"Hero" cop wasn't murdered--he was a crook who committed suicide

Tattered Illinois flag

"GI Joe" wasn't a hero. He was just another dishonest Illinois public official.

From ABC 7 Chicago:

Two months after Fox Lake Police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz was found dead, investigators call his death a "carefully staged suicide" to cover-up years of embezzlement.

Gliniewicz staged his own suicide after laundering money from the Fox Lake Police Explorers Program, a community program for children that he led, authorities said Wednesday.

"This had been occurring over the past seven years," Lake County Major Crimes Task Force Commander George Filenko said. Gliniewicz stole around $50,000 to use on his personal expenses, including mortgage payments, gym memberships, vacations and adult websites, Filenko said.

"I think he knew there was the possibility of incarceration and his view in the community would be greatly diminished," Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd said.

It was believed that the cop nicknamed GI Joe was murdered in the line of duty responding to a police call.

This creep was considering framing a Fox Lake official for drunk driving.