2 Top Police Officials Resign in Tennessee

The New York Times ^ | December 15, 2005 | AP

[mcg2000]

2 Top Police Officials Resign in Tennessee NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 10 (AP) - The top two officials in the Tennessee Department of Safety stepped down Friday, a day after an investigation found 41 troopers and staff members had criminal backgrounds or past driving violations. Gov. Phil Bredesen announced that one official, Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips, would resign immediately and the other, Deputy Commissioner Tom Moore, would retire. The Highway Patrol, overseen by the Department of Safety, has been under fire for accusations of political favoritism and corruption. That prompted Mr. Bredesen last week to order background checks of all 855 commissioned officers. The checks found 41 employees with past charges, including assault, drunken driving and reckless endangerment. Mr. Bredesen asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations to review the cases and recommend the appropriate action.

[sgtbono2002]

A driving citation shouldnt keep a person from becoming a Trooper, However a criminal record should.

Maybe they should check Washington DC's police department , they have a record there of hiring criminals too.

[mtbopfuyn]

So, some ran stop signs at age 16?

[AIC]

Criminals policing other criminals and good citizens.
No wonder when a good citizen defends themselves they find themselves the criminal.
They (who ever they are) calls this good rehabilitating the criminals.
After being police officers, they then become politicians so that they can have access to more corruption.

[Emmett McCarthy]

When we have state cops running around who wouldn't be allowed to purchase a firearm, much less qualify for a carry permit, that's a serious problem. I despise Gov. Bredesen and am tempted to just cheer for anything that makes him look bad, but this has roots that go back much further.

[Starwolf]

Careful what is meant by a criminal record. Complaints, even those unfounded are tracked and logged and can be pulled up on a background check. Convictions should be a different matter, though even there some discretion is called for. A 20 year old traffic conviction is different that a recent string of DUI or felony.