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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR SERGEANT WILLIAM "DON" RHODES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE TRANSPORT POLICE, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, AND TO EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE CAUSE OF TRUCK SAFETY, EDUCATION, INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, REASONABLE ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES, AND GENUINE DEVOTION TO HIS DUTIES, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, William "Don" Rhodes began his career in trucking law enforcement in 1985 as a safety inspector with the South Carolina Public Service Commission; and
Whereas, he became interested in assisting South Carolina's many motor carriers with their compliance efforts and began working closely with the South Carolina Trucking Association (SCTA) in its safety and training initiatives, eventually leading to his involvement with many industry trade groups and they worked to educate their respective truck-owner constituencies; and
Whereas, he was a critical ally during the merger of the Size & Weight Enforcement Division of Highway Patrol and the Safety Enforcement Unit of the Public Service Commission to create the South Carolina State Transport Police; and
Whereas, he developed a close working relationship with many active members of the Safety Management Council and the Maintenance Council of the South Carolina Trucking Association, and he was an integral part of many Council and other industry outreach events; and
Whereas, he assisted the trucking industry with every South Carolina Truck Driving Championship for the past twenty-two years; and
Whereas, in 1994, he initiated South Carolina's State Transport Police Inspectors' Challenge in conjunction with the SCTA Truck Driving Championships, which eventually led to the contest between state truck law enforcement inspectors becoming an annual competition for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance being held as part of the National Truck Driving Championships; and
Whereas, he became the "go-to answer man" at the State Transport Police for carriers all across the State who were seeking interpretations and applicability of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations along with a customer-service approach to resolving compliance and enforcement issues with the department, local, and other state law enforcement agencies; and
Whereas, his active participation in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has helped the S.C. State Transport Police become recognized as a model for state commercial vehicle law enforcement agencies and an advocate for reasonable policies and procedures; and
Whereas, Don Rhodes has helped foster a culture of reasonable enforcement practices and a "give the carriers the benefit of a doubt" philosophy within the State Transport Police, which has helped not only the industry, but the agency in its relations with state policy makers, while assisting improved safety performance and reduced accidents. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognizes and honors Sergeant William "Don" Rhodes of the South Carolina State Transport Police, upon the occasion of his retirement, and extends sincere appreciation for his dedication to the cause of truck safety, education, industry professional development, reasonable enforcement practices, and genuine devotion to his duties, and wishes him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Sergeant William "Don" Rhodes.
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