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Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Common name	Tennessee Department of Safety
Abbreviation	TDOS
Agency overview
Formed	1939
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Tennessee, USA
	Map of Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's jurisdiction
Size	42,143 sq. miles
Population	7,051,105 (2022 estimate)
General nature	Civilian police;
Operational structure
Headquarters	1150 Foster Avenue ; Nashville, Tennessee
Agency executives	Jeff Long, Commissioner; Les Dolente, Deputy Commissioner;
Child agencies	Tennessee Highway Patrol; Tennessee Driver License Services; Tennessee Office of Homeland Security;
Facilities
Helicopters	5 Bell 206B Jet Rangers and 1 Huey UH-1H
Website
	http://www.tn.gov/safety/

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOS), also known as the Tennessee Department of Safety or DOS, is a law enforcement agency serving the U.S. state of Tennessee. The TDOS is made up of three main divisions: the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), the Tennessee Driver License Services division, and the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security.^[1]

History

The TDOS was established in 1939 by the Tennessee General Assembly to exercise authority over the THP.^[2] Over the decades, the agency has evolved to meet new challenges, such as drug trafficking, the issuance of drivers' licenses, and terrorism. Therefore, the TDOS currently comprises three divisions: the THP, the Driver License Services division, and the state Office of Homeland Security (OHS).

The current commissioner of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security is Jeff Long, who has been serving since January 2019 after being appointed by Governor Bill Lee. He is assisted by deputy and assistant commissioners, including the director of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Col. Matt Perry.^[3]

Functions

The TDOS manages the THP, OHS, and the Driver License Services division. The THP is the highway patrol agency for Tennessee, which has jurisdiction anywhere in the state. The Office of Homeland Security was created in April 2003 by an executive order by then-Governor Phil Bredesen in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.^[4] The Driver License Services division issues various kinds of identification cards, including hardship licenses for minors, graduated drivers licenses, regular driver licenses, commercial driver licenses, and state identification cards.^[5] In addition to the above functions, the TDOS has issued handgun permits through the THP since October 1996, assuming the role previously taken by local sheriffs' offices.^[6]

Commissioners


#	Name	Took office	Left office	Governor
Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
1	David Mitchell^[7]	January 2007^[8]	January 2010	Phil Bredesen
2	Bill Gibbons^[9]	January 2010	September 2016^[10]
2	Bill Gibbons^[9]	January 2010	September 2016^[10]	Bill Haslam
3	David Purkey	September 2016 ^[11]	January 19, 2019 ^[12]	Bill Haslam
4	Jeff Long^[13]	January 20, 2019	Incumbent	Bill Lee