Thread: Illinois police officer shot, prompting manhunt

Coroner’s Comments on Fox Lake Officer's Shooting Put 'Entire Case at Risk': Police

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that evidence in the fatal shooting of a veteran Fox Lake, Illinois, police officer “supports our investigation that more than one shot was fired at the scene.” NBC 5's Phil Rogers reports. (Published Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015)

Updated 7 minutes ago

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that evidence in the fatal shooting of a veteran Fox Lake, Illinois, police officer “supports our investigation that more than one shot was fired at the scene.” The office also said the coroner's recent comments on findings put "the entire case at risk."

In their statement, police didn’t reveal how many shots were fired at the scene of Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz’s death, “as it is confidential information critical to the investigation.”

Lake County Major Crime Task Force Commander George Filenko also commented that the coroner "releasing information which is sensitive to this investigation, puts the entire case at risk."

"This is an active investigation and it’s inappropriate for anyone other than the investigating body to release information to the media, prior to providing a final written report of the findings, or even having a conversation with the Task Force,” Filenko added.

The release comes after Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd said he would not reveal officially how many times the officer had been shot, only that he died from a “single devastating gunshot wound,” and that he has not determined officially whether the officer was even shot at close range or from a distance.

Rudd said he has to keep an open mind, but he still considers the case a murder investigation.

“Based on what is coming from law enforcement agencies, we are pursuing it as if it is a homicide,” Rudd said. “If we are told later that they don’t have evidence of a homicide, then we have to consider the other manners of death, which could be suicide or accident.”
Rudd did not immediately comment on the statement from officials.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local...#ixzz3lOP516Aq

Mystery deepens in death of police officer in Fox Lake, Illinois

By Ray Sanchez, CNN
Updated 12:35 PM ET, Fri September 11, 2015

(CNN)It was the type of routine call the cop known as "GI Joe" must have recounted for the young people he mentored in the village of Fox Lake, Illinois, a popular boating and fishing spot about an hour north of Chicago.

Lt. Joe Gliniewicz had planned to retire in August, but he was asked to stay on for another month. And there he was, 10 days ago, in the most familiar of situations for the Army veteran and father of four.

But the last radio call of his more than 30 years on the job was anything but routine. It would signal the beginning of a deepening mystery that has stumped investigators. Now the coroner says he can't rule out anything -- homicide, suicide or accident.

Gliniewicz, 52, was on his way to work September 1 in the cruiser he had taken home the day before, police said. He was the kind of cop who considered himself on duty as soon as he rolled into town.

Three suspicious men piqued his interest. The lieutenant sent word over his radio at 7:52 a.m. he was pursuing the trio on foot. Three minutes later, he requested backup. Radio communication dropped off. Colleagues would not hear Gliniewicz's voice again.

The backups arrived at about 8 a.m. and a few minutes later found Gliniewicz dead. His body was roughly 50 yards from his cruiser, police said.

Who killed Gliniewicz?

Nearly two weeks later, the investigation has yielded more questions than answers.

The mystery was compounded when investigators revealed this week that three people seen on surveillance video near the crime scene had been identified and interviewed.

"We have confirmed at this point they were not involved in this," said George Filenko, commander of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force. "Those individuals have established their whereabouts in that time frame."

Authorities said they continue to look for two white men and a black man whose behavior prompted Gliniewicz to pursue them, but they've disclosed few details. Even what was described as a significant piece of evidence found last week at the site of Gliniewicz's death remains a mystery. Filenko has declined to specify what it was.

Each new snippet of information complicates the puzzle.

A "devastating gunshot wound" to the torso killed the officer, Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd told CNN on Thursday.



And he was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time, according to two law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. One of the officials said Gliniewicz was hit by two shots -- one stopped by his bulletproof vest, and another that entered his torso at a downward angle.

The officer's .40-caliber pistol was found at the scene, Filenko said last week. A source involved in the investigation has told CNN that Gliniewicz's gun was fired, but it's not clear who pulled the trigger.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that evidence indicates more than one shot was fired, but investigators can't comment on the exact number, which remains "confidential information critical to the investigation."

