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"We Get Mail"
Good job, Trooper Watkins, as usual.
From: John Somsen, (email address removed)
To: UHP 1st Sgt.
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 9:48 PM
Subject: Utah State Trooper Watkins
I am writing this letter of gratitude to Trooper Harley Watkins. Trooper Watkins went above and beyond his call of duty in helping me out and I would like to send a letter of thanks and a recommendation to be put in his file.
I am a truck driver, driving for Reed Hurst. On or about January 25, 2005, I was traveling on Highway 191 approximately five miles from Helper Weigh Station. I had a right front steering tire blow out. I did not have cell phone service in the canyon and I had to wave down a vehicle and ask them to phone ahead to let my company, Reed Hurst Trucking in Price Utah, know of the problem I was having and ask for assistance.
I set out my flared triangles to keep other traffic around our truck safe. About one hour went by and a Utah State Patrol Officer showed up to see if he could be of assistance to me and to assure the safety of anyone traveling in this area. The officer said that someone had notified Helper Weigh Station of the problem I was having in the canyon and Officer Watkins was dispatched to the scene.
After checking out the situation throughly, Officer Watkins called back to his dispatcher and said that he would give me a ride back to our company in Price. He felt this was the best he could do for me at the time. This was the last thing I thought a state trooper would do for a truck driver. On our way back to Price, I was thanking Officer Watkins for helping me and he said that "he would never leaver a person under these circumstances waiting for help." Officer Watkins followed through and made sure the help I needed was on the way.
I have been driving long haul for six years, two of those years were coast to coast. I have seen several states and weigh stations and have noticed the attitudes of the troopers and the DOT officers. I must say I have found the Utah troopers and officers to be very friendly and helpful. They do a very close inspection and show interest in our safety as a driver and how we maintain our equipment. They explain the faults of the equipment and their concerns for my safety as well as the safety of all the other vehicles that are around me. The officers and troopers have always had a good positive attitude to the drivers. Officer Watkins was very positive about the way I handled my situation and about the company I work for.
Reed Hurst Trucking has recently relocated to Price, Utah hauling CO2 out of the BOC plant southwest of Price. There has been many new challenges in the move to Price. Officer Watkins has offered his assistance at any of our safety meetings and also said the DOT Dept would be willing to help. It is very assuring to us as the driver and also our families knowing that there are officers out there like Officer Watkins to help us.
I just wanted to commend Officer Watkins for his outstanding performance and to let him know how much I appreciated him and his good work ethics. Thank you very much Officer Watkins.
Sincerely,
John Somsen