Tennessee Highway Patrol

Infobox Government agency
agency_name = Tennessee Highway Patrol
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logo_width = 250px
logo_caption = Tennessee Highway Patrol patch


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formed = 1929
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preceding1 = Tennessee State Police 1927-1929
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jurisdiction = State of Tennessee
headquarters = Nashville, Tennessee
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chief1_name = Mike Walker
chief1_position = Colonel
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parent_agency = Department of Safety
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website = http://tn.gov/safety/thp.htm
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The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is the highway patrol agency for the U.S. state of Tennessee, responsible for enforcing all federal and state laws relating to traffic on the state's federal and state highways. It is a component of the Department of Safety.

The THP provides assistance to motorists who need help. It investigates traffic accidents involving property damage, personal injury, or death. THP works with prosecutors in the prosecution of cases in which the use of drugs or alcohol contributed to accidents causing personal injury or fatalities. In addition to traffic law enforcement it has responsibilities in criminal interdiction, which involves the suppression of narcotics on the state's roads and highways, including Interstate Highways.

History

The THP was formed in 1929 as a component of the new Tennessee State Police Force, which was patterned after the Texas Rangers. [ [http://state.tn.us/sos/bluebook/05-06/27-safety.pdf Tennessee Bluebook] ]

Organizational structure and personnel

The head of the THP is Colonel Mike Walker, who has served with the organization since 1977. [ [http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/admin/walkerbio.htm Mike Walker biography] , THP website] THP field operations are organized geographically into eight districts, each with a district headquarters. The organization also has a substation in each of the state's 95 counties. [ [http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/thp.htm THP Administration] , THP website] As of September 2007, the THP was authorized to have up to 947 commissioned officers. [ [http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/newsreleases/2007/070918THPhiringtroopers.htm Tennessee Highway Patrol Hiring Future Troopers] , THP press release, September 18, 2007]

THP's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division operates five inspection sites around the state. Its enforcement activities include inspections of commercial vehicles and driver logs, highway patrols with a focus on traffic violations by trucks, and weighing of commercial vehicles, both at permanent inspection stations on Interstate highways and with portable scales. [ [http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/CVE/index.html Commercial Vehicle Enforcement] , THP website]

Fallen officers

Since the organization was established, 38 members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol have died in the line of duty. [ [http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/thpmemorial/complete.htm Department of Safety Internet - Tennessee Highway Patrol Complete Listing ] ]

References

ee also

* List of law enforcement agencies in Tennessee
* State police
* State patrol
* Highway patrol

External links

* [http://www.tennessee.gov/safety/thp.htm Tennessee Highway Patrol]