‘Hero to Criminal': Fox Lake Community Reacts to Officer's Suicide, Alleged Criminal Activity

“My gosh, G.I. Joe went from a hero to a criminal,” said neighbor Leroy Marre

News that a beloved police officer’s shooting death was a “carefully staged suicide” intended to cover up a crime has divided a small community 60 miles north of Chicago as residents attempt to grasp the shocking answers to the tragic mystery that unfolded two months ago.

“My gosh, G.I. Joe went from a hero to a criminal,” said neighbor Leroy Marre. "It's real sad."

Signs still stand in support of the man many affectionately called “G.I. Joe,” but news that his death was ruled a suicide and that he had been part of an embezzlement scheme, stealing money from a police explorer’s program, has many questioning their support.

Some residents have started defacing signs that once supported Gliniewicz, writing “liar” over the imagery and calling him “G.I. Joke.”

Authorities on Wednesday claimed Gliniewicz had been stealing and laundering money from the Fox Lake Police Explorer Post, a program that instructs youth between the ages of 14 and 21 on law enforcement material, over the past seven years. They said Gliniewicz used thousands of dollars for personal purchases, mortgages, travel expenses, gym memberships, adult websites and to facilitate personal loans.

They also called his death a “carefully staged suicide,” noting that he had “significant experience” staging mock crime scenes for the police explorer training.

“I had always supported him,” said Kathy Pederson, the parent of a former police explorer. “I’m still in disbelief.”

Pederson’s son took part in Gliniewicz’s explorer’s program for four to five years. She said her son looked up to the officer and has had a tough time accepting the shocking news.

“We have to consider he was a different person back then,” she said.

Sign Appeal, which distributed some of the signs after Gliniewicz’s death, said in a statement they “have, and always will stand behind those men and woman [sic] that put their lives on the line every day for our protection.”

“We showed this support for Lt. Joe at the time, based on the information that was provided to us and our personal interaction with him,” the company said. “We knew him only as a dedicated father, a caring friend and a passionate law enforcement officer. In light of the recent developing in his death, we can only say that we wish nothing but closer [sic] for those affected by this tragedy.”

For many, the allegations are hard to deny.

"You trust somebody and you think they are the best," said resident Patricia Holmes. "They've got to have the evidence or they couldn't come out to say this."

Still, some say they don't believe the claims made by police that tarnish the legacy of the once beloved officer.

"They just took it as a suicide to cover up corruption in the Fox Lake Police Department," said Lake County resident Janet Stancil.  

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SUICIDE PREVENTION: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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