CBS 2’s Derrick Blakley reports Lt. Joe Gliniewicz knew many residents by name in the small town of Fox Lake, and they knew his name as well.
Lt. Joe Gliniewicz, known as “G.I. Joe” at the police department, was a lieutenant in the Fox Lake Police Department, a leader for the Fox Lake Police Explorer’s Post 300, an Army veteran, a father and husband. He leaves behind a wife and four boys, who range in age from their early 20s to a teenager, according to a neighbor.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Fox Lake Mayor Donny Schmit described Gliniewicz as a decorated officer who was dedicated to the community.
“Today, not only did Fox Lake lose a family member, I lost a very dear friend,” Schmit said. “We lost a family member.” He said he was deeply committed to Fox Lake, to the profession and his fellow police officers.
Gliniewicz graduated Antioch Community High School in 1981, and obtained a master’s degree in criminal justice from Kaplan University, according to his Facebook page. Gliniewicz served in the Army in both active-duty and reserve from 1980 until 2007. He was promoted to first sergeant.
Police have confirmed that the officer killed in a Fox Lake, Illinois, shooting was a 32-year veteran of the police force.
Gliniewicz was anticipating retirement at the end of September, but was concerned about sustaining the vitality of the Fox Lake Police Explorers Post 300 that he developed. Post 300 members receive training experiences, such as SWAT exercises and the methods of felony traffic stops, and also served the community with traffic control at large events, such as Venetian Night and Wauconda Fest.
Lt. Joe Gliniewicz was a mentor to Devan Arbay in the Fox Lake Police Explorers Post. Mr Arbay shares his memories with Anderson Cooper.
Police in northern Illinois say a manhunt is underway after an officer was shot and killed while pursuing a group of suspicious men.
Father of four boys, husband, army vet, 30 years on force. RIP Lt. Joe #FoxLake pic.twitter.com/zYtPTpBQRd
— Anna Davlantes (@AnnaDavlantes) September 1, 2015
BREAKING: Massive manhunt… slain officer is Lt. Joe Gliniewicz, 32-yr vet, father of four – http://t.co/ImZoOdY38A pic.twitter.com/MJYKxe2j6P
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) September 1, 2015
JUST IN: The police officer shot in Fox Lake, Illinois has been identified as Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz. pic.twitter.com/vtET9omcsz
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 1, 2015
Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz was in a 1994 @WGNNews story discussing how fellow Fox Lake officers rescued kids from a fire pic.twitter.com/nUvxYVo4BW
— Sam Unger (@SamUngerWGN) September 1, 2015
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