Fox Lake manhunt scaled back, investigation continues after fatal shooting of Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz

FOX LAKE, Ill. -- A manhunt for suspects was scaled back on Wednesday in far north suburban Fox Lake, but the investigation into the fatal shooting of Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, a 32-year veteran of the force, continued.

A 14-hour manhunt began Tuesday morning after Gliniewicz was fatally shot while responding to three suspicious people near Route 12 and Sayton Road in Fox Lake.

Investigators said they have scaled back the all-out search but continue to follow all leads in the search for three suspects, who police said should be considered armed and dangerous.

Lake County Major Crimes Task Force Chief George Filenko said investigators are canvassing the area Wednesday as they search for surveillance video from homes and businesses near the crime scene.

"We don't have anything that we have found on that video yet, but we are still in the early stages of reviewing that," Filenko said.

Evidence technicians collected evidence from the crime scene that has been turned over to the Northern Illinois Crime Lab, Filenko said. Results are not expected until at least Thursday. An autopsy was conducted on Gliniewicz Tuesday night.

The original two-mile search perimeter was released around 10 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities began "saturation patrols" of the area Wednesday as they try to reassure the community.

"That's for two reasons. Number one, that's to continue to check for suspicious activity and to check for the offenders. Number two, we want the Fox Lake community to know they are safe and know we are out there. We're going to continue to be out there," said Det. Chris Covelli, Lake County Sheriff's Dept.

But residents of the tight-knit community remain on edge, worrying they're no longer safe in their homes.

"Yesterday I left twice. I was listening to the police scanner and every time they got near my vicinity I freaked out and left," said Tara England, a Fox Lake resident.

Area schools went on lockdown on Tuesday. Students said they spent the day in the dark away from windows, but were able to text their parents for updates. Dismissal time was pushed back per police orders. Students were released one by one, directly to their parents.

Fox Lake residents were asked to stay indoors and report anything that looked out of the ordinary.

"I hope they catch them soon, because I'm a single mom of three and I'm scared," said Brenda Day, a local resident.

REMEMBERING G.I. JOE

Lt. Joe Gliniewicz, 52, was a married father of four, affectionately known as "G.I. Joe." He was the first on-duty officer shot and killed in Lake County since 1980.

Those who knew him said he devoted his life to his family, his community and young people.

Gliniewicz grew up in the Fox Lake area, where he served as a peace officer, graduated from Antioch Community High School and obtained a Master's degree in criminal justice from Kaplan University. He was a leader of the Fox Lake Police Department Explorer Post, which helps mentor young people interested in careers in law enforcement, and an Army veteran who served in active duty and reserve from 1980 to 2007. He left the military with a rank of First Sergeant.

Gliniewicz had been married for 26 years and was to retire at the end of September. He met with Fox Lake's mayor Monday to talk about his retirement plans and ensure that the Explorers troop he led continued without him.

"Today Fox Lake didn't just lose a family member, I lost a very dear friend," Fox Lake Mayor Donny Schmit said.

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police released a statement about Gliniewicz's death, saying, "Today the Fraternal Order of Police lost a fellow member and brother who died heroically serving his community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the slain officer's family, friends and fellow police officers. He leaves a legacy of several decades of service to Fox Lake for which we are humbly grateful."

He is survived by his wife and four sons, who are in their late teens and early 20s.

A memorial page has been set up on Facebook.

The Northeast Illinois Council of the Boy Scouts of America will hold a memorial at 6 p.m. Wednesday, at Lakefront Park on Nippersink Boulevard in Fox Lake.

Another vigil is expected to be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Fox Lake police station.

Retired Army Sergeant Major Bob Gabriel met Gliniewicz five years ago, after he became a member of the local American Legion post. He called his friend a loving father and consummate professional.

"Everything about him was a professional level. Whether it was addressing children or talking to the adults or members of the community and the people he came into contact with on a daily basis. An upstanding, I say 'young man' because he was younger than I am. He was just great," Gabriel said.