Tennessee Code Title 38. Prevention and Detection of Crime § 38-8-105

(a) Requirements for minimum standards as set forth in this part or as required by the commission shall be mandatory and binding upon any municipality, county or political subdivision of this state.

(b) Any person who appoints any applicant, who, to the knowledge of the appointer, fails to meet the minimum standards as set forth in this part or required by the commission, and any person who signs the warrant or check for the payment of the salary of any person who, to the knowledge of the signer, fails to meet the qualifications as a police officer as provided in this part or required by the commission, commits a Class A misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(c) This section shall not apply to any police officer hired by any municipality, county, or political subdivision of this state prior to July 1, 1982.

(d) Notwithstanding any citizenship requirement in a private act or charter provision to the contrary, a municipality, county, political subdivision of this state, or state law enforcement agency is authorized to employ a police officer who is a permanent legal resident of the United States; provided, that the police officer applies for or obtains United States citizenship within six (6) years of the employment start date with the law enforcement agency.