Suicide of Joe Gliniewicz

Joe Gliniewicz was born in Libertyville, Illinois. He attended Marmion Military Academy and graduated from Antioch Community High School in Antioch in 1981 before enlisting in the United States Army.{{cite web |title=Lt. Gliniewicz Laid To Rest: 'Now The Nation Knows He's A Hero' |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2016/6/24/18437224/lt-gliniewicz-laid-to-rest-now-the-nation-knows-he-s-a-hero |website=chicago.suntimes.com |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=1 March 2022 |date=24 June 2016}} He was trained as a military police officer, drill sergeant, sniper, and in airborne assault.{{cite web |title=Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz personnel files |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2507298-gliniewicz-pers-file-1.html |website=documentcloud.org |access-date=2 March 2022 |pages=22–23}}

In 1985, he joined the Fox Lake Police Department (FLPD), the primary law enforcement agency for Fox Lake, Illinois, a village of about 10,000 that is approximately 60 miles north of Chicago.{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1727442| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212175921/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1727442| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Fox Lake village, Illinois| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=November 5, 2015}} He was assigned as a patrol officer and received further training and certifications in special assignments including SWAT, police dog handling, and became a certified evidence technician. In 1996, he was promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant in 2006.Gliniewicz personnel file pp. 22-23 Gliniewicz was in command of the Fox Lake Police Explorer program Post 300,{{cite web |title=Fox Lake Police Explorer Post 300 |url=https://www.facebook.com/Fox-Lake-Police-Explorer-Post-300-8143682717/ |website=Facebook.com |access-date=18 December 2020}} an organization mentoring adolescents interested in law enforcement careers.

At the time of his death he was scheduled to retire in approximately one month after a nearly thirty year career. He previously obtained a master's degree from Kaplan University and remained in the United States Army Reserve from 1981 until 2007, separating with the rank of first sergeant.{{cite news |last1=Martinez |first1=Michael |title=The secret life of 'G.I. Joe' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/26/us/fox-lake-police-lt-joe-gliniewicz/index.html |access-date=19 December 2020 |agency=CNN |date=26 January 2016}} He gained the nickname "G.I. Joe" due to his military background and perceived physical resemblance to the action figure character of the same name.{{cite web |last1=Lowe |first1=Mike |title=Widow of Fox Lake Police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz free on bond after indicted |url=https://wgntv.com/news/widow-of-fox-lake-police-lt-joe-gliniewicz-free-on-bond-after-indicted/ |website=wgntv.com |publisher=WGN-TV |access-date=1 March 2022 |date=28 January 2016}} At the time of his death he resided in Antioch with his wife of 26 years, Melodie, and their four sons.

At 7:52 a.m. on September 1, 2015, Gliniewicz radioed to dispatch that he was pursuing three men, described as two white and one black, at an abandoned cement plant in Fox Lake. At 8:09 a.m., FLPD officers responding to his request for backup discovered his deceased body in a wooded marsh about 50 yards from his vehicle. According to reports, the first bullet from his .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun had struck his mobile phone and ballistic vest while the second pierced his upper chest. His head was scraped and bruised. The swampy terrain was otherwise undisturbed, and his handgun was not found for more than an hour, despite it being less than one yard from his body.{{cite news |last1=Babwin |first1=Don |title=Hero' officer staged suicide, embezzled from youth program |url=https://apnews.com/article/dd402874d41445359be97486423f8fb7 |access-date=18 December 2020 |publisher=Associated Press |date=4 November 2015}} Other pieces of his police equipment, including his radio, taser, and pepper spray, were found scattered nearby in the marsh as well.

A massive manhunt was launched for these three male suspects, involving some 400 law enforcement officers on foot, via vehicles, helicopters, drones, and on horseback.{{cite news| last1= Castillo| first1= Mariano| title=Death of Fox Lake, Illinois, officer a 'carefully staged suicide'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/04/us/fox-lake-illinois-police-officer-joe-gliniewicz/|access-date=November 4, 2015|publisher= CNN| date=4 November 2015}} Local law enforcement were also assisted by federal agencies including the ATF and FBI.{{cite news |last1=Ortiz |first1=Erik |title=Manhunt Continues for Suspects in Killing of Fox Lake, Illinois, Police Officer |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/manhunt-continues-slain-fox-lake-illinois-police-officer-n419996 |access-date=18 December 2020 |publisher=NBC News |date=2 September 2015}}

