Deployment of hundreds of Tennessee Highway Patrol officers to be part of a federal and state law enforcement task force has left patrol gaps in other parts of the state. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Tennessee’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security is asking for more than 100 state troopers, in part to fill in patrol gaps left open because of a law enforcement surge in Memphis.

Safety Commissioner Jeff Long made a request for $43.5 million to fund 139 positions for Highway Patrol officers, supervisors and support staff during budget hearings with Gov. Bill Lee. Nearly 120 of those would be state troopers.

The personnel increase would make up more than half of Long’s overall budget increase of $84.2 million, which includes $19.7 million for a department “market adjustm

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