SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — Nearly one year after Sgt. Bill Hooser was killed in the line of duty, his name was among the 150 fallen officers honored Thursday at the annual Utah Police Memorial service held at the Utah State Capitol.
Sgt. Hooser, who served with the Santaquin Police Department, was remembered not only for his service but also for the deep impact he left on his family and community. His widow, Kinda Hooser, addressed the crowd gathered for the ceremony, speaking candidly about the grief and strength that have defined the past year.
“Our youngest daughter got married, and now we’re expecting our first grandson,” she said. “We went through all of the firsts, which seemed to break us all over again.”
The couple shared 29 years of marriage, raising a family and building a life centered on simple joys and togetherness. Kinda Hooser described long summer evenings spent on their back patio, barbecuing and playing cornhole—a favorite family pastime where competition between Sgt. Hooser and his sons could last for hours.
“Looking back, I would give everything I have just to experience that type of happiness again,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion.
The memorial service brought together law enforcement officers, families of the fallen, and state officials to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. For the Hooser family, it marked another difficult but meaningful milestone on a journey of remembrance and healing.
Sgt. Hooser’s name has now been added to a growing list of Utah officers honored for their courage and commitment—men and women whose legacy lives on through the loved ones they leave behind.