KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A funeral procession and services for fallen Kalamazoo County Sargeant Ryan Proxmire were held Sunday. It took place at Miller Auditorium on the campus of Western Michigan University.
The deputy, who was posthumously promoted to Sgt., died from injuries on Sunday, August 15, sustained during a police pursuit involving gunfire near Galesburg the evening before. Thousands were in attendance, including hundreds of law enforcement personnel from across the state, who paid their respects to Sgt. Proxmire and his family.
A purple heart and a medal of valor were awarded to Sgt. Proxmire by Sheriff Richard Fuller.
Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller
“It’s the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s office’s highest award. The medal of valor shall be awarded when a member performs a voluntary above and beyond the call of duty during the saving of a life or the prevention of a serious crime.”
On behalf of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and other Michigan legislators, Mark Totten, the Chief Legal Counsel for the Governor’s office, said a flag currently flying at the State Capitol in Lansing will be given to Proxmire’s family.
Members of Ryan Proxmire’s family, including his father, wife, and son, also shared several memories mixed with strong emotions, but often some light humor too. His wife Roanna, thanked the assembled officers, numbering in the thousands for their service and the community for the support they have shown.
Proxmire’s father, wife, and son
“I’ve seen an enormous community pull together, and it’s overwhelming, breathtaking, and humbling. And I can’t thank you enough and all the people on the sidelines today. I thank you too.”
Mark Proxmire, Ryan’s father, asked all officers in attendance to stand and say his name in unison as a symbol that his name should never be forgotten.
As is tradition, Sgt. Proxmire’s final call was given through Kalamazoo Central Dispatch toward the end of the service. He was 39-years-old.
Before the memorial service was held, a procession representing hundreds of police, fire, and EMT officials, among others, took place. With lights flashing, hundreds from around the Kalamazoo community lined the streets to watch and pay respects to Sgt. Proxmire. It moved from the campus of Kalamazoo Valley Community College to Stadium Dr. and ended at Miller Auditorium, ahead of the memorial service.
Sgt. Proxmire’s procession
You can video of the procession by CLICKING HERE
An online fundraising campaign has been set up for the Proxmire family by the Collin Rose Foundation. Their goal was to raise $4607…that was his badge number. Donors quickly raised more than ten times that amount soon after it went public. Collin Rose was a Richland native and a police officer who was shot and killed near Detroit in 2016.
You can make a donation to the fundraiser by CLICKING HERE
Sgt. Proxmire was the third first-responder to be killed in the line of duty in Kalamazoo County in the last decade. KDPS officer Eric Zapata was shot and killed in 2011 and Comstock Fire Chief Ed Switalski was struck and killed by a driver on I-94 in 2017. The only other member of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s office to be killed in the line of duty was Sheriff Benjiman Orcutt, who was shot and killed responding to a jailbreak back in 1867. Orcutt was a veteran of the Civil War.
You can watch the memorial service in its entirety, provided by our television partners at WOOD-TV at the link below:
