogs working.

“You know,” Thomason said. “Dogs give you so much loyalty. That’s why I do this. If together we find one device that saves a life – that’s my career. It means everything.”

A Day in the Life

TVA Police focus on keeping TVA property and personnel safe. Their priority is to protect TVA’s employees, facilities and critical infrastructure through physical security measures and modern policing that support TVA’s commitment to safe, reliable and resilient power for the people of the Valley.

Their work covers a wide range of duties. These include:

• Monitoring alarms
• Responding to emergencies
• Investigating crimes
• Archaeological Resources Protection Act investigations
• K-9 units
• Personnel security services
• Security assessments
• Security installation and maintenance
• Security presentations

To cover the territory, TVA Police rely on boats, ATVs and unmanned aerial vehicles. These tools help them patrol large areas and reach places that would be difficult to access otherwise. Each assignment brings a different set of needs, so no two days look the same for an officer.

Becoming a Police Officer

TVA’s entry-level inspector jobs require a college degree or equivalent education, training or experience, and three years of law enforcement experience. This experience can come from local law enforcement agencies, such as a sheriff’s office, or from military service related to law enforcement.

TVA officers attend the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Officers must be at least 21 years old, able to obtain and maintain a top-secret national security clearance and pass a physical fitness and swim test.

Some skills important for a police officer include:

• Written and verbal communication
• Using computer software like word processors, spreadsheets, databases and presentations
• Knowledge of federal, state and local laws