The coroner declined to say whether there were signs of a struggle or other wounds on Gliniewicz's body.

Rudd said he isn't ruling out a homicide, suicide or accidental death.

He's still awaiting ballistics and gunshot residue evidence, fingerprints and the results of DNA tests before releasing the manner of death.

DNA evidence recovered at the crime scene did not belong to Gliniewicz, according to Filenko. About 50 people who've been interviewed in connection with the investigation have been swabbed for DNA, he said.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office later slammed the coroner for revealing details about the case.

"Doctor Rudd, releasing information which is sensitive to this investigation, puts the entire case at risk," Filenko said in a statement. "All of the progress made since this tragic incident is potentially in jeopardy."

Opinion: Police lives matter

A massive manhunt

In the days after the shooting, investigators said new leads were pouring in. Some came on social media. Others by phone. Sometimes people walked into the Fox Lake police station and simply told officers something they had seen.

Initially, authorities marked off a 2-square-mile area across tricky terrain and brought in helicopters, K-9 units, federal agents, night-vision equipment and body-heat sensors. Police cleared every home in the cordoned-off area and fielded more than 100 tips, according to Filenko.

Investigators used machetes and magnets to search the high grass at the scene of the slaying. More than 400 law enforcement officers raked through the heavy woods near Fox Lake on foot, all-terrain vehicles and horseback.

The FBI, U.S. marshals and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also helped in the hunt as well as police from adjoining areas. A secondary review of the crime scene involved "turning over every leaf and blade of grass to see if there's anything out there they may have missed," Filenko said.

So far, no witnesses have been found.

Who are America's fallen officers?

Gliniewicz was more than a cop

A veteran who served in active duty and reserve from 1980 to 2007, Gliniewicz was called "GI" Joe by those who knew him. He left the military with a rank of first sergeant.

And his passion for police work was evident in his leadership role with the Fox Lake Police Department Explorers Post, which mentors young people hoping to become law enforcement officers.

Lessons learned from previous manhunts 01:50

"He truly loved his job," said Devan Arbay, one of Gliniewicz's Explorers.

Gliniewicz would tell his Explorers what officers went through every day, Arbay said.

"His Explorers (were) a huge part of his life," Arbay said.

Gliniewicz planned to retire last month,Chicago TV station WMAQ reported. But the police chief asked him to stay one more month.

The day before his death, Gliniewicz met with Fox Lake Mayor Donny Schmit to discuss his retirement plans and to ensure the Explorers program continued without him, CNN affiliate WLS-TV said.

Are police under siege?

'My best friend and my world'

"His commitment to the people of this community has been unmatched and will be dearly missed," the mayor said. "Not only did Fox Lake lose a family member, I lost a very dear friend."

But Gliniewicz's biggest source of pride was his family, WMAQ reported. Gliniewicz and his wife, Melodie, were married for 30 years and had four sons, including one who serves in the Army.

"Joe was my best friend and my world. My hero," Melodie Gliniewicz told more than 1,000 people at a candlelight vigil for her husband. "He was my rock as much as I was his rock."

On Monday, Gliniewicz's funeral drew thousands of mourners, including hundreds of police officers, to Antioch, Illinois.

But his death has not deterred one of his Explorers.

"It truly makes (me) want to become a police officer more and more and to fill his important work and continue doing what he did," Arbay said.

Who was Joe Gliniewicz?

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/10/us/ill...ery/index.html

Oak Lawn Man Accused of Threatening Key Officials in Fox Lake Police Shooting Case: UPDATE

The man is accused of threatening to kill the officials unless they declare Lt. Joe Gliniewicz's death a suicide.

By AMIE SCHAENZER (Patch Staff) September 14, 2015



A retired Chicago police officer faces felony disorderly conduct charges for allegations he threatened to kill those involved in an investigation into the shooting death of Fox Lake Police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz.

