Roll of Honor

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Sergeant

William J. Gruenes, Jr.

Johnsburg Police Department — Johnsburg, IL

Felonious

End of Watch January 24, 2003

Age 33

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 150 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Department Johnsburg Police Department

Location Johnsburg, IL

Platform Identity jpd.mchenry.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 24, 2003

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile; Narcotics involved

Offender Convicted

Sergeant William J. Gruenes, Jr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Johnsburg Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Gruenes, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William J. Gruenes, Jr. Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Gruenes, Jr. is highlighted in Jan.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Gruenes, Jr. was killed by automobile; narcotics involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518