News 8 rides along with Illinois State Police officers reminding drivers about Scott’s Law
Since 2019, ISP has reported more than 140 crashes that violate Scott’s Law, three of which killed a trooper.
More Videos
- Next up in 5RELOAD: Jibreel Al-Amin 5TH LINEBACKER ADDITION for Kansas Jayhawks in 2026 Transfer Portal
- Mailbag Friday | Kansas City Royals Podcast
- Ag on 8: Iowa Farm Act, USDA Dives into Farmer Bridge Assistance
- KICKING FOR SUCCESS: Kansas ADDS Martin Connington, Rino Monteforte & Matthew Gill to Special Teams
- Portal Panic? Kiffin Makes Emergency Trip for Sam Leavitt After LSU Visit
ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, Ill. — Illinois State Police is enforcing the state’s move over law more strictly.
So far this year, four troopers have been injured in five crashes violating Scott’s Law. That’s the name of the Illinois law that requires drivers to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles with flashing lights.
Since 2019, ISP reports more than 140 crashes that violated Scott’s Law. About half of those crashes injured a trooper, and three were fatal.
RELATED: Illinois state trooper killed while clearing debris on I-55 in suburban Chicago
For ISP trooper Joseph Lambin, Scott’s Law stops are fairly routine. But many drivers he stops haven’t even heard of the law.
Lambin waited behind another trooper conducting a stop, watching for violations. He saw a Toyota fly by the flashing lights then pulled it over a few hundred feet later.
“As a general stance on it, it’s gonna be a zero tolerance for us,” Lambin said.
He said the ISP has been trying to educate drivers on the law, but it can only warn people for so long. So the ISP has started cracking down.
The minimum fine for a Scott’s Law citation is $250. If a driver injures someone, their license can be suspended for up to two years.
“Which is a pretty significant timeframe,” Lambin said. “If you injure somebody or you kill somebody on the side of the road, what’s two years look like to them? It’s a lot of time.”
If you can’t move over, Lambin said there’s more lenience.
During another traffic stop with the other trooper, a silver van didn’t move over, but slowed down by about 30 miles per hour. It had multiple cars next to it blocking the left lane.
“He made that conscious decision to slow down and react to the fact that he’s seeing emergency lights in front of him,” Lambin said.
His biggest goal when he stops people is to explain why it’s so important to move over.
“We’re people. I’ve got a family to go home to, I’ve got a wife, a kid, I’ve got parents grandparents still, who all want to see me go home at the end of the day,” Lambin said.
Some navigation apps, like Waze and Google Maps, will give drivers a heads-up when emergency vehicles are stopped. That gives them a chance to move over early.
Iowa has a similar move over or slow down law. It extends to any vehicle on the side of the road with flashing lights, carrying a $100 fine
Illinois State Police trooper arrested on federal child pornography charges
By Todd Feurer
Updated on: August 15, 2025 / 6:26 PM CDT / CBS Chicago
An Illinois State Police trooper, who is also a youth hockey referee, was arrested this week on federal child pornography charges.
Colin Gruenke, of Deerfield, is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, according to federal court records.
According to the charges, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children first learned in September 2024 that someone on the social media platform Kik had used two accounts to upload images of child pornography.
An investigation linked the user’s email address to Gruenke, and after obtaining multiple search warrants, federal agents confronted him at Illinois State Police headquarters in Des Plaines.
At the time, Gruenke was holding an iPhone in his hand, and agents seized it and found evidence of deleted images of child pornography, with some of the children appearing to be as young as 4 years old. Agents also executed a search warrant at his home, where they found a flash drive containing approximately 200 videos of child pornography, including numerous videos showing children being sexually abused by adults, including children as young as 10.
Gruenke was arrested on Wednesday, and made his first court appearance the same day, and was ordered to remain in custody pending a detention hearing on Monday.
As part of their investigation, federal authorities learned Gruenke plays in an adult hockey league in Northbrook, where he is also a youth hockey referee.
Illinois State Police said Gruenke has been placed on administrative leave without pay while they conduct an internal investigation.
The Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois said, after learning of the charges against Gruenke, it has notified its organizations and encouraged anyone with information to contact law enforcement. The group said Gruenke has not refereed a game for them since November 2021, and has not registered as a referee since the 2021-22 season.
Chicago Ridge Board honors retiring police officer
by Dermot ConnollyApril 1, 2025
The Chicago Ridge Village Board celebrated the long career of Police Officer Ken Norbut and his K-9 officer Thor with a retirement ceremony during the March 25 meeting.
Thor was not in attendance, but Norbut, who grew up in Chicago Ridge, was celebrated for his service to the community for more than 25 years.
“Going through my phone to find photos for your retirement party gave me a chance to reflect on the time we spent together. You knocked it out of the park. From starting the Special Olympics (police team) here and your time with the state police, you have really given back to the community you serve,” said Trustee Andrew Siegel, leading the crowd in the first of many rounds of applause. “You’re well respected by everyone. You really did a good job and we are going to miss you.”
“I have been with this guy a long time,” said Police Chief Jim Jarolimek, who noted that Norbut started his law enforcement career with stints in the Calumet Park, Hazel Crest and Posen police departments before joining the Chicago Ridge Department. “When you were with the Illinois State Police narcotics investigative team, you took a ton of drugs off the street and you got tens of thousands of dollars, much of which were returned to the community,”
“You did great with the community, joining the Lions Club, the Polish American Police Association, and adopting families and going shopping with them each Christmas. That was a blast,” said Jarolimek, crediting Norbut with raising thousands of dollars for Special Olympics as well. “I love you and I am going to miss you,” said the chief, giving him a warm hug.
“We have some parting gifts,” said Mayor Jack Lind, as Norbut was handed a black bag. “There are some chew toys in there for Thor, and a watch for you. You better check the box to make sure the watch is really there,” he joked. “On behalf of the board, we appreciate the work you have done and you are going to be missed.”
After shaking hands with all the board members, Norbut went to the microphone to say a few words.
“I grew up in Chicago Ridge. I remember seeing the old blue and white police cars as I walked around, going to football and baseball practice with Our Lady of the Ridge. I never thought I would ride in one but I fell in love with being a police officer. It meant a lot being a police officer in the village I grew up in. It meant the world to me,” said Norbut, his voice cracking with emotion. “It is important to give back to the community. We don’t serve ourselves, we serve the community. They are our bosses,” he said. “I have spent 25 years here with the police department. That is half my life. Walking away from the place I grew up is difficult. But this will always be home to me,” he concluded to a standing ovation.
Later in the meeting, the trustees unanimously endorsed a proclamation that Lind introduced naming April 7 as Little Palestine Day. This coincides with April being Arab-American Heritage Month. Neighboring communities of Hickory Hills, Oak Lawn, Palos Hills and Bridgeview passed the same resolution. The section of Harlem Avenue that stretched through all four suburbs is the main business district of the area informally known as Little Palestine.
“By formally recognizing Little Palestine Day, we aim to enhance cultural awareness and solidarity among residents, engaging the broader community in celebrating the rich heritage of the Arab-American community,” said President Rush Darwish, of the Arab-American Business and Professional Association, in a letter sent to mayors asking for the designation. He said it would recognize the cultural significance of Little Palestine, noting that this area of southwest Cook County has the largest Palestinian community in the United States.