An arrest warrant was issued Saturday for Joseph A. Battaglia, 54, of the 5600 block of West 103rd Street in Oak Lawn, on Saturday. He was arrested at his Oak Lawn home and has been charged with two counts of disorderly conduct, class 4 felony. Battaglia is being held at the Lake County Jail on a $100,000 bail, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Detective Christopher Covelli said in a news release.

The charges stem from a call made to the Lake County Coroner’s Office at about 2 p.m. on Friday. The caller said he planned to harm all of the task force members on the team investigating Gliniewicz’s unless Gliniewicz’s death was ruled a suicide, Covelli said.

The threats included other investigators, coroner’s office employees as well as Coroner Thomas Rudd and Lake County Major Crime Task ForceCommander George Filenko, according to media reports.

Filenko heads the Lake County Major Crime Task Force and is leading the investigation into Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz’s death.

During the call, the suspect identified himself as a “retired police officer.” The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division traced the calls to Battaglia and learned he was a retired Chicago police officer, Covelli said.

“Battaglia has had zero involvement in the investigation of Lieutenant Gliniewicz,” Covelli said.

Battaglia also called other police agencies and several media outlets over the past couple days, he said. Covelli provided the following information regarding recent media reports surrounding the case:

As of recent, some media outlets have reported on obtaining information from an anonymous source even after being told the information is inaccurate. It is unknown at this time if Battaglia is one of the “sources” media outlets have reported on regarding this investigation. Battaglia’s phone records show he has communicated with several media outlets during a similar time period.

“We will not tolerate any behavior which disrupts our investigative efforts. Any intentional criminal acts to distract or impair our investigation will be actively investigated and turned over to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office for prosecution,” Lake County Undersheriff Raymond Rose said.

An investigation continues into Gliniewicz’s death and officials have not determined a cause of death. Police have said they are looking for three men who Gliniewicz said he was chasing shortly before he was found shot dead in Fox Lake on Sept. 1.

Last week, police bashed Rudd for releasing“sensitive information” to the media while an investigation is still under way, calling the actions “completely irresponsible.”

Judge Veronica O’Malley also ordered Battaglia not have any contact, directly and indirectly, with Lake County officials in the coroner’s office and Filenko, according to the article. He was also ordered to surrender his firearms and FOID card.

Battaglia is next expected in court on Sept. 15.

http://patch.com/illinois/oaklawn/oa...-shooting-case

3 FOX LAKE SUSPECTS NOW 'PERSONS OF INTEREST', INVESTIGATORS SAY




Two weeks after Gliniewicz was found dead, authorities tell the I-Team that they are still searching for those three men, but now call them "persons of interest."
ABC7 I-Team Investigation

EMBED


By Chuck Goudie
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 06:44AM

FOX LAKE, Ill. (WLS) --
It has been two weeks since Lt. Joe Gliniewicz was found shot twice and dead in a field in Fox Lake.

Authorities seem no closer to solving the case than they were the day it happened.

Fourteen days ago, there were 400 police officers looking for three dangerous cop killers - men described as offenders and suspects. A community was shaken by fears that those killers were still in their midst.

"I would consider anyone who would murder police officer extremely dangerous," Cmdr. George Filenko, Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, said on Sept. 3.

In the days right after Lt. Joe Glinieweicz was found dead, authorities mounted a massive manhunt for the three men that Gliniewicz radioed to headquarters he was about to chase: two white men and a black man the lieutenant said he had encountered along a remote gravel road on his way to work.

"I've worked murder cases that have taken up to a year. And uh, this is a police officer's death and again, I keep emphasizing we are going to be relentless until we solve this officer's death. So there is no timeline," Cmdr. Filenko said on Sept. 3.

Two weeks after Gliniewicz was found dead, authorities tell the I-Team that they are still searching for those three men, but now call them "persons of interest," not suspects.

Although an official with the Lake County task force says the terms are interchangeable, many in law enforcement make careful distinctions between the terms. "Subject" usually means the focus of an active investigation while "suspect" describes someone believed to have been involved in a crime. "Person of interest" is the weakest of the three distinctions, and could include people that simply have information.

