Deputy Ryan Proxmire Dies After Traffic Stop Turns Deadly

On Saturday, August 14, 2021, Kalamazoo County Deputy Sheriff Ryan J. Proxmire was shot and killed. Proxmire was shot during a car chase and transferred to the hospital in extremely critical conditions. He died Sunday morning from his injuries.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department released the following statement: “It is with a heavy heart and deep regret that we announce Deputy Ryan Proxmire has succumb [sic] to his injuries,” the release stated. “Please keep Dep. Proxmire, his family and his law enforcement family in your thoughts as we begin to grieve this tragic loss.” Proxmire leaves behind his wife and four children.

Proxmire was pursuing the suspect in a car chase after the suspect pulled a gun on the police. The police initially pulled over the suspect for a minor traffic violation when the suspect pulled out his gun at a Shell gas station. The suspect fled in his vehicle while shooting at deputies. One of the shots caused Proxmire to veer off the road and crash his patrol car. A passing driver spotted his patrol car and called 911.

After Proxmire’s crash, the chase continued. The suspect lost control of his vehicle, drove into a field, and continued to shoot at officers. The deputies returned fire, shooting and killing the suspect at the scene.

Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer ordered all flags to be lowered to half staff for Proxmire’s funeral. She also said, “ We must honor his memory and life of public service through our words and our actions. There’s no doubt that Deputy Proxmire was a staple in Kalamazoo County, and his passing leaves a tremendous hole in the hearts of so many people who had the chance to know him personally.”

Ryan Proxmire was assigned to road patrol and previously worked in the jails, filling in for sergeant as needed. He also worked as a field training officer, teaching taser use, subject control and defensive tactics. He was a nine-year veteran of the force.

All available law enforcement agencies across Kalamazoo County are stepping in to respond to local emergencies. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s office is understaffed following Proxmire’s death, with several officers on paid leave following the shooting. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Vernon Coakley said, “We still have to protect this community. We still have to keep this community safe.”

 

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