Fox Lake Police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz remembered at McHenry drive-in fundraiser

McHENRY – At a fundraiser Wednesday in his honor, the vigil immediately after his death and the funeral services to lay him to rest Monday, it became clear how longtime Fox Lake Police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz was woven into the community

At a showing of "Superman" at McHenry Outdoor Theater, memories were shared of Gliniewicz, who was shot and killed last week. His killers remain at large.

Some had simple memories of sitting next to him at the barber shop.

Many spoke of his work with the Fox Lake Police Explorers program.

Others mentioned his military service, his dedication to his family and his work.

Then there were some who didn’t know him at all.

“You cry for a man you never met before,” said Steve Pozniak, an officer in suburban Cook County.

“It’s a horrific tragedy in any profession,” Pozniak said. “He was trying to do what he believes is right. We all go out every day and we put that uniform on, and we don’t know what is going to happen that night. But the No. 1 thing is to come home to your family.”

An estimated 200 cars attended Wednesday’s movie fundraiser.

“Lt. Gliniewicz was a superhero in his own right. He was our very own Superman,” theater owner Scott Dehn told the crowd. “He didn’t wear a cape, he didn’t have super powers. He had a badge, and he had a heart of gold.”

All the proceeds from ticket and concession sales at the event will go to the Gliniewicz family. Joe Gliniewicz is survived by a wife of 26 years and four sons.

“When the news hit – like anybody else – a lot of emotions went through me,” Dehn said. “The one emotion that stayed with me was this feeling of hopelessness. And I thought, ‘There’s got to be other people that feel the same way.’ So I did what I know how to do best, and that’s show a movie.”

Fox Lake residents Andy Hank and Lisa Closterides said another tragedy that has emerged from last week’s shooting is that Gliniewicz isn’t alive to see how many people support him, as well as other police officers like him.

“Why is it we have to wait until someone is dead to call them a hero?” Hank said. “Here, he served in the military, in the local police force. Why aren’t we recognizing him before?”

As the community rallied in support of the slain officer, the investigation into Gliniewicz’s death continues. Police said they are conducting it as a homicide investigation, while Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd said he can’t conclude a manner in which Gliniewicz died until more information is shared between his office and the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force.

“What I’m saying is what is obvious,” Rudd said. “This officer is dead, and a gun killed him. So there has to be at least one fatal bullet. That means there is at least one devastating shot.”

Rudd declined to release other information on the autopsy conducted the evening of Sept. 1, including whether Gliniewicz received other gunshot wounds.

He said investigators have requested he not release those details as the investigation continues.

On Tuesday, Lake County law enforcement officials said they did not have a written report from Rudd, but they have received information verbally.

• Reporter Allison Goodrich contributed to this report.