May 14, 1866, Chapter 35 of the Acts of 1866 created the “Metropolitan Police District of Memphis,” and dubbed “Brownlow’s Band” It provided for complete and absolute control over all areas of Government. It dissolved any Government agencies, police or judicial, and took away the rights of the Mayor and Council. The new District had statewide authority and reported directly to Governor Brownlow, this lasted for three (3) years.
The next attempt at creating a State Police was Chapter 96 of the Public Acts of 1919. It called for a force of six hundred (600) regular officers and ten (10) district officers. The act was repealed in 1939 when the Department of Safety was created. In 1926, an additional State Police Act was passed, patterned …show more content…
The officer had to purchase his own uniform. The state furnished two (2) badges, for the cap and coat; the salary was $150.00 per month. The headquarters was in the Masonic Lodge Building on 7th Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee. On Monday, December 2, 1929, at 12 noon, an extraordinary session of the 66th General Assembly was called into session. Item 17 of the agenda called for: the creation of a State Highway Patrol for the purpose of better enforcing the laws, rules, and regulations relating to traffic on, and use of highways, and the collection of taxes and revenues to the state. This became Senate Bill # 36 & House Bill #39, The bill was amended in the House to provide that “All members of the State Highway Patrol when on duty shall wear a uniform to be designated by the Commissioner of Finance and Taxation.” The bill passed in the Senate by 23 to 4. On December 14, 1929, Governor Henry Horton signed the law creating the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP). Charles M. McCabe was named Commissioner and remained in that position from January 1930 to January 1932. Fifty-five (55) motorcycles and five (5) cars were purchased; The Chief of the Patrol and four (4) District Chiefs …show more content…
In the late 50’s, the patrol earned national publicity (Life magazine had a multi-page spread) for its imaginative use of massive roadblocks. On October 7, 1957 a hundred (100) man roadblock was held south of 3rd District H.Q. on Murfreesboro Road, in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1967 the Patrol purchased vehicles with 4 Doors, Automatic Transmission, Power Brakes and Air Conditioning. In early 1971 the familiar cap was replaced by the Montana Peak or Smokey Bear Hat along with3” Wide Belt and Cross Draw Holster. September 16, 1974, Billie Jo Meeks became the first female Trooper with the THP. In May of 1976 the uniform went another modification Short Sleeved Shirts. February 1978 saw the realization of the one man-one Car Concept to where we are currently at now (J. Hutcherson, personal communication, January 25, 2016).
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) was the recipient of the third (3rd) place award from the 2015 National Law Enforcement Challenge Winners among state police or highway patrol agencies of 501- to 1,500 swore officers ("2015 National Law Enforcement Challenge Winners," 2015). In addition the THP was awarded sixth (6th) place in the 2015 best-looking cruiser contest ("2015 Best Looking Cruiser Contest,"
The next attempt at creating a State Police was Chapter 96 of the Public Acts of 1919. It called for a force of six hundred (600) regular officers and ten (10) district officers. The act was repealed in 1939 when the Department of Safety was created. In 1926, an additional State Police Act was passed, patterned …show more content…
The officer had to purchase his own uniform. The state furnished two (2) badges, for the cap and coat; the salary was $150.00 per month. The headquarters was in the Masonic Lodge Building on 7th Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee. On Monday, December 2, 1929, at 12 noon, an extraordinary session of the 66th General Assembly was called into session. Item 17 of the agenda called for: the creation of a State Highway Patrol for the purpose of better enforcing the laws, rules, and regulations relating to traffic on, and use of highways, and the collection of taxes and revenues to the state. This became Senate Bill # 36 & House Bill #39, The bill was amended in the House to provide that “All members of the State Highway Patrol when on duty shall wear a uniform to be designated by the Commissioner of Finance and Taxation.” The bill passed in the Senate by 23 to 4. On December 14, 1929, Governor Henry Horton signed the law creating the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP). Charles M. McCabe was named Commissioner and remained in that position from January 1930 to January 1932. Fifty-five (55) motorcycles and five (5) cars were purchased; The Chief of the Patrol and four (4) District Chiefs …show more content…
In the late 50’s, the patrol earned national publicity (Life magazine had a multi-page spread) for its imaginative use of massive roadblocks. On October 7, 1957 a hundred (100) man roadblock was held south of 3rd District H.Q. on Murfreesboro Road, in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1967 the Patrol purchased vehicles with 4 Doors, Automatic Transmission, Power Brakes and Air Conditioning. In early 1971 the familiar cap was replaced by the Montana Peak or Smokey Bear Hat along with3” Wide Belt and Cross Draw Holster. September 16, 1974, Billie Jo Meeks became the first female Trooper with the THP. In May of 1976 the uniform went another modification Short Sleeved Shirts. February 1978 saw the realization of the one man-one Car Concept to where we are currently at now (J. Hutcherson, personal communication, January 25, 2016).
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) was the recipient of the third (3rd) place award from the 2015 National Law Enforcement Challenge Winners among state police or highway patrol agencies of 501- to 1,500 swore officers ("2015 National Law Enforcement Challenge Winners," 2015). In addition the THP was awarded sixth (6th) place in the 2015 best-looking cruiser contest ("2015 Best Looking Cruiser Contest,"