Tennessee Highway Patrol Names Major Over Special Investigations Bureau

NASHVILLE – Today, March 1, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner David W. Purkey and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Colonel Tracy Trott announced the promotion of Captain Michael McAlister to Major of the THP’s Special Investigations Bureau.

Prior to being promoted, McAlister was Captain of the Research, Planning, and Development Division. McAlister served as Lieutenant and Statewide Commander of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) until 2011. He was promoted to Sergeant over the Nashville and Lawrenceburg THP Districts in 2006 as the leader of Team Three. McAlister joined the CIRT unit as a Trooper in 2003.

Commissioned as a road trooper in 1997, McAlister first worked in Lewis and Maury counties until 2003. McAlister began his law enforcement career as a dispatcher with the Pulaski Police Department in 1986, then a patrolman in 1989 until he joined the THP. He received his associate degree in Criminal Justice from Columbia State Community College and is a 2007 graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.

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