He had four sons. He had a loving wife. His unit called him “G.I. Joe.” September 1st, 2015, nearing the end of thirty years in the Fox Lake Police Department, Lt. Charles Joseph Gilniewicz was shot during an arrest. He was found about 50 yards from his squad car by a responding officer. The officer was planning to retire later this September. His wife Mel stated, “My world got a little bit smaller with his passing.”

The entire town of Fox Lake and the surrounding area placed blue ribbons on their flag posts and trees. This search was referred to by the media as “Manhunt.” According to the Chicago Tribune, “[He] died of a ‘single’ devastating wound to his body.”

“We obviously know a bullet killed him,” said Coroner Thomas Rudd.

While the bullet killed him, they still have not found the suspected murderers. “We are back to looking for two white men and one black men” said Detective Christopher Covelli.

In search of the two suspects, the “Manhunt” completely shut down Fox Lake and surrounding towns. Participating in the closings, Grant Community High School reported that all the schools in the district  had shut down. Along with this, people did not attend work that day and kept G.I. Joe in their prayers.

“Every theory is being looked at. Nothing has been eliminated at this point,” said Covelli. This meant that they have mainly investigated homicide but not completely eliminated the possibility of suicide. Also, DNA tests have been found, and there have been reports of someone else’s DNA on the fallen officer. A complete pathology report should be expected in a few days.

As the hearts of Fox Lake ache, ribbons and signs of the fallen officer show how significant he was to their community. At the mile long funeral procession, thousands of people around their town observed as he was carried to his final burial place. Citizens in the crowd chanted, “G.I.Joe.”