On the evening of September 2, a 30-year-old woman named Kristin Kiefer of Vernon Hills, Illinois contacted police to report that while she was pulled over on the side of the road in Volo, Illinois, two men, one white and one black, approached her from a cornfield and tried to steal her car prompting her to flee from them on foot. Nearly 100 state and local law enforcement authorities set up roadblocks and searched the area along with 11 police K-9 and three air units from around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday until around 2:30 a.m. Thursday. The search took officers through the dense Volo Bog State Natural Area after canines mistakenly tracked a deer. Kiefer later admitted to fabricating the entire story and she was arrested and charged with two counts of disorderly conduct for falsifying a police report.{{cite news |last1=Hernandez |first1=Jade |title=Woman charged after lying about spotting Fox Lake suspects in Volo, authorities say |url=https://abc7chicago.com/volo-search-police-lied-to-lying/967998/ |access-date=18 December 2020 |publisher=ABC7 Chicago |date=3 September 2015}} In May 2017, she was convicted, placed on probation, and ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution.{{cite news |last1=Berger |first1=Susan |title=Woman who claimed she saw Fox Lake police shooting suspects gets probation |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-fox-lake-officer-shot-false-report-met-20170508-story.html |access-date=18 December 2020 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=8 May 2017}}

A large crowd gathered at a vigil on September 2 at the Lakefront Park in Fox Lake. His wife and sons spoke to the crowd.{{cite news |title=Wife of Slain Illinois Police Officer Joseph Gliniewicz Says 'He Was My Hero' at Vigil |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wife-slain-illinois-police-officer-says-he-was-my-hero-n420651 |access-date=18 December 2020 |publisher=NBC News |date=2 September 2015}} On September 3, the Chicago Bears displayed a tribute to Gliniewicz during a preseason game.{{cite news |last1=Rhodes |first1=Dawn |title=Daylong salute held for fallen Illinois officer |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/640731/thousands-mourn-slain-illinois-police-officer.html |access-date=18 December 2020 |agency=AlbuquerqueJournal |publisher=Associated Press |date=7 September 2015}} Thousands of people, including hundreds of law enforcement officers and officials from around the country, attended the funeral in Antioch on September 7. His funeral procession from Antioch High School to Fox Lake and back, was 18 miles in length. Thousands of people took to the streets to view the procession and show their support, many of them waving Thin Blue Line and U.S. flags.{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Emily |title=Mourners Line the Streets for Slain Fox Lake Cop's Funeral |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/mourners-line-streets-slain-fox-lake-cops-funeral/story?id=33583683 |access-date=18 December 2020 |publisher=ABC News |date=7 September 2015}} Then-Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, who attended the funeral, ordered flags to half-staff.{{cite news|last1=McLaughlin|first1=Eliott C.|last2=Almasy|first2=Steve|title=Fox Lake officer laid to rest in Antioch, Illinois|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/07/us/illinois-police-officer-joseph-gliniewicz-funeral/|access-date=6 November 2015| publisher=CNN|date=7 September 2015}} Many early reactions blamed Gliniewicz's death on a "war on cops" and the Black Lives Matter movement, which had become prevalent the previous year during the Ferguson unrest.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-black-lives-matter-blamed-gliniewicz-suicide-article-1.2423278|title=KING: Black Lives Matter was blamed for Gliniewicz's suicide|newspaper=NY Daily News|access-date=2016-12-02}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/11/05/a-partial-list-of-pundits-politicians-and-media-outlets-who-used-joseph-gliniewiczs-death-to-push-the-war-on-cops-narrative/|title=A partial list of pundits, politicians and media outlets who used Joseph Gliniewicz's death to push the 'war on cops' narrative|last=Balko|first=Radley|date=2015-11-05|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2016-12-02}}

In the weeks following the incident, Joseph Battaglia, a former Chicago police officer, began calling police agencies and media outlets insisting that Gliniewicz had shot himself intentionally. On September 13, Battaglia was charged with disorderly conduct after threatening officials for not declaring Gliniewicz' death a suicide.{{cite news|last1=Black|first1=Lisa|title=Ex-cop charged with threatening officials in Fox Lake officer shooting case|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-fox-lake-police-shooting-threats-20150913-story.html| access-date= 6 November 2015|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=September 13, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Sanchez|first1=Ray|title=Fox Lake officer's killing: Feds reduce involvement in Joe Gliniewicz case|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/15/us/fox-lake-illinois-police-officer-joseph-gliniewicz/ |access-date=November 6, 2015|publisher=CNN|date=September 15, 2015}} Battaglia was later sentenced to one year of supervision after pleading guilty.

