Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic was killed in action on Dec. 29. | Canva
Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic was killed in action on Dec. 29. | Canva
This week, Rep. Jackie Haas delivered a tribute to slain police officer Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic.
Rittmanic was killed responding to a call on Dec. 29. The community has mourned her death in the aftermath.
“Last week, the Bradley Police Department lost a highly valued member of their force," Haas wrote in a statement posted to Facebook. "Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic was shot and killed while responding to a call. She has served as a police officer for 21 years and was promoted to Sergeant in 2014. In 2020, she was recognized as the law enforcement officer of the year for her outstanding service.
"Sergeant Rittmanic was known for being able to meet her community members where they were at and work with them to create long-lasting, effective solutions," she continued. "Outside her job as a police officer, she was a published poet, an amateur photographer, a film producer, and an avid dog rescuer. She is survived by her wife, her father, her five sisters, a brother, and many nieces and nephews. I am proud to have had such a dedicated law enforcement officer and an incredible person serve the 79th district. My prayers are with her family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones. May Sgt. Rittmanic rest peacefully.”
Rittmanic was killed and her partner was wounded while responding to a call at the Comfort Inn in Kankakee, according to ABC. The officers were attempting to talk to the owners of a vehicle that had been left unattended in the parking lot with barking dogs inside of it. The officers were shot.
Rittmanic had served with the Bradley Police Department for 14 years. Her partner, Tyler Bailey, was shot in the head, the station reported.
According to NBC, Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe has asked federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against the people accused of murdering Rittmanic and wounding Bailey. Darius Sullivan, age 25, and Xandria Harris, age 26, are both facing charges for first degree murder of a police officer and attempted first degree murder of a police officer.
An anonymous message described Rittmanic’s death as her being “executed.” The source said that she was initially shot in the shoulder before Sullivan chased her down, took her duty gun, stuck it under her chin, and killed her.
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