July 28, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
A Tennessee Highway Patrol Sergeant from DeKalb County has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the THP Nashville District Special Programs Unit.
Charlie Caplinger of Smithville was recognized for a promotion by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security in a special ceremony last Monday at the Tennessee Highway Patrol Training Center in Nashville. Tennessee Department of Safety Commissioner Jeff Long, THP Captain Anthony Griffin, Colonel Dereck Stewart, Lieutenant Colonel James Hutcherson, and Major Terrell Johnson were part of the ceremony.
Lieutenant Caplinger has served as a Trooper in the Nashville District since he was commissioned in 2002 starting his THP career in Robertson County as a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer.
Caplinger was transferred to Wilson County as a road trooper in 2004 and remained in that position until 2008 when he joined the ACES (Alternative Commercial Enforcement Strategies) program under the Special Programs section and served as a Supervisor on the Nashville district STRIKE team for 6 years. Caplinger holds numerous commercial motor vehicle certifications including Level 1, Haz-Mat, Cargo Tanker, and Compliance Review and in 2012 was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in Robertson County. Caplinger transferred to Wilson County as Sergeant in April 2013 and remained there until June 2017 when he became Sergeant of the Special Programs Unit serving as the PIO (Public Information Officer) for the Nashville district.
Lieutenant Caplinger is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Personnel and was named Trooper of the year in 2010. He is now attending the Commissioners Leadership Academy and set to graduate in January 2020.
Caplinger and his wife Rhonda have two children, Michael and Jennifer.