A sergeant in the Cookeville District of the Tennessee Highway Patrol has been promoted to Lieutenant.
Mark Dial is among fifteen members of the THP who were formally recognized for promotions in a special ceremony Thursday at the Tennessee Highway Patrol Training Center in Nashville. The announcement was made by Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security officials Commissioner Bill Gibbons, Deputy Commissioner Larry Godwin, Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott, and Assistant Commissioner David Purkey were on-hand to congratulate the employees.
A commissioned state trooper since 1997, Dial’s first assignment was in White County in the Cookeville District. Dial went on to serve as a Road Trooper in White County for nine years. In late 2006, Dial was promoted to Sergeant in Putnam County, where he served for 14 months before transferring to DeKalb County as a Patrol Sergeant over both Dekalb and Smith Counties, where he is currently assigned. Throughout his career, Dial has served as a member of the THP Riot Team, and after being promoted to the rank of Sergeant, he was selected as a Squad Leader on the Riot Squad. Dial is member of the THP Honor Guard. In May of 2011, Dial became the “Officer in Charge” of the Honor Guard.
(Photo above: From L-R, Deputy Commissioner Larry Godwin, Commissioner Bill Gibbons, Lt. Mark Dial, Colonel Tracy Trott, Major Cheryl Sanders, Captain R.C. Christian)