Statement from TDOS Commissioner Dave Mitchell on Order by Judge Thomas Stovall
Monday, September 21, 2009 | 08:08am
NASHVILLE --- On Monday, September 21, 2009, Chief Administrative Judge Thomas G. Stovall upheld the termination of former THP Lieutenant Ronnie Shirley.
Statement from Commissioner Dave Mitchell:
“The evidence was overwhelming that Ronnie Shirley engaged in gross misconduct, that he was untruthful and that his highly publicized actions ruined his credibility. Shirley’s conduct and actions were unacceptable for a Tennessee State Trooper. Unauthorized access of sensitive law enforcement databases is clearly inappropriate and violates the portal user agreement not to mention the privacy of Tennesseans.”
Additional Information:
Since the internal THP investigation of Ronnie Shirley into unauthorized access of the Integrated Criminal Justice Web Portal (ICJWP), additional safeguards have been instituted to prevent such abuse. The department now conducts regular reviews of AOC audits on portal usage to catch any irregularities. Internal communication to employees has repeatedly emphasized that computer queries to satisfy curiosity are not appropriate and constitute a clear violation of the user agreement and General Orders. With these safeguards, law enforcement will continue to use the portal and other data for legitimate police purposes to carry out the mission of public safety.
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.TN.Gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.