March 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 3

AROUND THE COUNTRY MOODY

AROUND THE COUNTRY MOODY COUNTY, SD. Chief Deputy Sheriff Ken Prorok was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle being pursued by the Madison Police Department. Chief Deputy Ken Prorok, 51, ment officer delivers a blow to of Wentworth was killed Feb. 2 that department, Howe said. when he was struck by a suspect’s “As an agency head, such as a vehicle while placing sheriff or chief, we never want spike strips during a high-speed to be in that position of losing a pursuit. He was killed when a deputy in a felonious manner or suspect’s car allegedly struck even an accident. It leaves a hole him during a high-speed pursuit that you can’t fill by simply hiring down Highway 34. a replacement,” he said. Joseph Gene Hoek, 40, has “We aren’t just faceless people been indicted on charges of wearing uniforms. These are first-degree murder and aggravated people we know and appreciate eluding. He could face as individuals, and hiring a new the death penalty and remains deputy to replace the old is hard incarcerated without bond. enough when one moves on to A witness who saw the oncoming another job. But when the deputy CHIEF DEPUTY KEN PROROK pursuit alleges that was killed, you just don’t move Hoek swerved intentionally to on from that easily.” hit Prorok as he was setting up The Clay County Sheriff’s ed effort to run down the chief the spikes. Office, along with other departments deputy. Clay County Sheriff Andy from across the nation, “Joseph Hoek took the life of Howe and a deputy attended the wanted to show their support for a good man by his deliberate funeral and participated in the the Prorok family, Howe said. actions,” Maggs said. “Hoek will vehicle procession. “Working in small agencies be convicted of Prorok’s murder, “I know each officer feels the means we know the deputies’ and once he is, I hope he gets the POWERFUL AND EFFCTIVE, GENUINE PEPPERBALL impact of a line of duty death, families, parents, kids, and death penalty.” especially when it’s from another small agency doing the same these deaths even more diffiment officers from across the AVAILABLE IN A REVOLUTIONARY GLASSBREAKING spouses,” he said. “That makes In the meantime, law enforce- PAVA OR INERT PAYLOAD. RELOADABLE. NOW job as we do,” the sheriff said. cult, and we really want to show nation attended Prorok’s funeral. They were joined by family, “It hits very close to home when those families support when this MODEL - THE BLAST-GB it happens doing something that happens, so officers come from friends and those who wanted to so many of us have done as well all over to do that.” show their support. Attendance and we see how easily it could Bon Homme County Sheriff was so large, the funeral was happen in our own agency.” Mark Maggs expressed anger moved to the Dakota State University The loss of any law enforce- at what he sees as a calculat- field house in Madison. CHECK OUT THE BLAST HERE! 30 The Blues - March ‘24 www.pepperball.com The Blues - March ‘24 31 THE PEPPERBALL ® NON-LETHAL BLAST CLOSE RANGE SOLUTION.