[Effective until 7/1/2024, see T.C.A. 4-45-108]

(a) The staff of the division must include law enforcement officers, as defined in § 39-11-106, who shall be known as special agents and must be qualified in accordance with § 38-8-106, and must have successfully completed a training course approved by the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission. Special agents must undergo a federal background investigation conducted by the United States social security administration – office of inspector general, which must also approve any selection and appointment of personnel to the division.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 4-45-104

  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) A duly authorized special agent who has been designated by the division to enforce this chapter is authorized and empowered to go armed while on active duty engaged in enforcing this chapter. A special agent is also considered a commissioned qualified criminal investigator for the purposes of the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (Pub. L. No. 108-277), and is directed, pursuant to § 39-17-1315(a)(1), to carry firearms at all times, regardless of regular duty hours or assignments. Special agents are also empowered to execute search warrants and do all acts incident thereto in the same manner as search warrants may be executed by sheriffs and other peace officers.
(c) Special agents of the division have the authority to make arrests for state felony or misdemeanor violations and the authority to make traffic stops in an emergency situation where the safety of the public is in jeopardy.
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