Nicely Announces Major Changes to THP Promotions Process

Procedures to be open, transparent, and available to the public

New Promotional Process Website

Colonel Mike Walker announces new promotional policies for the
Tennessee Highway Patrol

May 18, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn., --- The Department of Safety announced today a new promotional process for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The new procedure is part of a series of sweeping changes at the Tennessee Department of Safety aimed at ending decades of politics in the Highway Patrol.

The new system is based on recommendations that New York-based Kroll, Inc. outlined in a report presented to the Governor in March. Governor Phil Bredesen commissioned a study from Kroll last December following allegations that THP's hiring and promotions process was tainted by political influence.

"This process will be up front and open for everyone to see, and these promotions will be based solely on the applicant's qualifications and merit," Nicely said. "Today, everyone who chooses to will know step-by-step how, why and when a person in the Highway Patrol is chosen for a promotion."

The Department of Safety halted all Lieutenant and Sergeant promotions within the THP last August of 2005. After reviewing the Patrol's hiring and promotional processes, the Kroll, Inc. report called THP "a professional organization from a public-facing, day-to-day operations perspective." But it also said, "While all indications are that the vast majority of individuals working for THP perform their daily law enforcement tasks with a high degree of professionalism, there is no question that politics has permeated hiring, assignment and promotion within the THP."

"We have made great progress in the last several months, and today, we take a huge step closer to achieving our goal of creating an open and transparent process for promotions within the Highway Patrol," Colonel Mike Walker said. "Troopers across the state have told us they appreciate this change, and that it has given them new optimism about their professional futures."

Through the Department of Safety's website, anyone will be able to view vacant positions within the Highway Patrol and the test scores of every eligible applicant will be posted. This site will be updated in real time allowing the public to view the process as it unfolds. The promotions menu page is at: http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/promotionmenu.htm.