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Subcommittee pauses several Highway Patrol cases; some subjects given no action, others offered voluntary suspension
Summary
The panel took no action on several Tennessee Highway Patrol matters after hearing testimony, while two officers accepted or were offered voluntary suspension pending criminal review; some matters were reset to July for agreed orders.
The informal subcommittee reviewed several Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) personnel matters and reached differing outcomes after testimony and discussion.
Kurt (Herb) Parsley, a THP trooper who faced termination over multiple incidents including driving behavior, inconsistent reporting and alleged false statements about viewing Axon video, appeared and disputed aspects of the department’s findings. Parsley said he had safety concerns about measuring brakes on tractor‑trailers at the roadside; after discussion about operational expectations and prior progressive discipline, commissioners moved for no action and the motion carried.
Trooper Justin Ruth was accused by THP of falsifying commercial vehicle inspection records (multiple inspections where brake measurements were documented but not performed). Ruth disputed the termination and said agency training and safety practice complicated measuring brakes roadside; after discussion commissioners voted for no action on his decertification.
Clint Cooper faced an assault arrest allegation from March 2024 and voluntarily agreed to a suspension of his POST certificate pending review; the subcommittee approved a motion to reset that matter to July pending an agreed order suspension.
Dylan Sandlin, a probationary officer accused of inserting himself into a dispute and driving an unregistered side‑by‑side to a residence where an altercation occurred, received no action after department investigators recounted the facts and Sandlin testified; he said he had provided medical aid and a sober ride and denied wrongdoing.
Carl Seagroves, who faced charges stemming from an incident during a domestic separation and had medical/vision issues documented, provided context and the subcommittee voted for no action.
In several cases the subcommittee urged preservation of evidence (Axon footage, courthouse surveillance) and reset or continued matters to allow investigators and counsel to finalize agreed orders where appropriate.
