SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 17, 2002


                             RURAL/METRO CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    DELAWARE
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


         0-22056                                          86-0746929
(Commission File Number)                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                          8401 East Indian School Road
                               Scottsdale, Arizona
                                      85251


                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
                                   (Zip Code)


                                 (480) 994-3886
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

     On April 16,  2002,  Rural/Metro  Corporation  (the  "Company")  received a
notice from the Nasdaq Listing  Qualifications Panel (the "Panel") indicating it
had determined  that the Company's  securities will continue to be listed on the
Nasdaq   SmallCap   Market   via  an   exception   to  the  bid  price  and  net
income/shareholders'  equity/market  capitalization  requirements.  The  Company
requested,  and  was  granted,  an  exception  through  September  30,  2002  to
demonstrate full compliance with the $500,000 net income standard for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2002.  Effective at the start of trading on April 18, 2002,
and  throughout  the  exception  period,  the Company's  trading  symbol will be
"RURLC".

ITEM 7. EXHIBITS

     99.10     Press Release dated April 17, 2002


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        RURAL/METRO CORPORATION


Date: April 18, 2002                    By: /s/ John S. Banas III
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            John S. Banas III
                                            Senior Vice President

                           CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.                         Exhibit
-----------                         -------

   99.10            Press Release dated April 17, 2002