Perrusquia v. Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

Case Number: 26-1116-IV

Court: Davidson County Chancery Court

Client: Marc Perrusquia

Background: In February 2026, journalist Marc Perrusquia, director of the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University of Memphis, submitted a public records request to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security seeking the state Highway Patrol’s policy governing vehicle pursuits. 

Later that month, The Institute, in collaboration with Lighthouse Reports, published an investigation analyzing a sharp uptick in high-speed police chases in the Memphis area. As Perrusquia reported, the rise in such chases followed the launch of the Memphis Safe Task Force, which has deployed hundreds of federal agents, National Guard personnel, and state troopers onto city streets.

The Department of Safety denied Perrusquia’s request for the vehicle-pursuit policy, arguing that it is protected from disclosure under the Tennessee Public Records Act. On behalf of Perrusquia, Reporters Committee attorney Paul McAdoo challenged the rejection in a letter. 

The Department of Safety affirmed its denial, prompting McAdoo to file this lawsuit on behalf of Perrusquia. The lawsuit asks the Davidson County Chancery Court to find that the Department of Safety violated the public records law and to order it to turn over the vehicle-pursuit policy.

Quote: “Police, sheriff’s deputies, and highway patrol troopers have a tough and often dangerous job, but they also have awesome powers to take away people’s liberty and in some cases even kill them,” Perrusquia said. “Such power demands absolute transparency. Unfortunately, we’re not getting that from the highway patrol or the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. High-speed chases are inherently dangerous. In my view, the public has a right to know the policies and decision-making behind them.”

Filings:

2026-08-20: Petition for access to public records