Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Bill Gruenes was killed when his vehicle collided with another vehicle being driven by an intoxicated driver at the intersection of Thayer Road and Johnson Road in McHenry County.
He was en route to have film developed as part of an ongoing missing person investigation. The photographs were taken overnight, and the task force's commander had asked that the film be developed and brought to the 10:00 am briefing.
The driver of the vehicle that caused the collision had run through a stop sign. She pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana in 2005.
Sergeant Gruenes had served with the Johnsburg Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-82E36C76- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Gruenes gave the Johnsburg Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Johnsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Gruenes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant William J. Gruenes Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Gruenes Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William J. Gruenes Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Gruenes Jr. is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Gruenes Jr. was killed by automobile; narcotics involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Johnsburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.