Gov. Lee Launches Yet Another Campaign To Hire Out-Of-State Law Enforcement

Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / YouTube

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

In an effort to fill out Tennessee’s law enforcement roster, Governor Bill Lee (R-TN) is once again attempting to recruit new highway patrol officers from out-of-state.

On Wednesday, it was announced in a press release that the governor was launching his third nationwide Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) recruitment campaign, inviting both in-state and out-of-state law enforcement officers to join the team. 

The governor did something similar back in 2021 when states, cities, and counties across the country were attempting to enforce vaccination mandates.

Gov. Lee released a THP recruitment video encouraging out-of-state law enforcement officers, who did not want to get the Covid-19 vaccination, to come work in Tennessee. 

“I’ve got a message today for cops in New York, all the way to Sheriff Deputies out in LA. […] We won’t get between you and your doctor,” Gov. Lee told possible recruits. 

Around that same time, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) shared similar sentiments in a segment with Fox News where he said vaccinations are a personal decision, and called President Biden’s vaccine mandate unconstitutional. 

“NYPD, Minneapolis, Seattle…If you’re not being treated well, we’ll treat you better here,” said DeSantis.

Although these recruitment campaigns, according to Gov. Lee’s Office, were “successful law enforcement pitches,” the governor’s own constituents seemed to remain less than satisfied with the results. 

In 2022, the State of Tennessee was sued by a sergeant in the National Guard or failure to give veterans employment preferences for the jobs that Gov. Lee had decided to outsource to non-residents.

There was also considerable backlash in October 2022, regarding the amount of money the state was spending on these recruitment efforts.

Now Gov. Lee’s most recent recruitment video, titled “Join the THP Family,” has been posted to the governor’s YouTube channel. In the video, several troopers share what they have gotten out of joining the THP and why others should consider doing the same. 

The pitch to out-of-state individuals remains the same as in years past, with the campaign boasting of Tennessee’s lack of income tax and maintenance of low state and local tax burdens.

Other perks advertised by the campaign include complimentary uniforms and equipment, a full benefits package, a self-issued vehicle program instead of a shared vehicle program, and all cadet training academy fees paid for by the state. 

Additionally, the Lee administration has expanded THP training to cater to new recruits and out-of-state transfers, in order to get law enforcement officers on the job faster.

$60 million has also been set aside to “support recruitment and retention bonuses” for newly hired officers looking to move to Tennessee. 

“Law enforcement officers from across the country recognize that there’s no better place to work, live and raise a family than Tennessee,” the governor stated. “Over the past two years, we’ve recruited a record number of troopers to Tennessee’s ranks, and we continue to welcome men and women nationwide to join the Tennessee Highway Patrol.”

Since Gov. Lee’s first recruitment pitch in 2021, around 200 new troopers have joined the THP ranks here in Tennessee. This includes 28 officers who were previously from out-of-state. 

Tennessee Highway Patrol has received a noteworthy 1,000 applications for the newest cadet class which will begin in November 2023. 

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.