Rep. Owens introduces legislation to rename Santaquin post office after fallen officer
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- Sgt. Bill Hooser of the Santaquin Police Department was killed by a semitruck driver on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
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- Rep. Burgess Owens talks about first responders being a part of what makes the United States the greatest country during a dinner to honor firefighters and police officers of northern Utah County, hosted by the Timpanogos Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, at the Historic Courthouse in Provo.
Courtesy Santaquin Police Department
Sgt. Bill Hooser of the Santaquin Police Department was killed by a semitruck driver on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
Rep. Burgess Owens has introduced a bill in the U.S. House to rename the U.S. Postal Office in Santaquin after Sgt. Bill Hooser, who was killed in the line of duty last month.
The federal legislation was introduced last Wednesday and would change the official name of the office to the “SGT Bill Hooser Post Office Building.”
“Sgt. Bill Hooser served Utah with courage and dedication, making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” Owens, R-Utah, said in a press release. “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.”
Hooser was killed May 5 while responding to a traffic stop on Interstate 15 alongside a Utah Highway Patrol trooper and is survived by his wife, two daughters and one granddaughter.
The man accused of killing Hooser, Michael Aaron Jayne, has officially been charged with nine felonies, including aggravated murder, a capital felony that carries the possibility of the death penalty.
Kelcie Hartley, Daily Herald file photo
Rep. Burgess Owens talks about first responders being a part of what makes the United States the greatest country during a dinner to honor firefighters and police officers of northern Utah County, hosted by the Timpanogos Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, at the Historic Courthouse in Provo.
Court documents also allege that Jayne was on meth and holding a woman hostage in the truck at the time of the traffic stop, KSL reported.
The remainder of Utah’s House delegation — Rep. John Curtis, Rep. Blake Moore and Rep. Celeste Maloy — all joined the legislation as co-sponsors.
“I am deeply honored to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of Sgt. Hooser by renaming this post office in his memory,” Curtis said in a statement. “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.”
In a press release, Santaquin Mayor Daniel Olsen said it is an honor to recognize Hooser’s service through renaming the postal office.
“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,” Olsen said of Hooser. “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.”
