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Highway Patrol credits trooper deployments for recent drop in fatal crashes
Summary
Colonel Matt Perry told the Transportation Committee the Tennessee Highway Patrol's data-driven placement of troopers helped lower fatal crashes statewide and that troopers performed tens of thousands of school checks; he also emphasized no quotas for tickets and outlined internal review procedures for officer conduct.
Colonel Matt Perry of the Tennessee Highway Patrol briefed the committee on enforcement activity and crash trends, telling legislators the Patrol has driven down the state's fatal-crash numbers by increasing targeted trooper deployments. "We were just over 1000 fatalities statewide last year," Perry said, adding the state reported roughly 1,060 fatalities in the current year and noting a 14% increase in traffic stops as part of enforcement efforts.
Perry credited data-driven placement of troopers at high-risk times and locations, said troopers completed tens of thousands of school checks over the past two years, and described the Patrol's role in major incidents and disaster response. "We have no quotas for tickets," he said, stressing that troopers stop vehicles for probable-cause violations tied to safety. The colonel also described the Patrol's internal 'Blue Team' early-warning system to flag potential performance issues and promised disciplinary action if investigations find misconduct.
Lawmakers thanked the Patrol for increased presence on rural highways and for rapid responses in emergencies. Several members pressed for comparative data on testing methods and crime-lab usage across municipalities; Perry said many agencies use the TBI lab while a few larger departments maintain their own facilities and that the Patrol will provide additional data on comparative procedures if requested.
