Local Man Restores Gliniewicz Patrol Car, Auctions it Off to Help Benefit Suburban Family

Just over a year ago, the owners of a suburban trucking company bought the patrol car of the late Lt. Joe Gliniewicz at a fundraising auction as a way to honor the "fallen hero."

In the first week owning the car, Tim Potoczny drove the 2002 B4C Camaro police car around with pride. He and his partner at Sparrow Express Transport were the top bidders at the auction hosted by the Volo Auto Museum and paid $20,100 for the car, which was decked out in decals that paid tribute to Gliniewicz, according to the Daily Herald. At the time in mid-September 2015, Gliniewicz’s death was still being considered a murder, and 100 percent of the proceeds from the auction went to Gliniewicz’s four children.

"It was pretty neat. ... People would stop and take pictures," Potoczny, a Gurnee resident, told the Daily Herald about the first days of owning the car.

But that all quickly changed.

Two months after Gliniewicz was found shot dead in Fox Lake on Sept. 1, authorities released information that the veteran officer actually took his own life. He killed himself as officials in Fox Lake began to close in on and question his involvement in an embezzlement scheme. Turns out, he had been stealing from the Fox Lake Explorer program, which he ran, for years.

• READ MORE ON PATCH: GI Faux: Hero Cop Committed the 'Ultimate Betrayal'

This, obviously, changed the way Potoczny and the public viewed his newly purchased police car.

"A few months after the scandal it was kind of uncomfortable looking at the car every day," Potoczny told the Daily Herald.

On Nov. 5, Sparrow Express Transport Inc., released the following statement on its Facebook page:

In light of the outcome from the investigation into the death of Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz’s. The Sparrow Express Transport Inc. Family is deeply disheartened by the outcome of the investigation. At the time of Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz death, Sparrow Express reacted quickly and swiftly with a large donation in hopes that we were genuinely helping the family of a Hero in our community through a difficult time. Sparrow Express Transport purchased the 2002 CHP Highway Patrol that was decaled “in Memory” of the fallen officer for $20,100, from the Volo Museum’s Charity auction for Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz. Nevertheless, we are still proud of the fact we had the opportunity to help the Gliniewicz children, especially now.

Potoczny decided to take the stigmatized car and turn it into something he could at least stand to look at.

He stripped the Gliniewicz decals and restored the rare police car to its original look. He outfitted the Z28 SS coupe with a 5.7-liter and a 350-cubic-inch V-8 engine. And then, the 2002 California Highway Patrol Camaro sat in a garage at his business and started to collect dust, according to the Daily Herald.

Months later, Potoczny learned of a high school classmate's death. Huntley Police Sgt. L.J. Marek died on Aug. 23 at age 40 after battling synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, for two years. Both Potoczny and Marek are graduates of Palatine High School, according to the Daily Herald.

Potoczny decided to auction off Gliniewicz’s car again — but this time, the proceeds would go to Marek’s wife, Kim, and her three children, Sam, Ben and Leo, according to a press release from the Volo Auto Museum.

“We were really saddened to learn of Sgt. Marak’s untimely death,” Volo Auto Museum Director Brian Grams said in a news release. “When the guys from Sparrow Express approached us about doing another auction of the police Camaro, this time to benefit Marak’s family, for sure we were on board.”

Last week, the car brought in $18,750 in a charity eBay auction, according to the Volo Auto Museum news release. Potoczny said he is glad the proceeds will now go to the Marek family.

“I’m so, so sorry for their loss,” Potoczny said. “I’m glad that we found a way to offer a measure of help. I am excited and encouraged to witness the generosity displayed in this auction and to end this collector-car ownership on a very positive note.”

The car’s new owner is thrilled by his acquisition. Mike Del Puppo, a retired police officer and former special deputy U.S. Marshal, is a patrol car collector, according to the Volo Auto Museum press release. Del Puppo, of Sanger, Calif., said he’s excited to bring the 2002 Camaro back to California while also helping Marek’s family.
Donations are still pouring in for the Marek family via a GoFundMe page. So far, nearly $90,000 has been raised for the Huntley family. Those interested in donating can do so on the GoFundMePage.

MORE ON PATCH

• 'GI Joe' Gliniewicz — Fox Lake's Shame 1 Year Later
• What Will Happen to Money Donated Following Gliniewicz Scandal?