Initially on Monday, task force investigators said that there were no longer any federal agents on the ground still working the case.

A short time later that information was changed. An official stated that there was at least one FBI agent involved and others working on a "per request basis."

Despite the national attention and pressure to solve this case, suburban authorities claim they are still waiting for ballistics and gunpowder residue tests along with analysis of some unknown DNA found at the scene. Outside law enforcement experts question why this is taking so long in what is known as a "heater case."

Task force officials say they asked for the testing to be rushed, but say they are at the mercy of science and the laboratory where the evidence was sent.

http://abc7chicago.com/news/3-fox-la...terest/984475/

No change in bond for ex-cop charged with threats in Fox Lake shooting case

Joseph A. Battaglia is charged with threatening Lake County officials looking into a Fox Lake officer's death. (Lake County Sheriff's office)

Dan Moran Contact Reporter News-Sun

Bond reduction denied for ex-cop charged with threatening officials in Fox Lake officer shooting case


Calling the alleged actions of his client "stupid and wrong," an attorney for retired Chicago police officer Joseph Battaglia lobbied unsuccessfully Tuesday for a bond reduction on charges that Battaglia threatened Lake County authorities investigating the death of Fox Lake Police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz.

Battaglia, a 54-year-old Oak Lawn resident, has been held in Lake County Jail on $100,000 bond since Sunday after being charged with two felony counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly threatening Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd and Lake County Major Crime Task Force Cmdr. George Filenko over the phone.

In a brief appearance in bond court before Associate Judge Christen Bishop early Tuesday, Battaglia remained mostly silent in a jail jumpsuit as attorney Myron Goldstin asked for a bond reduction to $10,000.

"I realize the seriousness of the situation here in Lake County," said Goldstin, referring to "a very stupid, reckless act that Mr. Battaglia might have committed. … I think it's very clear that whatever my client might have said, it was stupid and it was wrong."

Goldstin added that Battaglia, who retired from the Chicago police department in 2012 following a 25-year career, is "very remorseful, (and) I believe he's not a risk for flight or to harm anyone."

While Bishop acknowledged Goldstin's contention that Battaglia had no criminal background, she added that the bond would stand as assigned on Sunday "given the seriousness" of the charges.

Bishop noted that Battaglia has turned in a firearm and a Firearm Owner's Identification Card to Lake County authorities and, if and when he can post 10 percent of the bond, conditions of his release would include that he refrain from contacting Rudd, Filenko or any members of the Lake County Coroner's office.

According to information released Sunday by the Lake County Sheriff's office, a man who identified himself as a retired police officer called the coroner's office at 2 p.m. Friday and made threats against "all of the Task Force members" and others investigating the Gliniewicz death unless the Fox Lake officer's death was declared a suicide.

The sheriff's office added that the individual attempted to block caller identification, but investigators were able to trace the call to Battaglia, who was subsequently arrested at his home.

On Tuesday, Goldstin agreed with earlier statements from Lake County officials that Battaglia had no connection to the Gliniewicz investigation.

"I believe, if he did make the statements that he's alleged to have made, they were made out of frustration, because as a former police officer, he was naturally, as everyone else is, concerned about the investigation," Goldstin said outside court, adding that Battaglia "had no insight on this case, (and) I believe he was just trying to get more information.

"I know it was never his intention to harm anyone," Golstin added. "Mr. Battaglia is not a violent person. He would never harm anyone."

According to Goldstin, the arrest warrant against Battaglia does not mention any statements demanding that the Gliniewicz death be investigated as a suicide.

"I haven't heard any tapes, and I don't know exactly what was said," Goldstin said. "I don't really know what he said. I'm only going by the allegations that were listed in the warrant for his arrest."

Reading from that warrant, Goldstin said "there 'was no reasonable ground for believing that such an offense would be committed.' So even in the state's warrant, they're saying he may have made a statement, but there's no possible way that it was going to be committed, and I think that's very mitigating."

