An organization that helps the families of officers during times of need is now asking for substantial donations made to the loved ones of Lt. Joe Gliniewicz to be returned.
The 100 Club wants its $15,000 back after the Fox Lake County Sherriff’s office announced at a Wednesday morning press conference that the veteran officer’s death was a “carefully staged suicide.”
Joe Ahern, the organization’s CEO, told NBC 5 that he would be asking Gliniewicz’s widow to return the money as it is reserved for those who die in the line of duty, but added that it is unfair for all law enforcement to be judged because of his actions.
“It’s a sad state for today for law enforcement clearly because a single person could bring such a negative light on the tens of thousands of men and women who divert their lives to helping others and protecting all of us,” Ahern said.
It is the first time the organization has asked for funds to be returned.
So far, organization has given families more than $10 million dollars, with much of it paying for the college educations of fallen officers' children.
Fox Lake officials made the announcement more than two months after the officer's death, which prompted a massive manhunt in northern Illinois and left a community stunned. The investigation reportedly cost more than $300,000, yet police never made any arrests, identified any suspects or established a motive.
Gliniewicz, a married father of four, was last heard from the morning of Sept. 1 when he called for backup while on duty, reporting on his radio he was pursuing three suspicious men in a remote area of the village just south of the Wisconsin state line.
The family of veteran Fox Lake, Illinois, police officer Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz released a statement Wednesday, saying "Today has been another day of deep sorrow for the Gliniewicz family," the family said in statement released by their attorney.
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"The family has cooperated with the Task Force's investigation and will not comment at this time,” the statement read.
