LISTEN: Police give update on Santaquin police officer death
May 6, 2024, 10:36 AM | Updated: 3:34 pm
Officer Jeffrey Cox of the South Jordan Police Department salutes as a procession with the body of a fallen Santaquin police officer drives by at an overpass at 10600 South in Sandy on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Megan Nielsen, Deseret News)
(Megan Nielsen, Deseret News)
Here’s 👇 the podcast of a live interview from Utah law enforcement
SALT LAKE CITY — After a long procession brought the body of a Santaquin Police Department officer back home on Monday morning, his family as well as his colleagues in law enforcement identified the officer.
It was 50-year-old St. Billy Dean Hooser, of Santaquin, who died after he was deliberately hit by a semi-truck that had, earlier, been pulled over.
Hooser is being remembered as a straight down-the-line officer who joined law enforcement later in life.
His younger brother, Mike Hooser, was among those who spoke at a news conference.
“We take comfort in the outpouring of support we have received from agencies and offices all over the state,” Hooser said. “Although nothing could make up for the loss we feel, we take solace knowing that Bill died a hero.”
No information is available yet as to a memorial service.
Police say the suspected driver of the truck, 42-year-old Mike Jayne, was captured after allegedy stealing several other vehicles.
