Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons was the special guest of the Clarksville Rotary Club, Wednesday, January 21. Gibbons talked about many aspects of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Gibbons began by praising State Troopers across Tennessee. “I consider our State Troopers to be Tennessee’s finest and I’m very proud of my association with them. They are true public servants,” said Gibbons.
Hiring and promoting of troopers solely on merit, doing a better job of investigating cases and making sure troopers had the technology and equipment to do their jobs were three of the things Gibbons said he has worked on to bring to the department since taking over four years ago.
Gibbons added the highway patrol has been pro-active and having more of an impact on the bottom line of public safety, traffic fatalities in the state. That meant focusing on Tennessee’s DUI and seat belt laws which has resulted in more citations and fewer traffic deaths.
The commissioner also focused on the Department of Safety & Homeland Security Foundation. The foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that helps further the mission of the department across the state.
The foundation supports the department and the highway patrol through establishing partnerships across the state and helping to provide funding for law enforcement programs. Recently the foundation helped with funds to purchase bullet-resistant vests for troopers.
Commissioner Gibbons was joined at the meeting by Lieutenant Colonel John Albertson, Lieutenant Ed Cherry, Trooper Billy Smith and Executive Director of the foundation, Stephanie Hitchcock. Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson also attended the meeting.
For more on the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security Foundation visit www.safertennessee.org or call 615-251-1627.