Highway Patrol asks TBI to take bigger role in probe

THP Commander Col. Mike Walker

Amid mounting calls for an independent investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to take a greater role in a probe into a state trooper who searched over 180 individuals' backgrounds allegedly without authorization.

In addition, THP officials said they will present the findings of their investigation to date to the Davidson County District Attorney today while state Republicans in the general assembly are trying to get federal prosecutors to look at the case.

Tennessee Department of Safety officials announced late Monday Commissioner Dave Mitchell has asked the TBI to perform "forensic examinations” of the state computers and other electronics used by Lt. Ronnie Shirley. Shirley is the trooper who allegedly used his access to the state’s Integrated Criminal Justice Web Portal (ICJSC) to search the backgrounds of 182 individuals, including two journalists.

c indicated today the TBI is performing the electronic forensic work because the probe has expanded to examining Shirley’s communications and activities beyond just the web portal searches. A statement from the patrol said Shirley’s additional electronics had been “surrendered” to investigators.

“We’re looking at a lot of parts to the puzzle and seeing where things fit in,” Walker said late today.

The TBI was already involved in the probe, looking into whether Shirley might have run criminal history checks – a deeper background search using the federal NCIC criminal database system.

Walker said THP investigators would meet with a member of the Davidson County District Attorney's office today to deliver their findings to date. He added the patrol was in talks with state attorneys to determine if they could release the names of the 50 individuals on the list they have notified and interviewed so far.

State lawmakers, pundits and the state’s newspaper editorial pages have been calling for an independent investigation of the Shirley situation. Walker said the patrol was treating the matter as a criminal investigation, adding when asked that the investigation was exploring whether or not Shirley had any kind of contact with anyone in the executive branch of government.

“Yes, and so far we have not seen anything like that,” Walker said. “We’re looking into it, and if it is there it will be dealt with accordingly. Nothing will be swept under the rug.”

State House Minority Leader Jason Mumpower has been at the front of the pack calling for an independent investigation, saying the proper course is for the inquiry to go federal.

Mumpower said late Monday afternoon the TBI’s heightened involvement in the case was “a step in the right direction,” but added he was attempting to open a dialogue with U.S. Attorney Ed Yarborough’s office in Nashville.

“We’ll continue to push for that outside look,” Mumpower said. “We’ll continue behind the scenes and out in front to push for that outside look. …We are working toward a meeting with federal prosecutors.”