Trooper Suspected of Illegal Background Checks

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The Tennessee House Majority Leader is requesting the release of names of people who might have been the subject of illegal background checks.

Tennessee House Majority Leader Gary Odom sent a letter to Dept. of Safety Commissioner David Mitchell requesting the release of those names. Odom's letter reads as follows:

Dear Commissioner Mitchell,

It has come to my attention that an internal investigation has been underway for some time regarding alleged unauthorized or illegal background checks conducted by a member of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

I have also learned that your Department has the names of the individuals whose backgrounds were reviewed under these circumstances. If this is accurate, I believe this list of individual names should be made public and am requesting that you do so immediately. The public release of these names could aid in the investigation because it would help provide a better understanding as to motives of the individual or individuals involved in this activity. It might also result in individuals whose names are on the list having an opportunity to cooperate in the investigation relating to any relationship they may have with those employees involved in this activity.

Further, I am requesting that an outside agency be brought in to conduct the full investigation of this matter in order to remove any perceptions of impropriety or any lack of objectivity. An investigation into allegations such as this must be transparent and our citizens must have complete confidence that it is being conducted in a professional manner with total objectivity. It would seem appropriate that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the District Attorney General's Office or the Justice Department would be suitable agencies to conduct this investigation. I have been advised that both State and Federal Felony crimes could be involved if the allegations are true.

I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this matter.

Sincerely,
Gary Odom
House Majority Leader