Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police John Ruth was shot and killed while investigating a murder that had occurred the previous day. A farmhand had gone to an adjoining farm on Jackson Road and fatally shot a resident before fleeing into the woods. Chief Ruth and another officer located him in the woods, but the man opened fire with a shotgun and shot Chief Ruth in the chest. The other officer was able to get him to a car that took him to Nesbitt Hospital. He died of his wounds the following day. A posse located the subject shortly after Chief Ruth's death. The man fired at them several times before committing suicide. Chief Ruth had served with the Lehman Township Police Department for five years and had previously served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-C1E43D1D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Ruth gave the Lehman Township Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lehman community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Ruth.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police John Tobia Ruth is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Tobia Ruth's cause is highlighted.
How John Tobia Ruth Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Tobia Ruth is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Tobia Ruth was killed by gun; unknown type.