Ep. 48 Here For A Reason: Featuring State Trooper Tara Lee

In this episode of Tennessee Court Talk we sit down with Tennessee State Trooper Tara Lee, one of the friendly faces you might see when entering the Nashville Supreme Court Building. Trooper Lee has a special story as she shares her journey of becoming a State Trooper, providing judicial security and her story of perseverance in overcoming a personal health battle. 

Transcript

00;00;00;02 - 00;00;23;06
Host
Welcome to Tennessee Court Talk. I'm Joette Giroux Communications Writer for the Administrative Office of the Courts. I am your host for this episode featuring Tennessee State Trooper Tara Lee. Trooper Lee, provides security for our Judges and Justices at the Tennessee Supreme Court in Nashville. She does double duty with a second post at the Tennessee State Capitol. Alternating week to week.

00;00;23;08 - 00;00;39;14
Host
Trooper Lee is a much loved member of the Supreme Court family. She is also a triple negative breast cancer survivor. Today, she joins us to share her unique role and the friendships that have developed over the course of her service to the state. Welcome, Trooper Lee.

00;00;39;16 - 00;00;40;18
Trooper Lee
Hello.

00;00;40;21 - 00;00;46;03
Host
Start off by telling us how you got your start working security at the Tennessee Supreme Court.

00;00;46;05 - 00;01;26;14
Trooper Lee
Well, back in 2013, I left my position as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines. In March of 2013, I became a state trooper. Well, in July, actually, in March, I went to the trooper academy, left the air and came down to the ground as what we call a road dog. Got through the Academy. I worked in Robertson County from 2013 till about 2016, and that's when I came down to the Capital Protection Unit.

00;01;26;16 - 00;01;56;06
Trooper Lee
I left the road and came to the Capitol Protection Unit. And when I started, I rolled meaning from post to post. We have many different post. Throughout the Capitol and the legislative, buildings. And I roved until I roved to the Supreme Court one day and, the head court clerk there said, evidently he said, hey, we like her, we want her.

00;01;56;08 - 00;02;24;01
Trooper Lee
And my captain, brought it to my attention. And he said, hey, they want you over there. So I'm gonna, you know, start rotating you through the Supreme Court. Keep in mind that, the Supreme Court I do week to week one, week on, one week off. I'm also on the ground floor of the Capitol, taking in employees as well as deliveries.

00;02;24;01 - 00;02;58;08
Trooper Lee
That's the entrance for those. It was kind of, a tug of war. So that's how I ended up keeping the two post. But as far as the Supreme Court is concerned, they wanted me and I had to show them that I was worthy. The same thing that made them request me is what keeps me there. I take my job very seriously, and, they know that if they bring an issue to me, or if we have an issue in there, that I'm going to handle the business, I'm going to take care of it.

00;02;58;10 - 00;02;59;01
Trooper Lee


00;02;59;04 - 00;03;11;08
Host
Now, judicial security is a growing concern due to increased threats and online attacks targeting judges and court officials. What makes your security role with the Tennessee Supreme Court different?

00;03;11;11 - 00;03;40;17
Trooper Lee
Well, when you say different, it's it's probably on the road. I mean, enforcement on the road, which I still do. It's different people day to day. But those people I've grown to love, I have relationships with the clerks as well as the justices. And I mean, they're like my family, so I protect them like my family. I take that seriously, and it makes me feel good.

00;03;40;17 - 00;03;57;03
Trooper Lee
It makes me feel worthy. It makes my chest swell when they say, hey, go get Trooper Lee or tell her about it. She's going to handle it because that's what I do. I handle business.

00;03;57;06 - 00;04;03;04
Host
What would you say is the biggest challenge when it comes to protecting the courts?

00;04;03;07 - 00;04;26;18
Trooper Lee
The biggest challenge is probably keeping the eyes. I have a number of cameras, okay? And I can't look at them all at once. You know, you have you have certain ones that are probably more I wouldn't say important, but I would have to keep my eyes on more than the others. That's probably the biggest challenge for me. I'm a people person.

