In the late summer of 2021, the community of Climax, Michigan, was shaken by the tragic death of 39-year-old Ryan Joseph Proxmire, a dedicated male deputy with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office. His death on August 15, 2021, stemmed from a gunshot wound he sustained the previous night while in pursuit of a suspect.
The incident began when deputies identified a man at a gas station in Galesburg who was believed to have been involved in an earlier police chase.
As they approached, the man brandished a handgun and fled in his vehicle, initiating a second pursuit. During this high-speed chase, the suspect began firing at the pursuing officers. One of these rounds struck Deputy Proxmire, causing his patrol car to veer off the road near the intersection of MN Avenue and 38th Street in Charleston Township. Unaware that Proxmire had been hit, other deputies continued the chase.
The pursuit ended approximately 4.5 miles later when the suspect's vehicle became stuck in a field. The man exited his car and once again opened fire on the deputies. The officers returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect. It was a passing motorist who discovered Deputy Proxmire in his disabled vehicle and alerted authorities. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Ryan Proxmire had served with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office for nine years. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He is survived by his wife and four children. The man who shot him was killed at the scene by other deputies, and therefore no arrests were made in connection with Deputy Proxmire's death.
