WASHINGTON — Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) introduced legislation to rename the Santaquin Post Office in honor of Sergeant Bill Dean Hooser of the Santaquin City Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty on May 5, 2024. 

“Sgt. Bill Hooser served Utah with courage and dedication, making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” said Rep. Owens. “Renaming the Santaquin Post Office in his honor is a fitting tribute to Sgt. Hooser’s legacy—one that truly embodied our state’s spirit of service and will ensure his contributions to our community become an indelible part of Utah’s story. May God continue to comfort the Hooser family in their time of grief and watch over all who answer the call to serve.”

“I am deeply honored to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of Sgt. Hooser by renaming this post office in his memory,” said Rep. John Curtis. “This act serves as a lasting tribute to his dedication to the Santaquin community and to all of Utah’s law enforcement officers who risk their lives daily to protect our communities. May this serve as a constant reminder of his service and sacrifice.”

“Utahns across the state grieved the loss of Sgt. Bill Hooser, who lost his life in the line of duty while serving his community,” said Rep. Blake Moore. “This bill will provide a way for Utahns in Santaquin to remember Sgt. Hooser and his family, along with law enforcement families across the nation who are forever changed by senseless tragedies like this. I join my fellow members of the Utah congressional delegation in honoring and remembering Sgt. Hooser with this legislation and in our continued work to support the men and women in blue.”

“I’m honored to join my colleagues in the Utah delegation to rename the Santaquin post office the ‘Sgt. Bill Dean Hooser Post Office Building’ in his honor,” said Rep. Maloy. “May it ever remind us of Sgt. Hooser and serve as a symbol of our support for law enforcement.”

“Through the years that Sgt Bill Hooser served the citizens of Santaquin I have come to know him and call him friend,” said Santaquin Mayor Daniel Olson. “He faithfully served the city, the citizens of Santaquin and neighboring communities and has always been a model of faithfully executing the duties of his office. He was a friend to all and a mentor to those who served alongside him. His ability to reach out and teach was a gift we will always remember. I feel it an honor to recognize the Renaming of Santaquin Post Office to honor Sgt. Bill Hooser. This renaming will leave the Santaquin residents for generations to come with a reminder of Sgt. Bill Hooser’s service to family and community.”

Background:

The legislation would rename the Santaquin Post Office as the Sergeant Bill Dean Hooser Post Office Building. 

Sgt. Hooser entered law enforcement with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico and joined the Santaquin City Police Department in 2017. Bill was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant in February. On May 5, 2024, Sgt. Hooser was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer whose operator was fleeing a traffic stop on Interstate 15 near mile marker 244 in Santaquin. He is survived by his spouse of 29 years, two daughters, and one granddaughter. His passing is the first line-of-duty death in Utah since 2020. 

Owens is joined by original co-sponsors, Representatives John Curtis (UT-03), Blake Moore (UT-01), and Celeste Maloy (UT-01).

Full legislative text is available here. 

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