Audit: 48 troopers had criminal charges

By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II, Associated Press KnoxNews.com
December 2, 2005

NASHVILLE - Gov. Phil Bredesen said Thursday that an internal audit of the Tennessee Highway Patrol about five years ago revealed possible criminal activity within the agency before a recent background check of officers found 48 of them had criminal charges on their records.

"They found information that would appear to be literally of crimes that were committed; trading ticket fixing for liquor and food and those kinds of things," Bredesen said of the audit he believes was done around 2000 or 2001.

"There were documents in which someone was alleging 'here's the way it works.' That's the kind of thing people go to jail for and we've turned it over to the TBI (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)," he said.

The governor's comments come a day after he ordered the TBI to check the backgrounds of all 855 state troopers. Officials said some troopers had multiple charges, up to three in some cases.

The violations uncovered in the background checks ranged from larceny and assault charges to driver's license suspensions. Officials did not name the 48 officers because they do not yet know the outcome of the cases.

Bredesen said what's frustrating about the revelation of the previous audit is that there was no apparent action taken at that time.

"It caused questions to arise about how well the internal affairs operation is working," he said.

Because some of the incidents happened so long ago, Bredesen said they "may be beyond the reach of prosecution today," but he's still asked the TBI to investigate.

The latest controversy follows reports by The Tennessean newspaper that two-thirds of THP promotions during Bredesen's administration went to officers who gave money to his campaign or had family members or political patrons who did. The patrol also came under criticism for awarding "honorary badges" nearly identical to regular trooper badges to people who aren't in law enforcement, including the politically connected.

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

Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville and chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, has said legislative hearings to investigate THP practices should be considered.

"I don't think hearings are going to solve any problem," Bredesen said. "I think what we're doing - running background checks, reviewing records and involving the TBI where there are any criminal matters - that's going to solve some problems."