Hearings Begin To Clean Up Highway Patrol

Stephanie Scurlock Reporting WREG.com
December 16, 2005

MEMPHIS,TN - Scandal rocks the Tennessee Highway Patrol. There are allegations as many as 40 Highway Patrolmen have criminal records. Its reported some were convicted felons when they were hired.

Leaders of the Tennessee Highway Patrol have been forced out and now TN State Senator Mark Norris leads a legislative committee investigating the agency. They're looking into hiring practices, reports of political contributions for promotions and allegations of ticket fixing. In Knoxville, patrolman allegedly fixed tickets in exchange for food. This makes Chad Todd mad. Todd paid about $1,000 to get his driver's license reinstated after he didn't pay a speeding ticket. Hearing some people get off by trading meat upsets him. Senator Norris says, "It's essential not only for the citizens of the state to feel safe on the state highways and bi-ways and to feel assured if seeking assistance that they're being interrogated by someone who's a law abiding citizen in his or her own right".

Norris says the hearings will continue as they get new evidence. He says the vast majority of the Highway Patrol is dedicated and competent. He says the driving force of the current investigation is to prevent future problem and to preserve the reputation of the good officers.