In a case that has stunned both law enforcement and the youth sports community in Illinois, state police trooper Colin Gruenke of Deerfield faces federal charges related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The investigation, which began in September 2024, has since uncovered disturbing evidence, and Gruenke remains in custody as authorities continue to probe the full extent of his alleged crimes.
According to multiple reports, including those from the Lake and McHenry County Scanner, NBC Chicago, and WTVO, the first sign of trouble emerged when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip from the social networking app Kik. The tip indicated that someone, later identified as Gruenke, had used two accounts on the platform to upload and distribute child pornography. The messaging app flagged the accounts in September 2024, and a subsequent investigation quickly linked the user’s IP address to Gruenke’s Deerfield residence via Comcast records.
On August 13, 2025, federal agents executed search warrants at two locations: the Illinois State Police headquarters in Des Plaines, where Gruenke was present, and his home in Deerfield. During the search at headquarters, agents confronted Gruenke while he was holding his iPhone. According to court records cited by NBC Chicago, a manual review of the phone revealed “thumbnails of deleted screenshots depicting child pornography,” including images featuring fully nude prepubescent children posed in a lewd and lascivious manner. Some of the images reportedly depicted children as young as four years old.
The search of Gruenke’s home yielded even more damning evidence. Agents found a flash drive in a bedroom nightstand drawer containing approximately 200 video files of child pornography. According to CBS News and other outlets, many of these videos showed children being sexually abused by adults, with some victims as young as ten years old. The sheer volume and explicit nature of the material left investigators deeply concerned.
Federal authorities also uncovered additional details about Gruenke’s alleged efforts to conceal his activities. Investigators stated that he used a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to hide his location while uploading child sexual abuse material to Kik. Court records further revealed chat logs between Gruenke and a third party, in which they discussed child sexual abuse in graphic detail. These logs, as described in coverage by WTVO, provided crucial evidence of Gruenke’s intent and involvement in the distribution of illegal material.
Following his arrest on August 13, Gruenke was placed on administrative leave without pay by the Illinois State Police, who are now conducting an internal investigation. The department emphasized its cooperation with federal partners and stated that it has “directly supported and advanced” the investigation. Gruenke remains in custody, and his detention hearing is scheduled for August 18, 2025. He faces one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, both federal offenses.
The case has also sent shockwaves through Illinois’ youth hockey circles. Gruenke was a well-known figure in the local hockey community, having served as a referee for junior and high school leagues. According to the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI), Gruenke last officiated a game on November 27, 2021, and has not been registered as a referee since the 2021-22 season. He also played in an adult hockey league in Northbrook, further embedding himself in the sport. The AHAI responded to the news by notifying all affiliate organizations and encouraging anyone with information to contact law enforcement. In a statement provided to ABC 7, the association said, “Immediately upon learning of the charges against him, we notified all our affiliate organizations and encouraged anyone with information to contact law enforcement. We also submitted the information to the U.S. Center for SafeSport.”
Authorities believe that Gruenke’s involvement in hockey may have extended to his online activities. The username he used on Kik, “giceman52,” is thought to reference his hockey background, according to court documents reviewed by NBC Chicago. While there is currently no evidence suggesting that Gruenke’s alleged crimes involved any of the children he encountered through hockey, the revelation has nonetheless rattled the community and prompted calls for greater vigilance in youth sports.
The terminology surrounding these crimes has also come under scrutiny. While the term “child pornography” is widely used in legal and media contexts, organizations like the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) advocate for the term “child sexual abuse material” (CSAM). As RAINN points out, “While some of the pornography online depicts adults who have consented to be filmed, that’s never the case when the images depict children. Just as kids can’t legally consent to sex, they can’t consent to having images of their abuse recorded and distributed.” The organization further emphasizes, “Every explicit photo or video of a kid is actually evidence that the child has been a victim of sexual abuse.”
The investigation’s origins highlight the crucial role that technology companies and watchdog organizations play in identifying and stopping the spread of CSAM. In this instance, Kik’s reporting to NCMEC set the wheels in motion for a thorough investigation, culminating in the arrest of a law enforcement officer who, by all outward appearances, was serving his community. This case serves as a sobering reminder that those entrusted with public safety are not immune from scrutiny and must be held to the highest standards.
As the legal process unfolds, the Illinois State Police and federal authorities continue to urge anyone with additional information to come forward. The AHAI has echoed this call, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability in youth sports and beyond. For now, Gruenke remains in custody, awaiting his detention hearing, while both law enforcement and the community grapple with the fallout of these deeply troubling allegations.
With the investigation ongoing and the full impact of Gruenke’s alleged actions still coming to light, the case stands as a stark illustration of both the dangers lurking in digital spaces and the vigilance required to protect society’s most vulnerable members.
