Kankakee Times

Bradley Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic died on December 29, 2021 after responding to a report of unattended dogs barking in a Comfort Inn parking lot; when she and her partner went to the hotel room where the owners were, she and her partner were attacked and Rittmanic was shot. In a Sept. 2 Facebook post, Rep. Jackie Haas celebrated the naming of the 315 overpass on U.S. Route 57 as the “Sergeant Marlene R. Rittmanic Memorial Highway.” on Sep 2nd.

"Heroes like Sergeant Rittmanic remind us that when police officers put on their badges, they commit to serve up to the cost of their lives," Haas said. "Yet the dangers they face do not deter them from their service, demonstrating courage only few of us can imagine. This overpass will serve as a legacy for a true Illinois hero who gave her life to protect others and a wonderful person whose life was taken far too soon. It was a true honor to bring HJR 15 to the House floor and to help keep Sgt. Rittmanic remembered always."

House Joint Resolution 115 designated the 315 overpass on Route 57 as the “Sergeant Marlene R. Rittmanic Memorial Highway. It was adopted by both houses on May 19, after Rep. Jackie Haas filed it with the clerk on Feb. 14, 2023. It moved to the Senate on April 19, 2023.

In her Facebook post, Haas shared a link from another page called “the Marlene Rittmanic Memorial Outing,” which celebrated the dedication ceremony. The post read: “A beautiful dedication ceremony for Sgt. Marlene R Rittmanic. The overpass at the 315 on I-57 will be named in honor of Marlene. A huge THANK YOU to State Representative Jackie Haas for offering and getting Joint House Resolution No. 15 passed! Great work #marlenerittmanic #neverforget514”

In a Jan. 4, 2022 report on developments following the sergeant’s death, NBC reported that Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe asked federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against the two individuals responsible for Rittmanic’s death. Darius Sullivan (then 25) and Xandria Harris (then 26) were charged with first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. Rowe said Sullivan had left the hotel room with a 9 mm handgun, then shot Officer Tyler Bailey in the head before shooting Rittmanic as she tried to run away.

Sullivan has not gone to trial in Rittmanic’s death according to the Daily Journal. State’s Attorney Jim Rowe broached the subject in an Aug. 15 hearing connected to the case.

Marlene Rittmanic was a veteran of the Gulf War and a 14-year officer with the Bradley Police Department. She also had seven years of experience with the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

Rittmanic was laid to rest on Jan. 7, 2022, with a law enforcement procession following the funeral at Olivet Nazarene University’s Hawkins Centennial Chapel. She was laid to rest in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elmwood.