00;04;26;19 - 00;04;47;15
Trooper Lee
I know how to deal with people. I know how to. If we have problems in there, you have, patrons or people filing appeals, coming in, sometimes getting heated or getting upset. I know how to de-escalate, and sometimes it's not even, you know, me saying a word. I can give them a look or go over there and stand by.

00;04;47;15 - 00;05;02;27
Trooper Lee
The clerks in my presence says it all says, okay, now we going to have to wrap this up or there's a door, you know, wrap it up or there's a door.

00;05;02;29 - 00;05;06;11
Host
What has surprised you the most during the course of your service?

00;05;06;13 - 00;05;29;25
Trooper Lee
Oh, that's a hard one. You put me on the spot there. Surprised? Probably the support, if I had to think about it, would probably be all the love and support. You know, you know you're appreciated, but you feel to feel the love is a totally different thing. They love me. They love me. And they love the work that I do and what I stand for.

00;05;29;28 - 00;05;38;23
Host
You also serve as their eyes and ears as well in and around the Supreme Court. Tell me about the little extras you provide in watching out for them.

00;05;38;26 - 00;06;04;29
Trooper Lee
Everything from, the parking, where they parked. If one of the justices or a group of, the justices or judges and clerks go for walks for lunch, then as far as I can see them, I'll get that old camera and follow them. And sometimes I just, you know, step outside to the curb and just watch traffic or watch them.

00;06;05;02 - 00;06;30;10
Trooper Lee
I won't go too far because that's my post. But, you know, I'm, here, there and everywhere. Usually if I have to go along the hallway or something or, let I've had to go down sometimes and deal with it. I'll tell them I said I should be in great shape. I'll be right back. I'll let them know where I am.

00;06;30;10 - 00;06;36;19
Trooper Lee
I'll be right back. I'll jot down those stairs and come right back. So it was just. It's always something to do.

00;06;36;27 - 00;06;44;17
Host
Now, you told me that you are known for getting a bit loud inside, but that's due to your hearing. Tell me about that.

00;06;44;19 - 00;07;08;18
Trooper Lee
Well, when I was probably two years old, I was diagnosed with what they call a cholesteatoma. And therefore my hearing was decreased. That's also what, prohibited me from going to the Marine Corps without a waiver. I didn't get a waiver, so I didn't go to the Marine Corps. But my brother went for me. So I was good with that.

00;07;08;18 - 00;07;37;11
Trooper Lee
But yeah, a lot of times, speaking or, a lot louder or firmer than I realize, because of the hearing. But I do the best I can now when I do need to get loud, imagine it is extra loud, so I do, I'll stand in the front of that Supreme Court sometimes and holler all the way down the street, and they don't have a problem hearing me.

00;07;38;23 - 00;07;52;28
Trooper Lee
Mind you, I have a whistle. I have a whistle. We all have a whistle attached to our uniforms. But I guess it's quicker to just do it, you know, just holler down the street, you know? We. Yeah. That's me.

00;07;53;01 - 00;08;07;12
Host
That's an advantage for sure. That's me. You know, you obviously work in close proximity to members of the judiciary. Without going into detail, is it beneficial to really know them and their habits when it comes to providing top notch security?

00;08;07;14 - 00;08;30;18
Trooper Lee
Oh, yes. Knowing just about what time they'll arrive to work. You know everything. But every now and then, you know they'll change it up. But, basically knowing when each judge would come in, I can see them, you know, via the camera. I see the the garage. I see them go all the way through to they get their parking space.

00;08;30;19 - 00;08;55;19
Trooper Lee
Like I said, even the walking and the lunch breaks, different ones do things at different times. But it's, you know, I know them now. I know each and every one of them. I know their habits. A lot of times in the Supreme Court, they do tours, tours of the Judiciary Museum and of the Supreme Court. Even that.

00;08;55;22 - 00;09;17;11
Trooper Lee
And I've got they'll call me and say, hey, hey, trooper Lee, one of the Justices in, you know, more than others, says hey Trooper Lee. I got a I got a tour going on at 130, and I got another one at 230. Let me know because he knows I'm going, you know. All right. I'll be looking for them.

00;09;17;11 - 00;09;23;07
Trooper Lee
I get them on in here and then give you a call when they get here. It's just it's just the little things.

