Community unites in support as Sgt. Bill Hooser's family prepares for funeral

SANTAQUIN, Utah (KUTV) — The family of Sgt. Bill Hooser will host a public viewing on Sunday and the funeral arrangements on Monday.

The sergeant was killed in the line of duty on May 5.

As the family prepares for their final goodbye, community members, businesses, and first responders are showing up for Sgt. Hooser and his family.

“He’s a great individual, very humble, and very soft-spoken," said Jorge Garcia, area director of Super Chix, a local business.

MORE: Community involvement opportunities, road closures announced for Sgt. Bill Hooser funeral

That’s how Garica remembers Sgt. Hooser. It’s the way many remember him, and as the day to put Sgt. Hooser to rest approaches, the community is showing what it means to come together in difficult times.

“We are very integrated with the community. We love our police officers and firemen," Garcia said.

To show their love and support, several businesses are fundraising for the Hooser family, like Super Chix.

“The community takes care of us. So, we just want to take care of the community as well," Garcia said.

And the first responders are doing the same thing.

MORE: Community prepares to honor fallen officer Sgt. Bill Hooser at funeral service

“We all feel like we've suffered a loss," said Sgt. Spencer Cannon, Utah County Sheriff's Office.

Sgt. Cannon talks about how several agencies are helping with financial preparations.

“The family wants to have a funeral that is not your normal, hold it in a small church kind of funeral. It's a very large operation, and it takes a lot of planning and a lot of resources to prepare for it and then carry it out," said Cannon.

Cannon says that it’s touching to see the community come together for the purpose of honoring the fallen officer.

“I think people really do feel a real sense of loss and violation toward one of our law enforcement officers, with the tragic ending that we had in this case," he said.

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