The investigation concluded in November 2015 that Gliniewicz had been embezzling money for at least seven years from the police explorer program, that he believed that his crimes were about to be exposed, and that his death had been a "carefully staged suicide." He had also tried to induce a high-ranking outlaw motorcycle gang member to kill village administrator Anne Marrin, who was conducting a financial audit of the program. Additionally, cocaine was discovered in his desk, and text messages during the investigation revealed he was considering planting incriminating evidence on Marrin.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Official-Illinois-Cop-Who-Killed-Himself-Sought-to-Have-Village-Administrator-Killed-341022592.html|title=Official: Cop Who Killed Himself Sought to Have Village Administrator Killed|publisher=WMAQ-TV|date=November 5, 2015|access-date=November 5, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Alex |title=Fox Lake Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz Tried to 'Put a Hit' on Administrator: Police |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fox-lake-lt-joseph-gliniewicz-tried-put-hit-administrator-police-n458156 |access-date=18 December 2020 |publisher=NBC News |date=5 November 2015}}

Further incidents involving Gliniewicz were also uncovered including him threatening an emergency dispatcher with a firearm, allegations of sexual harassment, alcohol abuse and numerous suspensions.{{cite news |first1= Dan| last1= Babwin| first2= Tammy| last2= Webber| url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OFFICER_SHOT_MANHUNT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT|title=Personnel records show years of complaints against officer|date=November 6, 2015|agency= Associated Press| website=AP.org| access-date=November 7, 2015}} Over 6,500 deleted text messages were also recovered detailing some of his criminal activities, including his desire to "take out" the village administrator. Financial statements were also discovered revealing that he had embezzled a five-figure sum from the explorer program and spent it on things such as vacations, mortgage payments, gym memberships and pornography. Investigators also discovered large stockpiles of military surplus gear in his police explorer headquarters such as kevlar helmets, radios, ballistic vests, combat boots, gas masks and gun belts by the hundreds. Authorities stated it would have been impossible for Gliniewicz to provide documentation for these items because he had been obtaining the gear through fraud and that these surplus items are meant for use by actual police officers, not explorers.{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Philip |title=Fox Lake Authorities Investigating Stockpile of Military Items in Gliniewicz Explorer Post |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/fox-lake-stockpile-military-items-gliniewicz-explorer-post/62359/ |access-date=19 December 2020 |publisher=NBC Chicago |date=12 November 2015}} The Fox Lake Police Explorer Post 300 was disbanded following the incident.{{cite news |last1=Zumbach |first1=Lauren |date=8 December 2015 |title=Fox Lake disbands Gliniewicz's Explorers youth policing group |publisher=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-fox-lake-police-explorers-st-1209-20151208-story.html |access-date=18 December 2020}}

Once news of this betrayal came to light, numerous organizations that had raised or donated money for the Gliniewicz family demanded it be returned.{{cite news |last1=Castillo |first1=Mariano |title=Death of Fox Lake, Illinois, officer a 'carefully staged suicide' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/04/us/fox-lake-illinois-police-officer-joe-gliniewicz/index.html |access-date=18 December 2020 |publisher=CNN |date=4 November 2015}} Tributes and memorials were quickly removed and the largest, which had been constructed in front of the Fox Lake Police Department, was altered, with a memorial sign using his nickname "G.I. Joe", now labeling him as "G.I. Joke". The Washington D.C.-based Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund said Gliniewicz's name would no longer be etched onto a marble monument dedicated to deceased officers,{{cite news |title=Illinois village shocked, dismayed over news about officer |url=https://www.peoriapublicradio.org/post/illinois-village-shocked-dismayed-over-news-about-officer |access-date=18 December 2020 |agency=Peoria Public Radio |publisher=Associated Press |date=5 November 2015}} and his Officer Down Memorial Page webpage was taken down.{{Cite news |title=As many of ODMP's... - The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) |url=https://www.facebook.com/OfficerDown/posts/pfbid031QXghxKU4G2sgqbbTJjEbM3NSAepp2WTZ39EUdsdPYs1U8NZ8QBgHagtgntnJ825l?__cft__ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231212045050/https://www.facebook.com/OfficerDown/posts/pfbid031QXghxKU4G2sgqbbTJjEbM3NSAepp2WTZ39EUdsdPYs1U8NZ8QBgHagtgntnJ825l?__cft__ |archive-date=2023-12-12 |access-date=2025-01-18 |language=en-US}} Gliniewicz quickly went from "hero to criminal".{{cite news |last1=Reynolds |first1=Dean |title=How investigators unraveled Illinois cop's suicide plot |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-gliniewicz-how-investigators-unraveled-illinois-cops-suicide-plot/ |access-date=18 December 2020 |publisher=CBS News |date=4 November 2015}}

