The Tennessee Highway Patrol announced several changes and promotions this week, including a local man being named to a top position in the agency.
Dean Hurley, who started his career with the THP in 1977, serving in Sullivan County and his native Washington County as a road trooper, is now Lt. Colonel in the state agency. Most recently, Hurley served as major over operations in East Tennessee.
Capt. Cheryl Sanders has been promoted to Major, supervising the Field Operations East Bureau. Both promotions are effective Feb. 14 and follow the retirement of Lt. Col. Wayne Springer, who joined the THP in 1982 as a dispatcher and went on to be commissioned as a trooper in 1984. He has served as lieutenant colonel since 2011. Hurley has served as Major over field operations in east Tennessee since 2010. Prior to that, he served as Captain over the 13-county Fall Branch district. Hurley started his career with the THP in 1977, serving in Sullivan County and his native Washington County as a road trooper.
Hurley is an adjunct faculty member teaching criminal justice courses at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, where he also received his Master of Arts degree in criminology and a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. Hurley served in the U.S. Air Force from 1973-1976.
Commissioned as a Road Trooper in 1983, Sanders first worked in Knox County where she was also assigned to the CID Division in undercover narcotics enforcement. In 2002, Sanders became the first female promoted to lieutenant with the THP. In 2006, she became the first female promoted to Captain overseeing the Chattanooga District. In 2008, and later the Knoxville district.
Sanders earned an Associate’s degree in police science and criminal justice from Roane State Community College, and is a graduate of the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command.
Captain David McGill, who currently commands the Chattanooga District, is being transferred to the Knoxville District. McGill’s replacement will be announced in the coming weeks.