East Central Reporter

Republican state Rep. Chris Miller and Kankakee Mayor Chris Curtis have joined the growing list of Illinois lawmakers extending condolences to the families of two recently killed police officers.

“We are praying for Sheriff Deputy Sean Riley’s family. May he rest in peace,” Miller posted on Facebook. “Crime in Illinois is out of control, from Chicago, the suburbs, to rural areas. Thank you to our men and women in Blue who continue to serve our communities despite the escalating violence.”

Only minutes after making his initial post, Miller again took to social media to post “another officer shot and killed. RIP Officer Marlene Rittmanic.”

Over the New Year’s Day holiday weekend, police in Indiana took two suspects into custody in connection with the Rittmanic shooting, which also left her partner, 27-year-old Tyler Bailey, critically wounded, ABC7 reported.

Darius Sullivan and Xandria Harris had been on the run since a Dec. 29 shooting at a Comfort Inn. Indiana State Police said Sullivan was taken in to custody by U.S. Marshals and a SWAT team near Fort Wayne. Authorities were offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

Harris, who is believed to have been in the room with Sullivan at the time of the shooting, turned herself in to Bradley police Friday afternoon.

Rittmanic, 49, first became an officer in 2000 with the Iroquois County Sheriff's Department. She had been with the Bradley Police Department for 14 years, and her niece said she was just five years away from retirement. She leaves behind her wife, Lynette Stua, according to ABC7.

Riley was also killed in the line of duty when early Wednesday when responding to a motorist assist call on Interstate 64 around 5 a.m. Wednesday. Police have since charged 40-year-old Ray Tate, who is also accused of taking the officer’s s vehicle which was later found abandoned on the interstate, 14News reported.

Tate is also suspected of shooting another man in an earlier incident where his vehicle was also stolen.

“Our hearts are heavy and filled with sorrow for our neighboring City and their police department,” Curtis wrote. “On behalf of the City of Kankakee, we offer our prayers to the family, friends and coworkers of the fallen Bradley police officer. We also provide continuous prayer for the recovery of the other Bradley officer. In this difficult time for our region, we ask God to provide healing and comfort needed for our communities, all the law enforcement brothers and sisters and the first responders at this difficult time.”

Rittmanic and Riley’s killing bring to nine the number of officers killed in the line of duty in Illinois in 2021.