Wayne BirdCLEVELAND, Tenn. – Chief Deputy Wayne Bird of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office “has been stricken suddenly with a critical illness” and will immediately take leave of his position, Sheriff Jim Ruth announced Friday.
“Chief Bird has been invaluable to me personally and to our agency’s organizing a well-trained, well-led, well-developed sheriff’s office to fight and prevent crime,” said Ruth.
The exact nature of Bird’s illness could not be confirmed.
Bird, a Florida law enforcement veteran, has served as chief deputy since 2010. Last year, he took the helm of the department for several weeks in May and June while Ruth recovered from a brain-stem stroke he suffered May 30 in Nashville.
Ruth described Bird as “a deeply spiritual man who, throughout his long distinguished career as a professional lawman, has his testimony as a faithful husband, father and grandfather.”