Commissioner Gibbons discusses protecting the state

Bill Gibbons spoke to delegates Monday night and took audience questions about his areas of responsibility in state government. Gibbons joined Gov. Bill Haslam’s cabinet as Commissioner for the Department of Safety and Homeland Security in January 2011. As commissioner, he oversees the agency’s law enforcement, safety education, motorist services, and disaster preparedness and prevention programs. He was appointed District Attorney General in 1996 and was elected to a pair of eight-year terms in 1998 and 2006. His accomplishments as DA include a no plea bargaining policy on the most violent crimes, his joint effort with other law enforcement to crack down on possession of guns by convicted felons, and his creation of special prosecution units to focus on gang violence, drug trafficking, domestic violence and child abuse.