Raleigh, N.C. — Gov. Beverly Perdue plans to meet Wednesday with 160 ranking members of the state Highway Patrol to discuss the growing string of misconduct cases involving state troopers.

Perdue and Col. Randy Glover, the commander of the patrol, have issued a zero-tolerance policy for trooper misconduct.

A number of troopers and patrol officers have been disciplined or fired in recent years for offenses that included profiling young women for traffic stops, drunken driving, animal abuse and having sex on duty.

Last month, the State Bureau of Investigation launched a probe into the activities of a trooper after a Raleigh woman alleged that he exposed himself to her in his patrol car.

Also last month, the longtime spokesman for the agency resigned amid an internal investigation into text messages he sent to a co-worker.

The misconduct cases have rocked the Highway Patrol's image, and Glover issued a memo to troopers in May saying that he would deal with anyone who embarrasses the patrol.

In 2007, after a series of incidents involving troopers, former Gov. Mike Easley ordered an independent review of the Highway Patrol.

An international consulting firm determined that while the patrol is not without its faults, it is a "highly professional, well managed police organization, with a proud history and a long-standing, well-deserved reputation as the elite law enforcement unit of the state of North Carolina."

The independent evaluation was conducted by a six member team, including two former U.S. Attorneys, a former FBI agent and a former chief of police.