A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper has been fired amid accusations of conducting unauthorized background checks on nearly 200 people, including two journalists and a country music figure.

Highway Patrol Colonel Mike Walker says Lieutenant Ronnie Shirley was dismissed for gross misconduct and violating the public's trust. Officials say Shirley did 182 background checks. Only seven of 139 people investigators interviewed had asked Shirley to do them.

State officials haven't released the names of the people scrutinized. Tennessee's Safety Commissioner has declined to give any possible motives for the checks. They were done between October 2006 and July.

Shirley is entitled to a hearing to contest the firing.