[486} ‘MTSU On the Record’ discusses alum’s role as new THP commander

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —The new commander of the Tennessee Highway Patrol will be the guest on the next “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Col. Dereck Stewart will air from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, and from 6 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 24, on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org.

Stewart, an MTSU alumnus, assumed control of the THP June 1. He is the first African-American to head the agency. At various times in his tenure, he oversaw the agency’s Field Operations Bureau, the Support Services Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Safety’s Research, Planning and Development Division.

He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, the Executive Leadership Institute, the FBI National Executive Institute and Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command.

Stewart said his top priority is policing the highways, cracking down on drunken, drugged and distracted driving. He said he is grateful for 37 new field operations positions authorized by Gov. Bill Haslam.

“We have about 921 authorized positions within the state,” Stewart said. “We’re currently staffed somewhere about 860. We have probably maybe 650 or so that work the roads every day.” 

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, go to http://bit.ly/mtsu-otr.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.