THP honors retiring troopers for decades of service

BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — Lt. Cary Hopkins and Sgt. Johnny Briley will retire at the end of the year with more than 60 years of service between them to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Family, friends and law enforcement from across Tennessee and Mississippi met in Brownsville Wednesday to recognize Hopkins and Briley for their work over the years.

Hopkins has been with the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Memphis District for 34 years, working as security for the University of Memphis football team and with the agency’s Scales program. Briley has been with the agency for nearly 30 years, also serving in the Scales program and in patrol.

“You know, this job has been a great job. It’s allowed me to do things I wouldn’t have gotten to do, been places I wouldn’t have gotten to go and met some great people along the way. I’ve got nothing but praise to say about the Highway Patrol,” Hopkins said.

The men were each presented with a plaque to commemorate their service to the agency.