Senator expects review of THP

Must clear air on promotions, lawmaker says

By BRAD SCHRADE, Staff Writer for Tennessean.com
November 24, 2005

The chairman of a state Senate committee said legislative hearings to review promotion practices at the Tennessee Highway Patrol seem "inevitable" to clear the air on the role, if any, politics play in the process.

Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, said the department has yet to respond to a letter he sent a week ago to Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips seeking documentation, including department policies on hiring, promotions and discipline. Norris is chairman of the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee.

The legislative inquiry comes after a report in The Tennessean earlier this month that showed two-thirds of the THP officers promoted under Gov. Phil Bredesen gave money to his campaign or had family members or political patrons who did. Of those, half were promoted over someone who scored better on impartial exams.

"I would expect a timely response from administration officials and others," Norris said. "At this point, we're trying to handle it in a professional manner. Although our committee does have subpoena power, I would hope that would not be necessary."

Phillips, whose department includes the THP, was out of the office yesterday, said Melissa McDonald, department spokeswoman. In an e-mail, she said the commissioner received the letter late Monday, and the agency is working on a response.

Bredesen last week wrote an e-mail to state employees defending his administration and saying he hasn't been involved in ordering promotions based on contributions. His e-mail did not defend THP or the Safety Department or take issue with the newspaper's findings.