-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LRokUE/27himOedmePraNHwCNcftVgnhf0Keq/hd3jBVxz7SzFTklVBTmE2OBzvD
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-10-047234.txt : 20100917
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-10-047234.hdr.sgml : 20100917
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100917210118
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-10-047234
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100915
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100917
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100917

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BEIAN PONCZAK KRISTINE A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001276114

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22056
		FILM NUMBER:		101079386

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RURAL METRO CORP
		STREET 2:		8401 E INDIAN SCHOOL RD
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85261

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>rrd286641.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-09-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276114</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEIAN PONCZAK KRISTINE A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9221 E. VIA DE VENTURA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85258</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP, CFO &amp; Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50272</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2364</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.31</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47908</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.31</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22331</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-09-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22331</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22331</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On August 10, 2009, the Reporting Person was granted 20,000 Restricted Stock Units (&quot;RSUs&quot;).  The RSUs vest in three annual installments beginning on August 10, 2010, subject to (a) the Reporting Person's continued service with the Issuer's achievement of certain performance goals (the &quot;Performance Goals&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On September 15, 2010, the Issuer's Board of Directors determined that the Issuer had achieved the Performance Goals. Accordingly, the RSUs were deemed &quot;earned&quot; as of September 15, 2010, and all conditions relating to the first 6,666 shares of Common Stock were deemed to be satisfied. Of the 6,666 shares of Common Stock, the Company withheld 2,364 shares to satisfy the Reporting Person's withholding tax liability, and issued 4,302 shares of Common Stock to the Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents 27,907 shares of outstanding Common Stock held by the Reporting Person and 20,001 shares underlying RSUs that remain subject to time-based vesting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Stock Appreciation Right (&quot;SAR&quot;) grant pursuant to Rural/Metro Corporation 2008 Incentive Stock Plan, exercisable in three annual installments beginning September 15, 2011.  Upon exercise, SAR will settle in stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kristine B. Ponczak</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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