NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Eight officers who already wore a badge somewhere else are now Tennessee State Troopers, after the Tennessee Highway Patrol graduated its latest lateral class on Tuesday.
Lateral Class 101 finished an 11-week cadet program built for people who are already law enforcement officers. Every member came in holding certification from the state Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, which lets the patrol shorten training and put experienced officers on the road sooner than a standard academy would.
Together the eight bring 41 years of prior police work to the patrol. Three hold bachelor’s degrees and two served in the military.
Gov. Bill Lee gave the keynote at the ceremony, held at the Tennessee State Museum, and administered the oath of office. Jeff Long, who leads the state Department of Safety and Homeland Security, joined patrol commander Col. Matt Perry in welcoming the class.
Long said in the department announcement that the new troopers had completed demanding training and were ready to serve, and he credited their military and academic backgrounds. Perry told the class that every retirement drains knowledge from the patrol and that lateral hires help bring some of that experience back from their first day. He urged them to serve humbly and protect with integrity.
The patrol has leaned on these shorter classes this year. Lateral Class 99, which graduated in August at the same museum, also added eight troopers. Those officers arrived with a combined 54 years in law enforcement, along with three bachelor’s degrees and one master’s degree.
In August it was Long, not the governor, who delivered the keynote and gave the oath. Long noted at the time that the Class 99 troopers would be putting their experience to work on Tennessee roadways.
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