Walker Named La Vergne Police Chief

Aug 03, 2011 at 04:16 pm by bryan


The City of La Vergne has a new police chief, one who brings years of top level experience in law enforcement to the community. Mike Walker has been selected to lead the city’s police department, according to City Administrator Steve Mayer.

“We received 15 applications from across the nation and narrowed our search to five highly competitive candidates. It was a difficult decision because all of the candidates expressed outstanding leadership abilities and were highly competent,” said Mayer. “However, Chief Walker’s level of leadership in the top position at the Tennessee Highway Patrol, as well as his keen understanding and skills in law enforcement made him the logical choice to fill this position.”

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The Chief of Police is responsible for the oversight of the patrol division, the criminal investigation division, and the narcotics/gang unit.  The department is responsible for hundreds of cases per year including ranging from traffic violations to the more serious crimes of domestic and sexual abuse, robberies, burglaries and thefts, assault and other serious crimes.

In September of 2010, Walker retired as the Colonel from the Tennessee Highway Patrol after 33 years of service. As the top officer of the state police, he managed 899 sworn troops and 125 civilians.  In addition, Walker was responsible for preparing and managing annual budgets in excess of $100 million on behalf of the THP.

Walker installed the troopers’ creed and seven values expected of the officers, a document that mirrors the law enforcement code of ethics.  Also under Walker’s watch as Colonel, the hiring and promotional processes of the THP were revamped to remove political influence and the THP partnered with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials to share vital resources and information.

“During my tenure at the Tennessee Highway Patrol, it was imperative that each member do one thing at the end of each shift,” said Walker. “That was to go home. Officer safety was imperative.”

In addition, Walker implemented the federally mandated commercial drivers’ license issuance for the state of Tennessee, recognized then as a model program by the Federal Highway Administration.  Most recently Walker was the Public Works Director for the city of La Vergne.

“We are honored that Mike Walker accepted the position as Chief of Police. Residents will hugely benefit by the expertise that he is bringing to the city," said Mayor Senna Mosley. “Whether you are a codes official or work in the police department, our employees are expected to do their jobs absent any favoritism or special deals. While this is not a very popular position for some, it is a huge step that will keep our citizens safe from corruption. We urge residents to come directly to City Hall or the Chief to address any concerns or problems.”

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