Santaquin Police Department asks community to help honor Sgt. Bill Hooser

SANTAQUIN, Utah (ABC4) — Monday, May 5, will mark the one-year anniversary of when Sgt. Bill Hooser was killed in the line of duty while serving on the Santaquin Police Department. To honor Hooser, the police department is asking the community to help wrap trees with blue ribbons this week.

“One thing I can say is that Sgt. Bill Hooser will never be forgotten,” Santaquin Police Officer Cody Tipler told ABC4 Monday afternoon. Tipler went to the academy with Sgt. Hooser in New Mexico, and would later be convinced to move to Utah to work with his old friend.  

“Sgt. Hooser meant a lot to me and my family,” Tipler stated. “He did a lot for me, getting me out here. I started a whole new career with Santaquin Police Department. He basically showed me a whole new area that I could introduce my family to; just to start a whole new life.” 

After Sgt. Hooser’s death last year, the community wrapped the tree linings on Main St. (and other prominent roads) in blue ribbons to honor him. The police department is now asking the community to show its support once again.

“Basically, what we want to do is line all of Main Street and Center Street with the ribbons before the morning of May 5,” the department said.

During business hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, people who want to help can pick up ribbons at the police department for free. The ribbons will be placed along the roads ahead of May 5 and will stay up throughout the following week as well for National Police Week. The department asks those who hang up ribbons to remove them after May 17.  

A year later, and the department is still healing.

“Each of us has our own struggles,” Tipler said. “As a department, we’re trying to stay together and be together throughout this journey.”

It’s a journey Tipler believes involves the entire community.

“Sgt Hooser left a legacy here at the Santaquin Police Department… I think people have seen that since the day he had fallen in the line of duty. I think we have a huge, strong community support already, and I don’t think that’s going to change,” he said.