WHEN RYAN MARTIN had his bike stolen, Officer Tyler McGuire, with the Cleveland Police Department, gave the boy a measure of justice by buying Ryan another bike with money out of his own pocket.
“I just felt it was the right thing to do,” said Tyler McGuire, an officer with the Cleveland Police Department.
Ryan Martin lost his bike to a thief a couple of weeks ago.
McGuire, who has worked at CPD for about two years, took it upon himself to replace the Schwinn bicycle with a new one.
According to Ryan’s mother Linda Martin, it was a “hectic” day.
Ryan had ridden his bike earlier in the day and left it parked outside their home just off Henderson Avenue.
Ryan always took good care of his bike and cleaned it up after riding.
Linda said he followed this routine daily. The family typically stored the bicycle inside. Ryan had his dinner and took his bath in preparation for going to bed. He reminded his mother to bring his bike in.
Linda was working and told Ryan she would take care of it.
“I finished my work and watched television until 2 a.m., then went to bed,” said Linda.
Ryan went through his morning ritual and was off to school.
Linda saw that Ryan’s bike wasn’t in his room and realized she had forgotten to bring it inside the night before.
“I looked in Ryan’s room and mine,” she said.
“I went to each room looking. I knew then that it was gone and we wouldn’t get it back,” Linda said.
Linda called the police and McGuire responded to file a report about the missing bicycle.
According to Linda, he said “one thing he couldn’t tolerate was someone stealing an 8-year-old boy’s bicycle.”
McGuire took the report for Linda and told her he would return later.
Ryan found out his bike had been stolen and was heartbroken, but told his mother maybe Santa Claus would bring him one this Christmas — and if not this year, maybe next year.
McGuire had a different thought in mind.
He delivered a brand new bicycle to Ryan soon after the incident.
“I’m telling you I cried and thanked him and told him how appreciative I was. He had paid out of his own pocket for a new bike and brought it to us,” Linda said.
“Ryan’s eyes lit up like bright stars when he saw his new bike,” she added.
“Police rarely get praise for what they do. This was a special gift from a special officer and we can’t thank him enough for what he did,” Linda said.
