Deployment of hundreds of Tennessee Highway Patrol officers to be part of a federal and state law enforcement task force has left patrol gaps in other parts of the state. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
Tennessee’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security is asking for more than 100 state troopers, in part to fill in patrol gaps left open because of a law enforcement surge in Memphis.
Safety Commissioner Jeff Long made a request for $43.5 million to fund 139 positions for Highway Patrol officers, supervisors and support staff during budget hearings with Gov. Bill Lee. Nearly 120 of those would be state troopers…