00;09;23;13 - 00;09;26;16
Host
Personally what do these relationships mean to you?

00;09;26;19 - 00;09;55;28
Trooper Lee
Everything. I mean, you got to do, in my opinion, I've got to do what I believe in and what I love doing. And that's why I'm a Trooper, I believe. And, more than anything now, I believe in the protection and the security that I provide as well as, breaking out the whip when I'm, you know, on the road because this distracted driving is getting to be too much.

00;09;56;00 - 00;10;19;20
Trooper Lee
But, yes, you. I gotta love what I do. I gotta believe in the purpose for what I do. And I do, I do I love my job. Not everybody can say that. It has its pros and cons, just like anything else. But I'm here. I'm in my purpose. I'm here for a reason.

00;10;19;22 - 00;10;30;03
Host
You mentioned the support earlier, and I understand your courthouse friends really came through for you during your breast cancer journey. Talk about that time and what it meant to you.

00;10;30;06 - 00;11;15;10
Trooper Lee
Well, keeping my composure. It's always a soft spot. I don't care where I am, what time of the day, year, month. I was unfortunate to be misdiagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Stage three, it was stage 0 or 1 when I found it. However, by the time the ball started rolling, I was stage three, and I worked all the way through chemo and up until I couldn't any more due to the immunotherapy being, you know, my joints and everything in my, energy.

00;11;15;13 - 00;11;55;10
Trooper Lee
But all the while, the court clerks, the judges would bring me things like ginger chews and ginger ale and soup and crackers, and they'd just come down and see me and see how I was, because I went from a full head of hair with a bun bun to the bald G.I. Jane, that's what I was. And they knew that I was doing the best I could, and they made sure that they supported me up until, like I said, I left and coming back.

00;11;55;12 - 00;12;14;07
Trooper Lee
I got back the first day I got back to full time duty again at work. All the judges got me a flower arrangement with a rose from each Justice. I took a picture of it and I still have the base that it was. It meant the world meant the world to me.

00;12;14;10 - 00;12;18;02
Host
Did that experience change your perspective on your role as a State Trooper?

00;12;18;07 - 00;12;40;05
Trooper Lee
Well, it didn't change my perspective. It just solidified it. You know, that I'm where I'm supposed to be and that I'm doing a great job and that they noticed me and they trust me and they appreciate me. And you name it.

00;12;40;07 - 00;12;47;01
Host
You also have a love for the Supreme Court Buulding itself. Tell me what you love about it.

00;12;47;03 - 00;13;20;24
Trooper Lee
I love the ceiling. I love the limestone for sure, but I love the ceiling, the pastel colors. I can be just sitting at my desk and I'll look up and just thank God, you know that I'm in a nice place with nice people. Don't get me wrong, there are times when I miss being a road trooper, you know?

00;13;20;24 - 00;13;52;16
Trooper Lee
But, in a climate controlled building, I don't have to be out in the rain. You know, my, level is not all the way up, because, you know, that's what you get when you're answering calls because you never know what you're going to get next. The anxiety. So, yeah, I basically know what I'll get from day to day.

00;13;52;16 - 00;14;04;16
Trooper Lee
I don't take that for granted because, I mean, anything could pop off, but I know, I know my building and I know what goes on around it. People that are in it.

00;14;04;19 - 00;14;09;04
Host
What does your future hold beyond the Supreme Court and State Capitol?

00;14;09;06 - 00;14;50;10
Trooper Lee
I don't know. When you get with people you love. I've been asked a couple of times by different supervisors to, you know, I always take the sergeant's test every two years, but go interview, go interview, get you some rank. You be so good at this or that. Well, I'm good here. And it's not to say that won't change in the four years that I have left with the Highway Patrol, but, where I want to be, where I love to be, where they want me to be and is nothing like filling wanted and needed.

00;14;50;12 - 00;14;52;01
Trooper Lee
So we'll see.

00;14;52;04 - 00;15;02;16
Host
Trooper Tara Lee, it was a pleasure talking with you. Thank you for joining us on Tennessee Court Talk. To learn more about the Tennessee State Judiciary, please visit us at TNcourts.gov.