Nosy Deputys in the THP and Governor's Office

Just a Nosy officer gone wild as Governor Bredesen claims OR more nefarious Democratic hard-ball politics against those that fought Bredesen's Bunker (Ralph Bristol opined this morning).

I am not sure, but the cozy relationship that existed between Deputy Shirley and the former Deputy Governor Cooley is just too coincidental NOT to warrant an outside investigation.

Trooper snooped on 182

Tennessee governor says unauthorized acts just 'nosy.'

Shirley is the politically connected officer who fixed a speeding ticket in 2004 for Bredesen's top aide at the time, Deputy Gov. Dave Cooley. The officer escaped discipline when top patrol officials concocted a fake punishment to throw off the news media and the public, a deception later reported by The Tennessean.

In the current case, a country music star, two journalists and several employees of the Department of Safety were among those whose information was reviewed by Shirley, officials said. The department would not say how many of those were unauthorized checks.

The department gave few specifics about why Shirley was doing the checks, or how many other state employees may have been run, only that no state elected officials were on the list — a sentiment echoed by the governor.

There was no way to independently verify that claim last night because officials refused to make the list public.

State House candidate A.J. McCall is calling for a probe into allegations a Department of Safety database was used for unauthorized background checks.

GOP candidate says expunged records used against him, calls for THP probe

By Clint Brewer

A Republican State House candidate who said his expunged DUI records are being used against him in his campaign to unseat a longtime Democratic incumbent is joining leaders from both political parties in calling for an outside investigation into allegations of unauthorized background checks performed by a Tennessee Highway Patrolman.

However, a THP spokesperson said a list of those whose backgrounds were allegedly probed by Lt. Ronnie Shirley would not be made public anytime soon but instead turned over to the district attorney once an internal investigation is complete.

GOP Lebanon businessman A.J. McCall is challenging State Rep. Stratton Bone for the 46th District House seat, a race observers on both sides of the political aisle say is likely a close race.

McCall told The Nashville Post that it was copies of his driving history – including records of two DUI arrests from the early 1990s and records of some speeding tickets – that were left in an envelope in the locked legislative offices of State House Minority Leader Jason Mumpower and State Rep. Glen Casada several weeks ago.

Mumpower and Democratic House Majority Leader Gary Odom have both called for an investigation from an outside agency into allegations THP Trooper Ronnie Shirley performed some 300 background checks outside the normal investigative process at THP. The THP has confirmed they have an internal investigation of Shirley ongoing concerning the alleged background checks. Continue.....