If the shift lever is moving in to neutral, you should be in neutral and it should roll. The override thing is for cars like your 2002, where it has smartkey (electronic ignition switch).
As a test put it in reverse and see if the backup lights come on.
When the tow driver moved it, I think he flipped a catch which would keep the shifter from moving without the key being turned in the ignition.
My suggestion would be to put a battery in it and go from there. Or at least jump start it and see if it will go under it's own power.

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I think you are onto something there ... "flipping the catch" sounds logical ... now if I can only figure out what he did. I will try to figure out who towed the car, and ask for their input. In the interim, I will grab a donor battery to see if the back-up lights work ... which would suggest the car would be in proper gear. If that is the case, the brakes may be frozen ... but I didn't think that would be the case (but I've been wrong before)!

Thanks for your time and assistance.

I would still welcome other input.