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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives mourn the loss of Elmhurst Police Chief
4Michael R. Ruth, who passed away on May 30, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Michael Ruth was born to Carl and JoAnn Ruth in
6Evergreen Park on April 23, 1959; he graduated from Alan B.
7Shepard High School in 1978; he served for 44 years in law
8enforcement in multiple Chicago suburbs; he began as a
9dispatcher in Alsip and then became a patrolman in Hometown
10before joining the Skokie Police Department in 1981; he served
11in many roles during his time with the Skokie Police
12Department and eventually rose through the ranks to the
13position of commander; he then served as chief of police in
14Countryside from 2010 to 2012 before being appointed to the
15position of chief of police in Elmhurst; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Michael Ruth's greatest accomplishments in his
1710-year role as Elmhurst police chief were building strong
18community engagement initiatives and implementing new crime
19prevention technologies; specifically, he implemented numerous
20Community Oriented Policing standards, such as increasing
21social media presence, increasing presence at and around
22Elmhurst schools, and instituting a Prescription Drug Take
23Back program, a NARCAN and Epi-Pen deployment program, and a

 

 

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1Citizens Police Academy; he most notably implemented the
2Neighborhood Roll Call program, which brought the Police
3Officers Shift Meeting to different neighborhoods two week
4nights each week to inform and answer questions from the
5residents, making the community safer and more informed; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Most notably, Michael Ruth helped the Elmhurst
7Police Department reach Tier 1 State Accreditation, a
8recognition by the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation
9Program Council (ILEAP) that showcased the department's
10professionalism in interacting with the community and provided
11a model for other police departments to follow; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Michael Ruth also served as a professor, teaching
13criminal justice students at the University of
14Illinois-Chicago and Governors State University, sharing his
15personal experiences and knowledge about law enforcement; he
16was also a graduate of the 207th Session of the FBI National
17Academy, where he was chosen to go through a 10-week program
18learning about terrorism, law, management, behavioral science,
19forensics, and much more in order to become a better leader for
20his community; he also served as president of the West
21Suburban Chiefs of Police Association; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Michael Ruth was committed to a sense of honor,
23duty, and service, as reflected by his last radio call in

 

 

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1Elmhurst, which was dedicated to remembering his life, his
2love for his family, appreciation by those at the City of
3Elmhurst who knew and worked with him, and his commitment to
4the City of Elmhurst; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Michael Ruth was preceded in death by his parents
6and his sisters, Carla Jean Ruth and Theresa Cruzen Martinka;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, Michael Ruth is survived by his wife, Susan L.
9Ruth; his daughter, Susan C. Ruth; his sisters, Patricia
10(Chris) Marsicano, Christina (Mark) Kakuk, and Laura (David)
11Piolatto; his nieces and nephews; his cousin, Valerie
12Harrington; and his beloved dogs, Bailey and Rudy; therefore,
13be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
15HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16we mourn the passing of Elmhurst Police Chief Michael R. Ruth
17and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends,
18community, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Michael Ruth as an expression of our
21deepest sympathy.