(3-7-23) Garrett High School’s boys basketball team in 1990-91 broke a long losing streak that had started in 1972…thanks to a last second shot by Senior guard James Bailey.

This past weekend, during winter weather conditions Bailey was killed while serving in the line of duty for the Indiana State Patrol. Bailey was by a man driving at a high rate of speed who was evading a police officer at the time. The suspect driver involved in this incident, Terry Dewaine Sands II, 42, of Marion, IN, was taken into custody and has been incarcerated in the DeKalb County Jail on a preliminary charge of Resisting Law Enforcement Causing Death to Law Enforcement Officer, a Level 2 Felony…after the crash he told officers that he had smoked marijuana within an hour of the crash and that he was on his way to buy more marijuana in Michigan.

The tragic loss of Trooper Bailey was an unnecessary incident and shows the danger that many police officers face on a daily basis.

Trooper Bailey is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

An account to benefit the family of Master Trooper James R. Bailey has been established at ProFed Credit Union under the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation.

ProFed Credit Union has (6) Ft. Wayne locations as well as branches in Auburn, New Haven, Columbia City, Decatur, Bluffton, Kendallville and Angola.

Tellers at these locations will be made aware of the account for Trooper Bailey under the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation.

Direct cash or check contributions can be made at the credit union, by Venmo ( @Indiana-Fallen-Heroes )  or credit card on the Indiana Fallen Heroes website, https://indianafallen.org/fallen-heroes            

*If donating by check, please make the check payable to the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation, and in the notes section- please reference Trooper James Bailey.

Checks can also be mailed to 1710 S. 10th Street, Noblesville, IN 46060. 

1991 Garrett yearbook —

1990-91 Garrett Railroaders Basketball Team

JAMES BAILEY OBITUARY

AUBURN – Master Trooper James R. Bailey, 50, of Auburn, Indiana, died on Friday, March 3, 2023.

James was born on Nov. 10, 1972, in Auburn.

James was a 1991 graduate of Garrett High School. He was a nearly 16-year veteran of the Indiana State Police and received the Life Saving Award in 2010, was named Trooper of the Year for District 22 in 2012, and he also earned the combat “Action Award” in 2021.

James was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Indiana Wayne Lodge 14 and the Indiana State Police Alliance.

He is survived by his wife, Amy Bailey, of Auburn; son, Joseph Bailey, of Auburn; daughter, Sophia Bailey, of Auburn; father, Bill Bailey, of Garrett; sister and brother-in-law, Theresa and Kevin McBride, of Kendallville; brother and sister-in-law, Bill Jr. and Tiffany Bailey of Auburn; father-in-law and mother-in-law, David and Karen Garn, of Auburn; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carrie and Jarrod Bennett, of Auburn; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jenny and Scott Rose, of Auburn; and brother-in-law, Andrew Garn, of Auburn.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Wanda F. Bailey.

Visitation for Master Trooper Bailey will be held on Friday, March 10, 2023, from 2-8 p.m., at County Line Church of God, 7716 N. County Line Road, E., Auburn, Indiana.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Garrett High School Gymnasium, 801 E. Houston St., Garrett, Indiana.

Burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Garrett.

Memorial donations may be made to DeKalb Humane Society or Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana.

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