Lawmakers call for ending politics within Department of Safety

By ERIK SCHELZIG WTVF
Associated Press Writer

Dec 13, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Reeling from allegations of cronyism and revelations that dozens of state troopers have criminal records, officials announced Tuesday that the state is hiring an international security consulting company to help clean up the Department of Safety.

Members of the Senate Transportation Committee meanwhile called for tighter restrictions on political activities within the Tennessee Highway Patrol, which is overseen by the department.

Legislative attorney Fred Standbrook told the committee that several states have banned highway patrol officers from engaging in political activity.

"Tennessee doesn't have a specific prohibition against that, as such," he said.

The Tennessean newspaper reported last month that two-thirds of trooper promotions under the Bredesen administration went to officers who gave money to the governor's campaign, or had family members or political patrons who did. More than half in that group were promoted although they were competing against officers with higher promotion scores, according to the paper.

"Our employees need some assurances that if I make the top grade on the written test, I make the top grade in the interviews, that I can be assured that I am going to be treated fairly and I'm going to have the best chance at that job," said Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mount Juliet.

Some lawmakers also argued that the Highway Patrol should be placed back under the supervision of the state's Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission.

The Highway Patrol was removed from POST commission oversight in a 1983 bill whose sponsors included current Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington; state Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge; and U.S. Rep. John Tanner, D-Union City.

Previously, the commission established and enforced standards for "all law enforcement officers in Tennessee." Lawmakers approved a measure to change that section of the code to cover only "local law enforcement officers."

Interim Safety Commissioner Jerry Nicely told the committee that one of his major goals will be to "absolutely come out with assurances to career employees that they will have an opportunity for professional growth and promotions that will be based on merit."

The state has signed a letter of agreement with New York-based Kroll Inc. to advise Nicely, who took over temporarily after Fred Phillips resigned Friday.

"Commissioner Nicely is incredibly knowledgeable, but we need someone to provide that outside perspective to help him as we're moving forward," Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz said Tuesday.

Goetz defended the need to sign a deal with Kroll without a formal competitive bid process because of the urgency to address problems at the department.

Pennsylvania hired Kroll in 2003 to monitor the state's response to a sexual-misconduct scandal at the state police and has been involved in court-ordered monitoring of police in Detroit and Los Angeles.

The Department of Safety has been under fire recently amid allegations of political favoritism and mismanagement at the Tennessee Highway Patrol, prompting Gov. Phil Bredesen to order background checks of the patrol's 855 commissioned officers.

That investigation released Thursday found that 41 troopers and staffers had criminal or driving violation histories. The charges ranged in severity and included aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.

The commander of the Highway Patrol, Col. Lynn Pitts, had been forced to step down earlier in the week after he tried to purchase a boat seized by troopers and put up for sale as surplus state property, an apparent violation of state law.