An Illinois State Police trooper, identified as Colin Gruenke of Deerfield, has been arrested on charges including one count of distribution of child pornography, according to a federal court records. Gruenke, who has also served as a youth hockey referee, was taken into custody at the Illinois State Police headquarters in Des Plaines, an arrest that has sent ripples through both the law enforcement and local sports communities.
As reported by NBC Chicago, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was first to alert federal agents in September 2024, after receiving notifications from the social networking app Kik about the upload and distribution of files appearing to contain child pornography. The complaint details that a second Kik account linked to the same email address was also used to unjustly share illicit content, setting the stage for a comprehensive inquiry.
Further investigations led to Gruenke's address being connected to the IP addresses used in these accounts, as per Comcast records. Federal agents executed a search both at his home and while Gruenke was present at his workplace. During the property search, a flash drive containing roughly 200 videos depicting child pornography was seized. Gruenke's cellphone was also confiscated, with agents finding "thumbnails of deleted screenshots depicting child pornography," an act which further implicates his possession of prohibited material.
CBS News details that some images found were of children estimated to be as young as four years old. In relation to his involvement with youth sports, the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois has eagerly taken distance from Gruenke, stating he has not been registered as a referee since the 2021-22 season, and they have encouraged anyone with information to boldly contact law enforcement. The last game he officiated was in November 2021.
Currently, Gruenke is on administrative leave without pay, as the Illinois State Police conduct an internal investigation, ensuring complete cooperation with federal partners throughout the course. A statement from the Illinois State Police stated that they have directly supported and advanced the investigation. Meanwhile, the trooper will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Aug. 18, as the community grapples with the disappointment and betrayal evoked by the charges against an individual entrusted to uphold both the law and standards of youth sportsmanship.
