SANTAQUIN, Utah — Nearly 100 people gathered for a vigil Wednesday night in honor of Sgt. Bill Hooser, a fallen officer who was hit and killed by a semi-truck.
Hooser was assisting a Utah Highway Patrol trooper on a traffic stop early Sunday morning on I-15 when the truck drove off, then turned around and ran him over. The suspect, 41-year-old Michael Aaron Jayne, was arrested later that day.
The vigil, organized by the Utah County Fraternal Order of Police, was hosted at Centennial Park in Santaquin. A short program included speakers and musical numbers and the community participated in a candle lighting during the emotional night.
To honor Hooser's call letters, the vigil also included a four-minute moment of silence.
Attendees signed posters with Hooser's photo, filling them with memories and messages of support for the family.
Nearly a hundred people were in attendance, including closest family and friends of Hooser.
Santaquin Police Officer Hayden spoke to FOX 13 News during the gathering, remembering Hooser as someone who "always had the right answer."
"Feeling the love that the community has for us, I think has been a strength to our entire department for sure," Hayden said. "Just knowing that, people do care and they're here on our side to help us through this."
Another Santaquin Officer reflected on his seven years of working side-by-side with Hooser, saying he "learned a lot" from the fallen officer.
"Bill was always looking out for everybody else and trying to get us to strive to do the best thing and excel at everything we were doing and he was always a great example to all of us," the officer said.
Public funeral services for Hooser will be held Monday, May 13 at 10 a.m. at the UCCU Event Center at Utah Valley University in Orem.
