Late Elmhurst Chief Known For Humor, Love Of Job

Elmhurst IL

13 June, 2022

8:26 AM

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ELMHURST, IL – With nearly 45 years in law enforcement, late Police Chief Michael Ruth stayed in the profession long after many would have turned in their badges. "I've known many officers who counted the days until retirement," Mayor Scott Levin said at Ruth's memorial service on Friday. "Mike Ruth could have retired years ago. But he loved his job. "He was frequently in the office or patrolling the streets well after the end of the business day and into the evening," the mayor said. "He was quiet and private, but he was worth spending the time to get to know. You would learn that he had the most wonderful sense of humor." Ruth, a 63-year-old Crestwood resident, died May 30 while recovering from a medical procedure. Levin recalled Ruth's response to the demonstrations two years ago after George Floyd's death in Minneapolis. "The chief and I had many talks during the social unrest that occurred in 2020," said Levin, then an alderman. "He relied on his many years of experience as a police officer and commander in Skokie, noting the diversity present in that village." In response to Floyd's death, an Elmhurst group called the Backyard Caucus formed. "They were trying to present the experience of people of color in Elmhurst," Levin said. "This was a diverse group that met weekly and literally in a backyard. The group had many questions about what our police department was doing – some of it initially critical – and asked if our police chief would come to talk to them. "He did so gladly and answered all of their questions, building confidence in our police department and putting the residents at ease," Levin said during the ceremony, which was outside the police station. Ruth's childhood friend, Denis Chapin, said little doubt existed that Ruth wanted to be a police officer when they were growing up in Alsip. Chapin recalled when he was on a tricycle racing behind a fire truck to find out what was going on. Ruth asked to join him. Then a police officer told them to stop, Chapin said. They looked up at the man, who was in full uniform, including a shiny star. "Holy cow, he was like 10 feet tall," Chapin said. "Who is this guy? He goes, 'Boys, I'm Patrolman John Anderson. I'm here to make sure you guys stay safe. You can't cross that street unless your mother comes here.' "I go Mike, 'He's a policeman. What do you think?'" Chapin said. "Mike says, 'Oh, oh, I want to be a policeman.' I think that was the beginning of his career." Burr Ridge Police Chief John Madden also paid tribute to Ruth, who became Elmhurst's police chief a decade ago. Madden said they knew each other for 42 years, meeting while both were dispatchers. "That's when I got to know the practical joker side of Mike," Madden said. Madden said his town lacked a special police database, so he had to call nearby Alsip, where Ruth worked, to run registrations. "On routine inquiries, Mike would give me some crazy name and address he made up. After I provided it to the officer, Mike would call back to the dispatch center, and all I'd hear was laughing," Madden said. "He had a pretty good laugh." Madden also said Ruth was sure to remind him that the camera adds 20 pounds after Madden appeared on TV in news conferences. When the dust settled after a major incident, Ruth would call him for a well-being check. "That's the kind of friend he was," Madden said. The memorial service is on video on Elmhurst's YouTube page.