Editorial 12/12: THP shakeup is under way

The Commercial Appeal
December 12, 2005

Gov. Phil Bredesen pledged last week to put an end to a pattern of tolerance at the Tennessee Highway Patrol for employees with criminal and driving violation histories.

That's a worthwhile goal, as far as it goes. Other weaknesses at the THP that have been exposed in recent months suggest that ethical standards have been deteriorating in general, and the agency needs a thorough housecleaning.

Revelations by The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville began last August with reports that two West Tennessee THP sergeants were promoted to lieutenant after their testimony helped persuade a judge to drop a driving while intoxicated charge against a politically well-connected defendant.

News about the incident uncovered the existence of an archaic system in which politically favored Tennesseans as well as celebrities have routinely been given "honorary captain" badges in the THP which are sometimes referred to as "get out of jail cards."

Bredesen promptly put a stop to the practice, and the DWI defendant, the grandson of the woman who headed Bredesen's 2002 campaign in Lauderdale County, was later indicted by a grand jury.

Bredesen, who had sent an e-mail to state employees that stressed the importance of "dedication and hard work" in promotions, then had to deal with reports that two-thirds of THP promotions under Bredesen's administration went to officers who donated to his campaign, or had family members or political patrons who did.

Last week brought the resignation of Col. Lynn Pitts, the Highway Patrol commander, after the newspaper revealed that he allegedly violated state law by offering $1,700 for a fishing boat seized by troopers and offered for sale on a Web site as surplus state property.

A few days later Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips' resignation was announced, along with the retirement of Deputy Commissioner Tom Moore.

And renewed attention on the THP apparently brought a new sense of urgency to a four-year-old ticket-fixing investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The revelations prompted state Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, to announce plans to investigate reports of cronyism at the agency.

Norris said the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee, which he chairs, will open the probe with a hearing on Tuesday.

That should help clear the air around what Norris described as a situation that has "grown much worse in the last three years than it ever was before."

"There is a pattern of cronyism evident in this that clearly is wrong and needs rooting out," Bredesen said.

Tennesseans should expect no less as the THP's dirty laundry is hung out to dry.