Tennessee Highway Patrol commander forced to resign
The resignation of Col. Lynn Pitts, a 31-year veteran of the patrol, was announced by Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips, who said in a statement that the commander had violated state law by trying to purchase a boat seized by troopers and put up for sale as surplus state property.
It is illegal for anyone “directly or indirectly involved in the confiscation,” of property to bid on it, according to state law cited by Phillips. The incident was referred to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Pitts’ online purchase of the aluminum fishing boat for $1,700 was first reported Tuesday by The Tennessean. The newspaper has reported a series of stories about the Highway Patrol that has spurred the governor to investigate the agency.
“As a result of recent events in the Tennessee Department of Safety, I have requested and received the resignation of Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Lynn Pitts,” Phillips said in the statement.
Pitts, whose personnel file lists his 2005-2006 salary as $97,020, did not return phone calls to his home and office Tuesday. His parking space at the Tennessee Highway Patrol headquarters was empty.
Phillips said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon he would reorganize the Highway Patrol in an effort to restore public confidence in the beleaguered agency.
Phillips said among the proposals he would consider include restructuring its management and subjecting the agency to additional oversight by the state Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission.
Gov. Phil Bredesen, who ordered the TBI to investigate the Highway Patrol, declined comment Tuesday on Pitts’ resignation.
“Fred Phillips was obviously my selection for commissioner, and I think he’s been a little overwhelmed by a department which has a long history and a lot of momentum behind doing things in a lot of ways,” Bredesen said.
Phillips said he met with Bredesen Tuesday afternoon and the governor still supported him as commissioner.
“I did not offer my resignation. He did not ask for it. And he expressed support for my administration,” Phillips said.
Bredesen said he is trying to instill a cultural change within the department to move from what he called a “too casual way of doing business.”
“I think you can expect some major changes in the department over the course of the first couple of quarters of next year,” he said.
Pitts logged on last week to a Web site used by many state governments to auction confiscated and surplus equipment, http://www.govdeals.com. Under the name “pitts,” he bought a 17-foot aluminum fishing boat with a 40-horsepower engine in a competitive auction during which he placed 25 bids over four days, The Tennessean reported.
He began bidding on the boat, which came with a trailer, Nov. 28 and continued to bid until winning Saturday.
The state General Services Department, which handled the auction, halted the transaction, state spokeswoman Lola Potter said.
Department of Safety spokeswoman Melissa McDonald said Phillips first learned of the bid late Monday afternoon.
Pitts said he was unaware he had done anything wrong during an early morning meeting Tuesday, Phillips said.
The Highway Patrol, Tennessee’s top traffic enforcement agency, has been under fire in recent months amid allegations of political favoritism and corruption. Troopers and former troopers across the state have said that political pressure, campaign donations and a culture of favors for the powerful dominate the THP and have for much of its history.
After questions from The Tennessean, Bredesen ordered the TBI to perform background checks on all 855 troopers last week and found that 48 of them had criminal charges in their background ranging from larceny and assault charges to driver’s license suspensions.
He also turned over to the TBI an internal audit from five years ago that revealed crimes by the troopers, including trading ticket fixing for liquor and food.
A report on the investigation by TBI Director Mark Gwyn is expected to be released Thursday, the governor’s office said.
Capt. Dereck Stewart, who oversees internal affairs at the patrol, said most troopers with criminal charges were interviewed Monday. About five were expected to be interviewed Tuesday, including one trooper on vacation who will be questioned by phone.
“We look forward to getting our integrity back with the public,” Stewart said.
Phillips appointed Pitts to lead the Highway Patrol in January 2003, shortly after Bredesen took office. Pitts became a trooper in 1974 in Bedford County and was a lieutenant before moving into management.
Two of his sons, Jimmy and Todd, also are state troopers.
Phillips said Lt. Col. Larry Rucker will be in charge of the highway patrol until Pitts’ successor is chosen.