Sergeant Tyler Bailey of the Bradley Police Department had an amazing childhood growing up on two acres in the Illinois countryside, with his five siblings. He thoroughly enjoyed fishing, hunting, and being outdoors. Bailey was an avid athlete, playing and excelling at two varsity sports: soccer and basketball. While he loved sports, he knew he wasn’t headed towards the path of being a college athlete or beyond. His entire childhood, Bailey was a police officer for Halloween every single year, so his interest was piqued there.
When the time to graduate high school came, Bailey knew he would be going on to college, and he chose the path of Criminal Justice. Since childhood, he wanted to be a police officer every chance he could, so he knew that the blue line was his calling.
Bailey attended the police academy in 2017 where he earned a part time job working as an officer in Momence, Illinois. He later knew that this career choice was his passion. He re-enrolled in the police academy and was hired by Bradley Police Department in 2018.
After moving to the Bradley Police Department in 2018 Bailey got engaged to his now wife, Sydney, in 2020, and then married on October 23, 2021. After 8 weeks of marriage, tragedy struck Bailey while on duty.
On December 29, 2021 Bailey and his partner Marlene Rittmanic responded to a noise disturbance at a hotel, where they were met with gunfire. Bailey suffered a traumatic brain injury while his partner later succumbed to her injuries. After this incident, Bailey was placed in a medically induced coma, where he remained for 2.5 weeks. He went through a craniectomy and other life saving surgeries during this period of time.
Once released from the ICU, he was transferred to Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago, where he was placed on the Traumatic Brain Injury floor. He worked tirelessly every day to get his life back. Through determination and the ultimate drive, Bailey crushed goal after goal. He started to get his voice back, he started to see increased mobility, and he started to fight for his livelihood more and more.
After 1 year of intensive inpatient care and rehabilitation, Bailey made his way home with his loving wife and best furry friend, Tucker.
Bailey was medically retired as a police officer on May 20, 2023.
Although Bailey is now wheelchair bound, his determination and grit has never ceased. He continues to live the motto “I was fighting for my life, now I fight for my life back.” Bailey avidly enjoys working out, fishing, reading, playing with his now two dogs, and spending time with family and friends. He continues to make strides with his mobility and crushes milestones monthly.
Bradley Police Sergeant Tyler Bailey vows to always move forward with a positive and grateful attitude and reminds us to always take in the time we have, because you never know how short of time it may be.
He would like to leave you with some words from his partner:
The color we bleed is that of deep blue,
the blood that is shed
is without asking for who.
No time to be afraid, no time to cry,
no choice in what we do,
where we go or when we die.
The color we bleed is that of deep blue.
All too often one will pay the
ultimate price,
Those who wear the uniform
accept this sacrifice.
Beyond the call of duty one day might
be mine, no regrets, sorrow or fear as
I walk the Blue Line.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has provided Bradley Police Sergeant Tyler Bailey with a mortgage-free smart home through the Smart Home Program.