NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Homeland Security asked Governor Bill Lee during a budget hearing on Tuesday for thousands of dollars in funding to building two new state highway patrol dispatch centers.

Tennessee Department of Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long said there are only four dispatch centers across the state and they need more than just outpost locations.

The department is asking for $774,000 for new facilities in Knoxville and Chattanooga. Right now, troopers in Knoxville and Chattanooga share a space with the Tennessee Department of Transportation's traffic incident management team.

"We just need some standalone facilities that are just THP dispatch centers that give us a little bit of room for growth," said THP Col. Matt Perry.

THP already has standa

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