Fox Lake police shooting: Task force leader slams coroner over media comments

FOX LAKE – Authorities leading the investigation into the shooting death of Fox Lake Police Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz are condemning the Lake County coroner after he released to the media what they say is sensitive information.

In a Thursday afternoon release from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Major Crime Task Force Cmdr. George Filenko said there has not yet been communication between investigators and Coroner Thomas Rudd.

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

“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.”

Also in the release, Lake County Undersheriff Raymond Rose went so far as to call Rudd’s actions “completely outside of policy, procedure, protocols, and are completely unprofessional,” and strongly criticized what he called speculation from Rudd about what happened at the crime scene.

The release, from Lake County Sheriff’s Detective Chris Covelli, also states the information Rudd had released to the media has not been released to or confirmed by law enforcement officials involved in the case.

Rudd offered some information to the Northwest Herald earlier in the day, but would not give comment later after the release was sent.

In the morning, Rudd told the Northwest Herald he was leaning toward homicide as the manner of Gliniewicz's death, but he said he could not make an official determination until he receives more information from investigators.

Rudd also has not issued a final report detailing whether the manner of the Sept. 1 death was a homicide, suicide, accident or undetermined, and is keeping most details from the autopsy conducted the night of the slaying private.

“Based on the evidence gathered so far, I still am favoring homicide,” Rudd said. “But it’s still an open investigation.”

Rudd would not comment on what evidence made him favor homicide.

He said Gliniewicz died from a single, devastating gunshot wound, but would not provide details on where Gliniewicz was shot, or whether he was shot more than once. However, later Thursday, the Chicago Tribune reported Rudd said the fatal wound was to Gliniewicz’s torso.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday evidence located at the crime scene does support more than one shot was fired, but did not offer details on the exact number of shots fired, “as it is confidential information critical to the investigation.”

Rudd acknowledged Thursday the lack of an official determination has left some to speculate about the circumstances surrounding Gliniewicz’s death in the week since the shooting. Even so, Rudd said he could not rule out anything.

Determining a manner of death hinges on more information from the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, Rudd said. Such information includes details about gunpowder residue and findings from ballistics from the bullet that killed Gliniewicz.

Rudd also said he needs to know whether there were fingerprints or DNA found on the gun. Police have not answered questions about whether Gliniewicz’s gun was believed to be the weapon that fired the fatal bullet.

Finding a suspect who confesses to the killing also would make Rudd’s determination swifter, he said.

Police have said Gliniewicz was patrolling about 7:52 a.m. Sept. 1 when he noticed three males conducting suspicious activity in the 100 block of Honing Road near a marshy area and an abandoned concrete plant.

At 7:55 a.m., he said he was in a foot pursuit with two white males and a black male and called for backup. Officers arrived at 8:01 a.m. At 8:09 a.m., they found Gliniewicz shot. He was about 50 yards from his vehicle, police have said.

Three officers were present at the autopsy performed later that night, officials have said. Rudd and Filenko have said they have not spoken directly to each other.

Filenko has said investigators found Gliniewicz's gun at the scene. He announced Tuesday police had recovered DNA from the scene that was not Gliniewicz's, but he would not reveal where the DNA was found. Officials still are waiting for that DNA to be analyzed.

Covelli echoed previous sentiments that police were investigating the case as a homicide.

He said police have been reluctant to release information to the public because it is critical to the investigation.

“At the end of the day, the only people who should have the very specific facts are the investigators and the offenders,” Covelli said.

• Reporter Allison Goodrich contributed to this report.