Hundreds Mourn Fallen Fox Lake Officer During Vigils
FOX LAKE, Ill. (CBS) -- Hundreds of mourners remembered fallen Fox Lake officer Lt. Joe Gliniewicz at two vigils Wednesday evening.
The first vigil took place at Lakefront Park.
The family preacher, Fr. Lyle Kauffman says the murder shows these are dangerous times. Mayor Donny Schmit said his friend's death has left a hole in his heart, but is was nothing compared with the pain obvious in the face and in the words of Melanie Gliniewicz as her sons surrounded her on stage.
"Joe was my best friend, my hero, the love of my life for the last 26 and half years," she said. "He was my rock as much as I was his rock. Every night he came home to me. He was the most wonderful caring and loving father to our boys."
Gliniewicz thanked everyone for attending and for the support and prayers coming in from around the country.
In the closing prayer, Minister Mike Johnson said Gliniewicz died serving the community and was about helping others. He asked the crowd who among them would replace him.
A second vigil took place outside the Fox Lake Police Station. At the silent vigil, the signs did the talking. The signs read, "You Will Be Greatly Missed," "A Hero Remembered Never Dies" and "G.I. Joe, A True American Hero."
Many stood with lit candles. Officers in full uniform from Lincolnshire and Zion stood next to Fox Lake residents while Police Explorers wore special T-shirts and other scouts their uniforms.
Adults left flowers while children left toy squad cars and helium-filled balloons in the shape of stars.
Hundreds here in Lakefront Park to honor Lt. Joe Gliniewicz. #GIJoe #FoxLake Watch live now on @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/Pb9cVLEXvq
— Audrina Bigos (@AudrinaBigos) September 2, 2015
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Earlier in the day, CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot spoke with Gliniewicz's friend Mitchel Gibson, the general manager of Moretti's Restaurant in Fox Lake. Gibson says he still can't believe Joe is no longer here.
"It's still not real," he says.
Gibson says Gliniewicz, affectionately known as, Joe or G.I. Joe, gave his heart and soul to the young people of Fox Lake.
"He put people first, definitely, before himself," he says.
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Gliniewicz helped mentor those aspiring to have careers in law enforcement, even using nearby Famous Freddie's Roadhouse Restaurant, to conduct mock police scenarios, for the Explorers program.
"He was one of those guys, what I like to call, a doer," says Gibson. "He never sat around and expected praise for anything that he did. He just did his job every day and took pride in it."
"I feel Joe made a difference in many, many young lives in this town," says former Town Councilman Jack Kiesgen. "He was excellent with our young people."
Back at Moretti's Restaurant, waitress Lauren Paradise remembers Gliniewicz. He usually sat at the same table when he ate here, each week, with his wife.
"Just always smiling, everybody just knowing who he was and did a lot for the community so people appreciate that and you could see it," Paradise says.
