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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QJtNE3IBG8qye5vz5VKCLPy+qbZlj5aOvkq5w/HOJ9Fbf1tPj5nw61HvVcgF8ofA
 tKhsmQNmX0fkJTyf5+YjHQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-06-001245.txt : 20060104
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-06-001245.hdr.sgml : 20060104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060104180430
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-06-001245
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051230
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JEKEL LOUIS G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001162651

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22056
		FILM NUMBER:		06509543

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RURAL METRO CORP
		STREET 2:		8401 E INDIAN SCHOOL RD
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85251

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RURAL/METRO CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000906326
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LOCAL & SUBURBAN TRANSIT & INTERURBAN HWY PASSENGER TRAINS [4100]
		IRS NUMBER:				860746929
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9221 EAST VIA DE VENTURA
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4806063886

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9221 EAST VIA DE VENTURA
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RURAL METRO CORP /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930528
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd102349.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000906326</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RURAL/METRO CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RURL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001162651</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JEKEL LOUIS G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9221 E. VIA DE VENTURA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O RURAL/METRO CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85258</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.008</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>61124</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were sold by the Louis G. Jekel Trust, dated 7/25/96.  The trust's sale was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by reporting person on November 15, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Does not include 3,175 shares held by the Charitable Remainder Trust, of which the reporting person may be deemed to beneficially hold and does not include 11,664 shares held directly by the reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Louis G. Jekel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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