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Politics & Government

New Police Chief Will Come From Countryside

Michael Ruth Will Start Nov. 5

Countryside Police Chief Michael Ruth has been named the new head of the Elmhurst Police Department.

Ruth, who begins in Elmhurst on Nov. 5, has been in Countryside for just over two years. Before that, he was with the Skokie Police Department for 29 years. He holds a Master of Science in Criminal and Social Justice from Lewis University and a Bachelor of Arts from Governors State University.

According to a city of Elmhurst press release, in Countryside, Ruth improved communications within the department and between the residents and police officers. He also established department-wide professional goals for accountability, ethics and transparency and guided strategic planning. In Skokie, he rose through the ranks from patrol officer to commander. 

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“In both locations, he was involved in improving police-community interaction by being visible, accessible and personally active within both communities,” the release said, referring to Ruth’s philosophy as “the process is just as important as the end result.”

The City Council approved Ruth's hiring on Monday.

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Ruth is an Illinois Certified Police Chief, an executive board member of the West Suburban Chiefs of Police Association, Chief and Chairman of the Major Crimes Assistance Team and a member of Rotary International.

“We are thrilled with Chief Ruth’s enthusiasm and approach to policing,” Elmhurst City Manager James Grabowski said, thanking interim police chief Dominic Panico for his service in that role and the entire Elmhurst police department for their support and patience throughout the search process.

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