Investigation Reveals IL Cop Was No Hero, But A Fraudster And A Thug

Joe Gliniewicz in his patrol car (image courtesy ABC News screen capture)
Joe Gliniewicz in his patrol car (image courtesy ABC News screen capture)

Back in September, police in Fox Lake, Illinois announced that one of their most decorated and beloved officers, Joe Gliniewicz, had been murdered while pursuing three criminals. That account, however, now stands discredited after an investigation revealed that Gliniewicz had actually committed suicide to escape being held to account for a staggering litany of criminal misconduct. Officials believe that Gliniewicz looted a youth mentorship program to the tune of thousands of dollars, and had even gone as far as to put a contract on a town official who could have potentially exposed his crimes.

Early on the morning of September 1, Gliniewicz radioed in to report that he was pursuing three men on foot in a wooded area and needed backup. When backup arrived, they found Gliniewicz dead from a shot to the torso; another bullet had been stopped by his bulletproof vest. More than 400 officers descended on the village northwest of Chicago to hunt down the killers.

At first glance, the death of the 30-year police veteran appeared to be a horribly senseless act of violence. Indeed, some even suggested that Black Lives Matter had blood on its hands for stirring up hatred against the police. But this case took a dramatic turn on Wednesday, when village and county officials announced their investigation revealed Gliniewicz hadn’t been murdered in the line of duty after all.

Lake County Major Crimes Task Force commander George Filenko said that Gliniewicz had killed himself in “a carefully staged suicide.” The investigation revealed that Gliniewicz had been stealing and laundering money from a local Police Explorers post that he helped lead. The Police Explorers program is geared toward kids who want to become police officers.

Filenko said that Gliniewicz stole thousands of dollars from the Explorers over seven years. He then used that money for, among other things vacations, gym memberships, and adult websites. In a colossal understatement, Filenko said that Gliniewicz had committed “the ultimate betrayal.”

Apparently Gliniewicz felt the walls closing in on him when he learned that the village would undergo an extensive audit of its finances–one that would likely reveal his pillaging. According to a text message–one of more than 6,000 recovered during the investigation–Gliniewicz hoped the Explorers would be transferred to the local American Legion post so his embezzlement wouldn’t be uncovered. In May, he told a friend that if the audit turned up an old checking account used by the Explorer post, “I’m pretty well f*cked.” A month later, he asked that same friend “to start dumping money into that account or you will be visiting me in JAIL!!”

As the summer wore on, Gliniewicz apparently felt the walls closing in on him. Earlier today, WMAQ-TV in Chicago revealed just how far he was willing to go to cover his tracks. Lake County Sheriff’s detective Chris Covelli told WMAQ that Gliniewicz tried to put a contract on village administrator Anne Marrin, who was conducting the audit. Gliniewicz tried to get a top-ranking member of a local motorcycle gang to “put a hit” on Marrin.

When Marrin found out that Gliniewicz wanted her dead, she said that she found it “very unsettling.” However, it came as no surprise to her that anyone who wanted to loot a youth program would go this far to cover up his crimes. She added that learning Gliniewicz was uneasy about how she was questioning the Explorers’ spending, it only confirmed that she was doing the right thing. The growing criminal investigation is now focused on Gliniewicz’ widow and son. Given the extent of Gliniewicz’ crimes–including the apparent murder plot–they both better have lawyers on speed dial.

Gliniewicz was known around town as “G. I. Joe” because he spent 27 years in the Army and Army Reserve. However, he’s now being called “G. I. Joke,” and signs posted in his honor now have “liar” scrawled across them. Let’s call him something else–a thug. There’s no other way to describe a law enforcement official who would plan to kill the very people whom (s)he has sworn to protect and serve. When all is said and done, Gliniewicz will belong on the same level of infamy as other killers with badges–such as Louis Eppolito, Stephen Caracappa, Antoinette Frank, and John Connolly.

Darrell is a 30-something graduate of the University of North Carolina who considers himself a journalist of the old school. An attempt to turn him into a member of the religious right in college only succeeded in turning him into the religious right's worst nightmare--a charismatic Christian who is an unapologetic liberal. His desire to stand up for those who have been scared into silence only increased when he survived an abusive three-year marriage. You may know him on Daily Kos as Christian Dem in NC. Follow him on Twitter @DarrellLucus or connect with him on Facebook. Click here to buy Darrell a Mello Yello.