Backstabber Report

Retired Bethlehem PA Cop Backstabs Public Trust – $19K Missing

The Morning Call, an area newspaper serving the counties of NE Pennsylvania reports that Cheryl Ruth, 46, of Moore Township was charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property for stealing cash seized by police between 2000 through 2007, the years she was in charge of safeguarding the money.

Ruth’s criminal charges were another blow to a department hit with recent allegations of misconduct by officers while on duty. Last month, Bethlehem officials said they will move to fire two police officers involved in a car chase and crash that led to allegations of excessive force and a tampering-with-evidence charge against one officer.

Cheryl Ruth, now retired from the Bethlehem, PA police force is alleged to have stolen $19,000 from the property room she was in charge of.

Ruth cooperated with police and agreed to a polygraph conducted by state troopers in Bethlehem. During the exam, Ruth admitted to taking cash from the property room and using the money to gamble in Atlantic City, according to court records.

Ruth said at the time she worked in the property room she had “gambling issues,” the records state.

Well, Ruth, this is one gamble in which you lose. Bethlehem leadership has vowed to correct a number of problems within their police force that has plagued them in recent years.