Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 20 years, 3 months, 22 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 1st District - Central
District of Incident (Present Day): 003 - Grand Crossing
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 62
Timeline
Date of Birth: 14 Aug 1947
Date of Appointment: 26 Mar 1990
Date of Incident: 18 Jul 2010
End of Watch: 18 Jul 2010
Date of Interment:
Interment Details
Cemetery: Evergreen Cemetery - Evergreen Park, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Cremated
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-9
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 10
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 5, Line 15
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 4-E: 27
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: U.S. Air Force
Incident & Biographic Details
Police Officer Michael Ray Bailey, Sr., Star #13970, aged 62 years, was a 20 year, 3 month, 22 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 1st District – Central.
On July 18, 2010, at 6:00 a.m., Officer Bailey had just returned home from his shift on a mayoral protection detail guarding Mayor Richard Daley’s South Loop residence, and was still in uniform. He had just arrived home and was outside his Park Manor neighborhood home located at 7421 South Evans Avenue. While cleaning his new Buick Regal, an early retirement gift he had purchased, as many as three male subjects approached and attempted to rob him of his vehicle. He identified himself as a police officer and exchanged gunfire with the suspects. It is unknown whether any of the offenders were wounded. They fled the scene and remain and made good their escape. Officer Bailey was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital by CFD Ambulance #24 where he was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr. Levine at 6:40 a.m. on July 18, 2010. Three guns, including the murder weapon, were recovered at the scene.
On July 6, 2011, Antwon Carter, age 32, was arrested and charged with Murder – First Degree for the murder of Officer Bailey. His 2011 arrest was made based on statements he made to his friends and fellow prison inmates in which he bragged about the murder of Officer Bailey. In May 2019, Carter stood trial and after a two week trial jurors deliberated for only two hours before retuning with a verdict. On May 23, 2019, Antwon Carter was found guilty during a jury trial. On December 19, 2019, Antwon Carter was sentenced to life in prison by Judge Stanley Sacks. He was also sentenced to 35 years for an unrelated carjacking.
Officer Bailey was waked at A.R. Leak and Sons Funeral Home located at 7838 South Cottage Grove Avenue. His funeral mass was held on July 23, 2010 at St. Sabina Catholic Church located at 1210 West 78th Place, was cremated, and entombed in Evergreen Cemetery, 3401 West 87th Street, Evergreen Park, Illinois.
Police Officer Michael Ray Bailey, Sr., born August 14, 1947, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on March 26, 1990 and was in Recruit Class 90-1E at the Jackson Street Police Academy. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the 1st District for his entire career. Officer Bailey was one month from retiring, and planned to retire on August 14, 2010 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 63. He had also previously served as a fireman with the Glenview Fire Department.
Officer Bailey served in the U.S. Air Force and was Honorably Discharged. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. Officer Bailey was survived by his wife, Pamela L. (nee Mahoon); children: Danielle N. Drayton, age 36, Jada Murry (CPD), age 23 and Michael Ray, Jr., age 27; brother; sister and 14 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #HS416643.
On April 26, 2011, Officer Bailey’s star was retired by Interim Superintendent Terry G. Hillard and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.