G.I. Joke: The Life and Death of Lieutenant Gliniewicz

Joseph Campbell wrote, “It is only when a man tames his own demons that he becomes the king of himself, if not the world.” Problem is, sometimes there’s a thin line between “hero” and “hero complex.” Adoration and attention aren’t always good for people. After a while, they can start to believe so strongly in their own PR that they lose all sense of reality. And protecting the image can become the most important thing in their lives, crowding out everybody, and everything. I’d say this is the story of a fallen hero. But the fact is, he was never really a hero in the first place. He was just wearing the mask.

Join us for the story of Lt. Joe Gliniewicz, or as his admirers called him, G.I. Joe--a former paratrooper and 30 year veteran of the Fox Lake, Illinois police. A local celebrity and family man who devoted his time to the Boy Scout "Police Explorers" club and maintained an impeccable reputation...until his shocking death in 2015. What initially looked like a murder--an officer cut down in the line of duty--soon revealed itself as something very different, and revealed Joe Gliniewicz to be a villain in disguise.

Sources: https://www.fox29.com/news/disturbing-new-details-emerge-in-probe-of-disgraced-fox-lake-cop Michael Martinez, CNN special report "The Secret Life of GI Joe" https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/26/us/fox-lake-police-lt-joe-gliniewicz ABC: https://abc7chicago.com/melodie-gliniewicz-joe-fox-lake-police-guilty/11577785/ NBC, Joe Schuppe: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officer-joe-gliniewiczs-dark-double-life-leaves-village-shock-n458821 https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/bad-fox-lake-town-official-killed-article-1.2424992 CNBC's "American Greed," Episode "Badge of Dishonor" Investigation Discovery's "Married With Secrets," episode "A Darker Shade of Blue"

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