Slain Ill. Police Officer Was Inspiring Mentor

Gliniewicz, 52, a longtime officer with the Fox Lake Police Department and leader of the local Explorer police training program, was slain in the line of duty Tuesday. As the massive hunt for his killers extended into the night, friends and neighbors recalled him as a proud cop, a dedicated family man and an inspiring mentor.

"He was just an all-around great person," Devan Arbay, 17, captain of the Fox Lake Explorers. "He was a fearless leader. All the Explorers, even throughout Illinois, knew him really well. He was just an all-around awesome guy."

Gliniewicz was informally known as G.I. Joe -- his Facebook page, which incorporates that moniker, indicates that he served in the Army -- and had served in the Fox Lake department for 30 years, officials said.

He and his wife had four sons, one of whom followed him into the military. While friends and neighbors said he clearly enjoyed the job that made him a well-known figure around the small Lake County town, they added that he had an equally strong attachment to the Explorer program.

Open to young people between the ages of 14 and 20, the Explorers aim to give aspiring police officers a taste of what the job is like. Gliniewicz founded Fox Lake's program about the same time he joined the force, said Fox Lake Mayor Donny Schmit, and some who went through it said it was a life-changing experience.

"I think when someone asks you to do something for your community, it's one thing; but when he leads by example and demonstrates that himself, it's a different thing," said Kevin Gerretsen, son of the late Fox Lake police Chief Edward Gerretsen Jr. and a former Explorer who now works for a rescue organization in Australia.

"When I was in Explorers, that was all volunteer time for him. He didn't get paid one cent. He used his own vacation time to take us to training. All that was on his own dime."

Becky Basham was part of a different Explorer unit in the mid-2000s, but met Gliniewicz at a "boot camp" that over the course of nine days exposes young people to all facets of police work. Video on the Explorer post's Facebook page shows the most recent crop of attendees doing calisthenics, practicing marksmanship and performing simulated pat-downs.

Basham said while Gliniewicz threw himself into the training, he wasn't too proud to perform more mundane tasks, such as helping the Explorers direct parking lot traffic at the Lake County Fair.

"He was out there helping out," she said. "He wasn't one of these people just telling others what to do."

Outside of work and the Explorers, Gliniewicz channeled his boundless energy into endurance events such as Spartan races and Tough Mudders. He and his family were members of the Snap Fitness Club on the north side of town, and owner Tiffany Keller said he was a regular.

"He will be deeply missed at our gym and all around the community," she said. "He is remembered for his smiling face, dedication to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and commitment to his family. Joe was an incredible man (who) has positively impacted the lives of many."

Gliniewicz also made frequent stops at Good Family Tattoo in Lake Villa, where he got body art that included reproductions of his police badges. Tattoo artist Nathan Muehlfelder said Gliniewicz was always a welcome presence.

"He was a super nice guy," Muehlfelder said. "He was always loud when he was here; you could hear him a mile away. He always did things for the community. ... He was always a really happy guy. Never angry, always laughing."

"He was super strong for an older guy," Muehlfelder added. "He was ripped. He was doing what he liked to do. He was never scared or backed down from anything."

Roxanne Brown, Gliniewicz's sister-in-law, said she'll remember his sense of humor and fondness for a good family cookout, along with his dedication to his career. She recalled too that he had been in the Army. She'll also remember the compassion he showed when her father passed away last year.

"He was right there through thick and thin for all of us," said Brown, who now lives in Texas. "... Even though it was sad, I'm glad I had that time with him. I miss him already."

Thomas Poulos, a retired Waukegan police officer who attended Antioch High School with Gliniewicz, had equally fond memories of his friend.

"Loved his job, loved his kids, loved his wife and he loved those Explorers," Poulos said. "He was just a delight to be around. ... If there were more men like Joe, we wouldn't need so many cops."

Though he lost his life while doing his job, Gliniewicz's influence on a new generation of police officers appears fated to endure. Jordan Williams, 18, a college student who attended the Explorer boot camp this year, said he was more determined than ever to pursue the career.

"(Gliniewicz's death) made me want to do it even more," he said. "It made me want to catch people who do that so they can't do it to anyone else. I was mad when I read about it, and not just because he was a police officer -- because of all the stuff he did for the community."

John Keilman is a Chicago Tribune reporter. Lauren Zumbach is a reporter with the News-Sun. Dan Hinkel, Jim Newton, and Frank Abderholden with Tribune newspapers also contributed.

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