Bishop assigned Battaglia a preliminary court appearance of Oct. 6, ordering that he be held until at least that date unless he can post bond. Goldstin said "we're going to try to get that money together, (but) it's $10,000, and that's a substantial amount of money."

Battaglia posted bail Tuesday afternoon, according to Lake County Jail.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburb...915-story.html

Authorities investigating possibility of suicide in death of Ill. police officer

By Matt Finn
Published September 15, 2015 FoxNews.com




In a potentially stunning twist, authorities are investigating the possibility the Illinois police officer thought to have been gunned down in the line of duty instead might have killed himself in a staged suicide.

As Fox News first reported last week, two sources close to the case say evidence suggests the 30-year police veteran, Lieutenant Charles Joseph Gliniewiecz, 52, could have shot himself -- in what was originally described by police as an execution-style murder.

Now, as police continue to actively investigate the case as a homicide, they say they aren't ruling out suicide.

Sources tell Fox News two shell casings were found about 100 feet apart from each other near Gliniewicz’s body, which was discovered face down. His hand was in a gun position, the firearm “dropped at his body.”

One bullet hit Gliniewicz in his bulletproof vest. The second and fatal shot struck him underneath his vest, fired in a downward trajectory, near the heart. There was no sign of a struggle or defensive wounds—especially one to save his own life.

The Lake County Coroner, Dr. Thomas Rudd, told Fox News that Gliniewicz died from a “single, devastating” shot to the torso. He said he hasn’t made a ruling in the death and that suicide is a possibility.

Immediately after Gliniewicz was discovered, a massive manhunt ensued including hundreds of local, state and federal officers. The team extensively searched the area by foot and with helicopter and dog teams but found nothing.

Two weeks after the officer’s death there are more questions than answers as police remain tight-lipped. There have been no arrests.

There are no witnesses, suspects or concrete leads in the death of the father of four, who was regarded as a pillar of the community and known as “G.I. Joe.”

The drama began on the morning of Tuesday, September 1 when Gliniewicz radioed in from a remote, marshy area near Fox Lake, Ill., that he was beginning a foot pursuit with three suspects, two white males and one black male. Shortly after that, his radio communication cut off—leaving police with minimal description of the men.

Minutes later, backup officers arrived and discovered Gliniewicz had been shot and killed. An enormous manhunt followed. Police quickly alerted the public to be on the lookout for the three suspects.

The FBI, ATF and Homeland Security participated in the investigation along with the Fox Lake Police Department, under the direction of Lake County Major Crimes Task Force Commander George Filenko.

The story gained national attention as teams of media crews flooded the quiet town.

In the following days, Filenko hosted a series of news conferences in which he told reporters and the anxious community that nearby traffic cameras and home surveillance systems captured video depicting what appeared to be the three suspects—but it would take time to verify what was on the tapes.

As the unsolved death investigation carried on into the Labor Day weekend, neighbors and tourists in the picturesque “Chain O' Lakes” area took to the streets and blue waters with caution. Three “cop killers” were on the run, but people weren’t quite sure who or what they should be looking for.

The tree-lined streets of the quaint community were lined with blue ribbons and signs in Gliniewicz’s honor. A long line formed at a print shop that was giving out free posters depicting Gliniewicz. A local Motorola company offered a $50,000 reward for a tip and information leading to an arrest.

The following Monday, Gliniewicz was given a ceremonial funeral attended by over 5,000 police officers from around the country. Thousands of mourners stood along the streets and in their yards as the procession of over 1,600 police cars took hours to drive the 18-mile route to the cemetery. Gliniewicz was hailed as a hero, the latest officer to be killed in the line of duty.

The next day, one week after Gliniewicz died, Filenko hosted his final news conference to date in which he told the public the three suspects who were caught on tape, as described in Gliniewicz’s radio call, were cleared. Receipts and affidavits showed they were not the cop killers.

