New Police Chief Will Come From Countryside
Michael Ruth Will Start Nov. 5
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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.
“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.
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.
David C. Couper
11:13 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Do your new police chief a big favor, ask him to read, “Arrested Development: A Veteran Police Chief Sounds Off About Protest, Racism, Corruption and the Seven Steps Necessary to Improve Our Nation’s Police” (Amazon.com). And visit my blog at http://improvingpolice.wordpress.com. Police can be improved. Learn how.
Bill Angel
3:27 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Lets see now. 29+2=31 years. Lets say he started as a patrol office at at the tender age of 22. 22+31=53. Could he be looking to retire with full beefed up pension fairly soon? Just asking?
Not a single officer from within the department fit the requirement?
Dominic is a real stand up guy!
Stewart Levine
5:34 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
You would have thought they would have picked someone from within the ranks, there are obviously pros and cons to that, but a police chief from two suburban cities in cook county? Cook county is one of the most corrupt county's in the country. It is often referred to as Crook County, and is a bastion of corruption. I do wonder how we can truly stem the tide of filth coming into dupage county from the east.
I think there should be more Elmhurst Police pulling over vehicles on
Roosevelt Road,
Butterfield Road,
St Charles Road,
North Ave,
Grand Ave.
at all hours of the day. Often these main arteries are left wide open, you could drive a locomotive full of whatever through. talk about revenue generation, working these arteries is a gold mine which should be capitalized on.
The amount of drivers with bogus vehicle registration stickers, expired plates, no license, suspended or revoked, DUI, drugs, warrants, you name it, I would guess that there are certain times of the day that you could go fishing for these types of offenders, and catch some big fish and small fish.
Stewart Levine
5:35 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
forgot to mention lake st.
Al Fournier
9:27 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
I have known and worked with Mike for many years. He is a great leader and a very honest man. Elmhurst is lucky to get him.
diane schneeloch
8:12 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
Al, moving into town and my brother in law went to FBI academy with Mike. He says Mike is a stand up guy and Elmhurst is lucky to have him!
Dr. Michael A. Langer
12:20 am on Saturday, October 6, 2012
Congratulations to a terrific individual. Mike Ruth is a class guy and will be an asset to the Elmhurst Police Department.
Lt. Michael A. Langer
Skokie Police Department (Retired)
Michael Patrick
2:04 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012
A Chief from outside brings fresh ideas. Sounds like they looked for and found just that. Someone decided somebody's cheese needed to be moved.