Kalamazoo County Board approves $20,000 in funding for Deputy Ryan Proxmire’s funeral

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo County Board has agreed to contribute up to $20,000 dollars to fund the funeral for Deputy Ryan Proxmire. The 9-year veteran of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s office died in the line of duty last weekend during a police pursuit involving gunfire last weekend.

Board Chair Tracy Hall says the family should not have to worry about those expenses.

“It’s the first time since the mid to late 1800s that we lost someone in the [Kalamazoo County] Sheriff’s department. Deputy Proxmire was killed in the line of duty protecting us.”

Funerals like the one for Deputy Proxmire are usually attended by police representatives from communities across the state and the country. This funeral is expected to have a lot of additional expenses.

“Anywhere from 3,000 individuals from all across the United States will be here. I’m hoping that there is a will on this board that we take care of this funeral, considering [Deputy Proxmire] was murdered working and protecting us.”

A permanent revision of the labor contract with Deputies will provide the funds. The board expedited approval of the funding unanimously last night.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00 Sunday afternoon at Miller Auditorium on the campus of Western Michigan University. For more information on the funeral service and to give condolences on Deputy Ryan Proxmire’s obituary CLICK HERE.