SANTAQUIN, Utah — A Santaquin Sergeant who died after allegedly being hit by a semi-truck driver on the highway has been publicly identified.
Family, friends and the community are mourning the loss of Sgt. Billy Dean Hooser, 50, who was killed in the line of duty early Sunday morning.
Friends, fellow officers below share memories, new details on death of Sgt. Hooser:
A GoFundMe fundraiser said Hooser is survived by his wife, two daughters, son-in-laws and his new granddaughter.
"Just on a personal note, I know everybody says this when an officer gets killed but Sgt. Hooser was one of those guys that was really squared away," said Chief Rod Hurst with the Santaquin Police Department.
Chief Hurst remembered Hooser as someone who even had the flat-top haircut to go with his position as a police officer, which he took very seriously.
"[He was a] top-notch officer and it will be hard to replace him," Hurst reflected.
Video below shows fellow officers honoring Sgt. Hooser following morning procession:
Tributes on the fundraiser remembered Hooser as someone who made a "positive difference for good in the world."
Hooser's brother, Michael, spoke during a press conference Monday, where he said through tears that their family was devastated by the loss.
"Nothing could ever make up for the loss we feel, we take comfort in knowing Bill died a hero, doing the job he loved," Michael said. "Serving people he loved."
Michael said his brother started his law enforcement career late in life and began as a volunteer, serving his community and doing what he loved.
Michael and other officials additionally thanked the community for their outpouring of support.
"As I drove down the road, I was truly humbled by the state of Utah," Michael explained. "[I] drove in from Wyoming and felt the love and support the entire way."
As of Monday morning, more than $58,000 had been raised to support the family.
Gov. Spencer Cox ordered flags of the United States of America and the state of Utah to be flown at half-staff in recognition of Hooser's passing.
First responders across the state escorted Hooser's body from the scene of the incident to the state medical examiner's office on Sunday. On Monday, another procession escorted Hooser back home to Santaquin.
Close family, friends and officers then escorted Hooser's body into a Santaquin funeral home as a bagpiper played outside.
UHP Col. Michael Rapich said Monday afternoon that, thankfully, the trooper who responded to the initial call was not injured.
“At the same time, we are devastated and our hearts are broken because of the loss of an incredible hero who responded to the incident to help our trooper in this challenging situation," Rapich added. "We acknowledge that as devastating and emotionally impactful and hard as this is for our law enforcement community, we know that it is equally devastating and hard for the communities which our officers serve, and specifically the community of Santaquin."
Hooser was a Utah native and joined the Santaquin City Police Department in 2017. He was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant in 2024.
Before moving to Utah, he began his law enforcement career with the San Juan County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico.
Hooser served in a law enforcement capacity for eight years.
The Employee of the Month spotlight also highlighted Hooser's work supervising the internship program for high school students with the "Santaquin Academy."
After being hit, the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Michael Aaron Jayne, fled the scene and was taken into custody over 100 miles away, near Vernal.
An investigation into the tragic incident is ongoing.