Filenko said investigators still consider the officer’s death a homicide and were analyzing crucial DNA found at the crime scene—which they said does not belong to Gliniewicz. But he would not specify what it was.

As the mystery deepens and theories abound, police insist the investigation will be a “marathon not a sprint.”

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/09/15.../?intcmp=hpbt2

http://www.alipac.us/f19/authorities...-death-323335/

Son says slain suburban police officer did not kill himself


FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Fox Lake Police Department shows Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, was shot and died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, in Fox Lake, Ill. Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd said Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015 that Gliniewicz, who died last week suffered a “single devastating” gunshot wound, but he can’t rule whether it was a homicide, suicide or accident. (Fox Lake Police Department photo via AP, File) (Associated Press)
By Associated Press September 16 at 10:24 AM

FOX LAKE, Ill. — The son of a suburban Chicago police officer who was shot to death this month is angrily disputing any suggestion that his father took his own life.

Donald “D.J.” Gliniewicz tells the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald (http://bit.ly/1UVryFP ) that Fox Lake Police Lieutenant Charles Joseph Gliniewicz “never once had a single suicidal thought in his life” and that his family is upset about any suggestion that he killed himself.

The comments follow Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd’s statements last week that he had not yet ruled out the possibility that Gliniewicz’s Sept. 1 death was a suicide or an accident.

Gliniewicz was shot in a remote area after saying on his radio that he was pursuing three suspicious men. No arrests have been made and no suspects have been identified.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...652_story.html

Officials Reveal 'New Details' in Fox Lake Investigation

The Lake County Sheriff's office said "limited new details" will be announced during a 6 p.m. press conference


After sparring in press releases, Fox Lake police and the county coroner met and discussed the Case. NBC 5's Phil Rogers reports. (Published Monday, Sept. 21, 2015)

Updated 6 minutes ago
Officials on Monday said that gunshot residue and ballistic tests done during the investigation into a veteran Fox Lake police officer's shooting "do not support or exclude any theory."

The reports came in Monday morning, just as authoritieswere scheduled to meet following reports that they were at odds in their investigation, according to task force spokesman Chris Covelli.

• Fox Lake Officer's Son Addresses Suicide Rumors

Covelli said they are still investigating the shooting as a "homicide," based on Fox Lake police lieutenant Joseph Gliniewicz's radio call that he was pursuing three suspicious suspects just before his death and the fact that a canine managed to trace a path from the crime scene.

Covelli addressed DNA evidence found at the scene, which investigators earlier reported did not match Gliniewicz. He said the DNA is currently being analyzed against a database of all convicted felons along with anyone interviewed during the process of the investigation.

RAW: Officials Reveal the Latest in Fox Lake Investigation

The shooting prompted a furious police manhunt when Gliniewicz was shot Sept 1. After flooding western Lake County with over 400 officers, as well as helicopters and canines, the trail now appears to have gone cold, and police have not taken reporters’ questions since Sept. 9.

Covelli noted that authorities are pursuing more than 300 leads in the case.

• Officials Ruling Nothing Out in Fox Lake Officer's Death

"There is no rock left unturned," he said. "We are looking at every angle in this investigation."

Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd has revealed that Gliniewicz died from a “devastating” gunshot wound and officials said he was struck by two bullets, but investigators have not revealed how many shots were fired and if the fatal round came from the Lieutenant’s own gun, which was recovered at the scene.

Coroner Addresses Dispute in Fox Lake Investigation

Two weeks into the investigation into the death of Fox Lake Lieutenant Joe Gliniewicz and there are signs that investigators may be at odds. Charlie Wojciechowski reports. (Published Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015)

Last Tuesday, for the first time, officials with the task force investigating the officer’s death conceded they are considering both homicide and suicide.

Gliniewicz’s son Donald "D.J." Gliniewicz told the Daily Herald, "my father never once had a single suicidal thought in his life."

• Judge Won't Reduce Bond After Alleged Fox Lake Threats

Source:http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local...#ixzz3mQC9OzDJ

Editorial: It's OK to tell the full truth about the Fox Lake police officer's death


Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, a 30-year veteran of the Fox Lake Police Department, was shot and killed Sept. 1, 2015.

