MADISON, Wis. — In a moving ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol, Detective Pete Deates was presented with the Legislature’s Hometown Heroes Award, recognized as the 2025 First Responder of the Year. The honor — made possible through the nomination of Representative Tip McGuire and citizens of the 64th Assembly District — highlights Deates’s exemplary service to Kenosha and beyond.

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This statewide recognition arrives as a fitting tribute to a man whose daily work often goes unseen, yet whose impact is profound. As lead detective of Kenosha’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Bureau, Deates has devoted years to protecting the most vulnerable, often working in the darkest corners of the digital world.

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From Solo Investigator to ICAC Unit Leader

As earlier reported by Kenosha County Eye, Deates initially carried the ICAC workload essentially as a one-man operation. Since 2019, he handled the complex, emotionally taxing investigations into child sexual abuse material, building cases, gaining search warrants, and coordinating with prosecutors. Over time, the volume of tip referrals increased — from just one or two per month to more than five on average — pushing the need for a dedicated team.

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By late 2024, the Kenosha Police Department formalized the ICAC unit. Now, the team includes Lieutenant Joe Riesselmann, Officers Megan Hird and Brittni Bray, and Iris, the electronic-storage detection K9 trained to sniff out hidden digital storage devices.

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Deates serves as Iris’s handler. He has said the dog has made the difference in multiple cases — finding micro SD cards or other hidden storage that would otherwise have been missed. The duo frequently assist agencies across Wisconsin and occasionally in neighboring states such as Illinois and Indiana — there are only about seven such ESD (Electronic Storage Detection) dogs in the state. Iris was procured through funding from the nonprofit OUR Rescue, allowing Kenosha’s ICAC team to deploy this cutting-edge capability.

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In 2025 alone, they’ve already tackled dozens of active cases — nearly half of which were opened before midyear. The investigative work combines digital forensics, traditional law enforcement tactics, search warrants, and long hours spent sorting through massive volumes of data.

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Beyond Investigations: Leadership, Representation, and Community Trust

Deates’s leadership extends past criminal investigations. Since 2008, he’s been involved with the Kenosha Professional Police Association, and since 2011 he has served as its President. Through this role, he has worked to foster cooperation and trust between rank-and-file officers, city administration, and police leadership.

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The award ceremony at the Capitol drove home another point: community recognition matters. Representative Tip McGuire and the residents of his assembly district showed that what sometimes happens in closed rooms — in digital forensics labs, in KPD’s evidence rooms, in court submissions — is seen and valued.

Deates, visibly moved, thanked his partners, colleagues, and especially the community. He reminded attendees that the threats he chases aren’t just abstract data points, but real people — children and families whose lives are forever altered.

A Well-Deserved Honor, and a Call to Persevere

The “Hometown Heroes” award underscores two things: that first responders are often our quiet stalwarts, and that extraordinary effort does not go unnoticed. For Deates, whose days are spent in service to those who can’t speak up for themselves, it’s affirmation of a mission.

But the work isn’t done. The digital threats continue evolving, and the ICAC team must stay ahead. With Iris at his side, and the support of KPD, the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office, community allies, and law enforcement partners statewide, Deates is positioned to lead further breakthroughs.

For Kenosha — and for children across Wisconsin — recognizing Pete Deates is more than symbolic. It’s a statement: we see you. We support this mission. We stand behind you.

“Please join us in congratulating Detective Deates on this well-earned recognition, and in thanking him (and Iris) for their tireless service,” said a Kenosha Police spokesman.

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