Law could strip Gliniewicz family of survivor benefits

A law shepherded through the legislature by state Rep. Elaine Nekritz ultimately could strip Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz's family of pension benefits it might otherwise receive in his name.

The

Northbrook Democrat sponsored the law that was inspired by the case of former Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge, who was convicted in 2010 for lying about torturing suspects. It passed last year and was signed by former Gov. Pat Quinn as one of his last actions.

Law 'could apply'

Nekritz's law gives the attorney general the ability to go to court to stop pensions being paid to people who committed felonies on the job, or to their survivors, even if a retirement board approved payments.

“There are a couple of steps that have to occur for it to go into effect,” Nekritz told me following the revelation that Gliniewicz, 52, staged his suicide to look like murder after stealing from the department's youth Explorer program. “But it is definitely possible it (the law) could apply here.”

$69,750 pension

Gliniewicz's 30 years of service would make him eligible for an annual pension of up to 75 percent of his $93,000 salary, or $69,750.

Gliniewicz's pension first goes before the five-member Fox Lake police pension board. The attorney general's office declined to comment on any future actions it might take, spokeswoman Annie Thompson said.

Body cam demos

With Elgin police accepting a $250,000 federal grant for police body cameras, I called the Rev. Nathaniel Edmond, who arranged “conversations on race” between police and Elgin residents after the situation last year in Ferguson, Missouri. Edmond says officers who demonstrated the cameras at some of the church's meetings “were excited about embracing it. I think it's going to be very positive if it's in the right way,” he said, adding, “Now anything is subject to be abused, misused or manipulated.”

Praisefest

The church this weekend celebrated its choir's “Annual Day” - a Sunday afternoon praisefest of song that each year draws hundreds from the Chicago area.

Embassy honors East Aurora grad

A section of the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal will honor fallen East Aurora High School graduate

Sara Medina. Medina, 23, was one of six Marines killed in May during humanitarian and relief efforts after an earthquake. Officials say an embassy hallway will be “Vengeance Hall,” named after the call sign of the Marine helicopter Medina was aboard when it crashed in the mountains northeast of Kathmandu. Medina was the first woman from Kane County to have died while deployed.

Big bucks

Former Chicago Bear Brian Urlacher just dropped $5,000 into his brother Casey's campaign war chest, records show. Casey Urlacher, mayor of Mettawa, is vying to fill the seat GOP state Sen. Dan Duffy of Lake Barrington is vacating. The Urlacher brothers live so close their homes back up to one another.

You know you're from the 'burbs when...

What's a sign you're from the suburbs? “Having appeared in the Daily Herald at least once in your lifetime.” So says digital site Thrillist, which includes placement in our pages among other qualifiers, such as having gone to Six Flags Great America with your high school physics class and knowing your exact proximity to the nearest Portillo's.

Here's your name in the Daily Herald, Lisa Chatroop, author of the piece. And it's not the first time - Chatroop turned up in our pages as a seventh-grader whose cafeteria lunch had been turned into a fine-dining lesson at Blackhawk Middle School in Bensenville.

Take a look at the rest of the list at www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/chicago/signs-youre-from-the-chicago-suburbs.

Change in guard

Speaking of the Daily Herald, we have a change in guard at the front desk of our offices in Arlington Heights. Pat Westmoreland, who has brightened many of my days, is retiring this week. She'll be replaced by Bonnie Crivolio, a former Cook County sheriff's sergeant and jury supervisor who, I learned the other day, knew my now-retired dad Bruce when he was an assistant state's attorney. Stop by and say hello to Bonnie the next time you're here.

Miss him?

Miss Pat Quinn yet? That's the sign in the window of Greater Palatine Area Democrats as Illinois enters its fifth month without a budget.

Northwestern archives

Former Gov. Quinn, who reportedly is considering another bid for public office, is having his papers archived by Northwestern University, I'm told by a longtime Quinnster.

Wouldn't it be nice?

Beach Boys Legend Brian Wilson is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, with tickets ranging from $43 to $250. Get more information by calling (800) 982-2787, or visiting ticketmaster.com or geneseetheatre.com.

Selfie

Here's Sierra Club Director Jack Darin of Evanston, left, with colleagues Christine Nannicelli and Kevin Borgia soaking up one last bit of fall.