Editorial Board
Are three cop killers on the loose in Lake County?


Nearly a month has passed since the gunshot death of a northern Illinois police lieutenant shocked Americans coast to coast. Vivid accounts of the massive manhunt for three ostensible killers drove news accounts for days. The funeral of Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz — "G.I. Joe" to many friends — attracted fellow officers from across the U.S. The wails of bagpipes, a trumpeting of taps and seven helicopters flying in a "V" formation bid him a final tribute.

Unresolved then, as now, was the explanation of what led to the lieutenant's death. The fruitless quest for three perpetrators has given way not only to countless rumors but to vague official suggestions that authorities haven't ruled out homicide, suicide or accident.

We broach the desire for resolution with some trepidation: This case is about a husband, father, friend and beloved colleague. But the very ingredients that captivated so many Americans at the get-go now argue for more elaborate explanations than authorities will supply.

That's particularly unfair to the people of Lake County, who deserve their officials' best estimates of whether three cop killers are still on the loose. Arguably the lamest outcome would be an investigation that bides its time, yields no useful conclusion to citizens and leaves the cause and context of Gliniewicz's death undetermined.

Lake County authorities said Monday that they continue to investigate the death as a homicide — but they won't disclose what they've learned from gunshot residue and ballistics testing. The statement of a sheriff's detective that the homicide theory is supported by "the facts and the evidence" squared uneasily with an official posture that the test results "do not support or exclude any specific theory."

This isn't TV; citizens aren't entitled to the rapid solution of complex cases. They are, though, entitled to candor about a case that frightened — perhaps still frightens — many of them.

Among many questions authorities could answer now: Had Gliniewicz fired a weapon before his death? Did his own gun fire the fatal shot? And how likely is it that three other people were present when he died?


As probe of officer's death enters 4th week, focus still on homicide

We know how frantic and disorganized the first days of a big investigation can be. The urgency to share information within law enforcement — descriptions of suspects, vehicle plates, possible relationships among those involved in an incident — can overrun accuracy. In this case, early reports had perpetrators stripping Gliniewicz of his gun; subsequently we learned that the gun was near his body.

But while all of us give broad discretion to investigators and prosecutors as to what they reveal and what they hold back, we also expect more discrimination about releasing information after that early rush gives way to a more methodical pace.

The compounding complication in this case is that Gliniewicz was part of Lake County's law enforcement family. That creates potential conflicts of interest — and leaves citizens with dots that may or may not connect. Example: On Sept. 9, Fox Lake issued a statement saying that the retirement of the village's police chief four days before Gliniewicz died had prompted a routine review of "the Fox Lake Police Department's processes, procedures, supplies, facilities, vehicles and available equipment." Gliniewicz participated in that process and, upon his death, "the Village immediately made available to the Lake County Major Crime Task Force all the materials based on this review and other pertinent information in order to assist investigators."

We trust that, by now, Lake County authorities know whether that information is relevant to this investigation. Say so.

We don't suggest that there's something nefarious about this lockdown on public disclosures. It's just as likely that, given the high profile of the case, Lake County authorities aren't sure how to proceed. If so, asking publicly for assistance wouldn't be a show of weakness. In other jurisdictions, the Illinois State Police and the office of Attorney General Lisa Madigan have sorted through cases without big-footing local authorities. Similarly, the FBI and the office of U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon have experience in cases where local governments don't have all the resources, or the independence, a situation requires.

We hope everyone in Lake County law enforcement treasures the outpouring of community support that followed Lt. Gliniewicz's death. Citizens sympathized with the loss and did what they could to help or just tolerate the manhunt that disrupted their lives.

The flip side of that commitment should be more candor from investigators. Whatever the cause, the loss of this officer will be just as terrible a tragedy. The mourning of him will be just as intense. It's OK to tell the full truth — including whether investigators think three murderers are still on the lam.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/...-donald-trump/