Lake County Authorities Blast Coroner For Talking About Officer's Death Amid Investigation
Fox Lake Case Spurs Back-And-Forth Between Lake County Offices
(CBS) – Lake County police officials have blasted Coroner Thomas Rudd for releasing information to the media about the fatal shooting of Fox Lake Police Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz.
Rudd told WBBM earlier this week Gliniewicz, 52, died of a single gunshot wound and died "fairly quickly." The officer died Sept. 1 after he radioed he was in pursuit of three men. No arrests have been made, despite a feverish response by law enforcement.
The coroner said his office has not ruled out the possibility of suicide or accident, pending further forensic test results. CBS 2's Brad Edwards reports Rudd's office says the fatal wound was to the officer's torso.
On Thursday, the Lake County Sheriff's Office issued a news release saying the Lake County Major Crime Task Force is "continuing to move forward" with federal authorities in pursuing leads in the officer's death. This includes DNA material found at the scene of the officer's death. Officials said it was inappropriate for Dr. Rudd to comment on the case at this time -- and that it could even jeopardize the investigation.
"Releasing information which is sensitive to this investigation puts the entire case at risk. All of the progress made since this tragic incident is potentially in jeopardy," Task Force Cmdr. George Filenko said in a written statement. He said Rudd has not talked with members of the task force.
Undersheriff Raymond Rose added: "Doctor Rudd's actions are completely outside of policy, procedure, protocols, and are completely unprofessional."
Gliniewicz was buried Monday in a ceremony that attracted wide media attention and drew representatives of law enforcement from around the state and country.
The officer's death comes amid an internal investigation into the Fox Lake Police Department and the recent retirement of the police chief.
At a news conference Thursday evening, Filenko said he considers the case an active homicide investigation.
"We don't work cases off of assumptions. We work cases off of facts," he tells Edwards.