On January 27, 2016, Gliniewicz's wife, Melodie, was indicted on four counts of disbursing charitable funds without authority and for personal benefit, and two counts of money laundering;Goudie, Chuck Hope, Leah (January 27, 2016). "[http://abc7chicago.com/news/grand-jury-indicts-fox-lake-officer-widow-melodie-gliniewicz/1175908/ Grand Jury Indicts Fox Lake Officer Widow Melodie Gliniewicz]", WLS-TV. Retrieved February 3, 2016 she pleaded not guilty to these charges.Relerford, Michelle (February 3, 2016). "[http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Melodie-Gliniewicz-Returns-to-Court-for-Arraignment-367495041.html Fox Lake Widow Pleads Not Guilty to Laundering, Misuse of Charitable Funds]", WMAQ-TV. Retrieved February 3, 2016

On February 2, 2016, authorities seized five bank accounts believed to be derived from embezzled funds."[http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-fox-lake-police-wife-bank-accounts-st-0203-20160202-story.html Authorities seize 5 bank accounts tied to Fox Lake cop's widow]", Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016 In June 2020, a judge ordered the text messages exchanged between Melodie and her late husband to be admissible evidence. On February 18, 2022, Melodie accepted a plea deal, being convicted of deceptive practice, a Class 4 felony in Illinois. The remainder of her charges were dismissed and on April 12, 2022, she was sentenced to two years of probation.{{cite news |title=Melodie Gliniewicz, widow of disgraced Fox Lake police officer, pleads guilty to deceptive practices |url=https://abc7chicago.com/melodie-gliniewicz-joe-fox-lake-police-guilty/11577785/ |access-date=18 February 2022 |publisher=ABC7 Chicago |date=18 February 2022}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-12 |title=Melodie Gliniewicz sentencing: Widow of disgraced Fox Lake police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz sentenced to 24 months probation - ABC7 Chicago |url=https://abc7chicago.com/fox-lake-police-joe-gliniewicz-melodie-embezzlement/11740148/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412032807/https://abc7chicago.com/fox-lake-police-joe-gliniewicz-melodie-embezzlement/11740148/ |archive-date=2023-04-12 }} On April 10, 2025, Fox Lake agreed to a $1,000,000 settlement with Melodie, who had sued the village over her late husband's withheld pension.{{cite news |last1=Harrington |first1=Adam |title=Fox Lake, Illinois agrees to settlement for wife of disgraced police officer Joe Gliniewicz |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/fox-lake-illinois-settlement-wife-officer-joe-gliniewicz/ |access-date=11 April 2025 |agency=CBS News |date=10 April 2025}}

His son, Donald "D.J." Gliniewicz, was also under investigation after a series of texts were found between Gliniewicz and his son about loans and how he could evade discovery of unidentified expenses; however, the case was closed as investigators could not prove the son had prior knowledge that money from his father came from the youth program's account.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/widow-of-illinois-officer-accused-of-assisting-in-scheme/|title=Not enough evidence to charge son of Illinois police officer|date=27 January 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/29/us/fox-lake-joe-gliniewicz-son-not-charged/index.html|title=Not enough evidence to charge Joe Gliniewicz's son, authorities say|website=CNN |date=29 January 2016}}

Just the first three weeks of the investigation cost taxpayers in 50 suburban jurisdictions more than $300,000 to pay local law enforcement personnel working on the case, according to the Daily Herald. Nearly two-thirds of the cost, $196,351, were related to overtime, including pay for some officers attending Gliniewicz's funeral on Labor Day.{{cite news |title=Taxpayers Footing $300K Bill For Investigation Into Fox Lake Officer's Death |url=https://chicagoist.com/2015/10/07/the_massive_investigation_into_the.php |access-date=18 December 2020 |publisher=chicagoist |date=7 October 2015 |archive-date=14 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114153927/https://chicagoist.com/2015/10/07/the_massive_investigation_into_the.php |url-status=dead }}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://wondery.com/shows/generation-why/episode/5659-lt-joe-gliniewicz/ Lt. Joe Gliniewicz – The Generation Why Podcast | Episode 361] via Wondery

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gliniewicz, Joe}}

Category:2015 suicides

Category:2015 in Illinois

Category:Deaths by person in Illinois

Category:Lake County, Illinois

Category:Police misconduct in the United States

Category:September 2015 in the United States

Category:Suicides by firearm in Illinois

Category:Multiple gunshot suicides

Category:Hoaxes in the United States