Norris: Trooper hiring hearing 'inevitable'

Bredesen disavows reports that process influenced by political contributions

By Associated Press, The Commercial Appeal
November 25, 2005

NASHVILLE -- A state Senate committee chairman says legislative hearings to review Tennessee Highway Patrol promotion practices seem "inevitable" following news reports that the process is tainted by politics.

Current and former troopers across the state have said political pressure, campaign donations and a culture of favors for the powerful have prevailed in the THP for much of its history.

Records reviewed by The Tennessean showed that two-thirds of THP promotions under Gov. Phil Bredesen's administration went to officers who donated to his campaign, or had family members or political patrons who did.

More than half that group were promoted while competing against officers with higher promotion scores, The Tennessean reported.

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

Safety Department spokeswoman Melissa McDonald said Phillips got the letter Monday, and the agency is preparing an answer.

"I would expect a timely response from administration officials and others," said Norris, who may seek the Republican nomination to run against Bredesen in 2006. "Although our committee does have subpoena power, I would hope that would not be necessary."

Last week, Bredesen sent 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.

The governor said "dedication and hard work" is the measurement he wants used to determine whether the employees in the 50,000-plus state work force advance.

Norris said his committee could meet before the end of 2005 to set a timetable for proceeding, but hearings would be unlikely until 2006. He said he is waiting on fact-finding and a response from Phillips and Col. Lynn Pitts, commander of the patrol, before choosing the committee's next move.

"It's the way I've been trained to pursue inquiries like this and follow the facts wherever they lead us," Norris said. "I did hear Colonel Pitts and others in the leadership of the highway patrol are looking forward to hearings. It sounds as if they want hearings and that seems inevitable at this point."