Sgt. Ruppel Archives - ChicoSol News

Chico PD shooting review slams sergeant In-house analysis: Sgt. Ruppel made string of mistakes in Rushing death

The PowerPoint review of the 2017 Tyler Rushing killing that the City of Chico refused to release until ordered by a judge to do so.

by Dave Waddell
posted Sept. 12

A veteran Chico police sergeant did almost everything wrong on the night seven years ago when he gunned Tyler Rushing down, according to Chico PD’s own analysis of the incident.

The recently disclosed in-house review, which the Chico City Council spent many tax dollars trying unsuccessfully to suppress, also criticizes that sergeant, Scott Ruppel, for “dangerously” shooting the critically wounded Rushing while he was in the grasp of two other officers. read more

Sergeant in assault case logged massive overtime District attorney: Chokehold incident caught on body camera

by Dave Waddell

Scott Ruppel, a former police sergeant involved in two fatal shootings and facing an assault charge for an alleged on-duty choking incident, worked many thousands of hours of overtime during his nearly 20 years at Chico PD.

One year, Ruppel logged more than 700 overtime hours, becoming not only the highest-compensated employee in the city’s largest department but among the top five employees in total compensation in all of Chico municipal government. read more

Kevin Alexander Carlson, charged with felony arson in connection with the fire that destroyed Bidwell Mansion, pled no contest Feb. 5 in Butte County Superior Court.

The 30-year-old Chico man was jailed without bail until he returns to court for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. March 5. Carlson faces up to 11 years in state prison.

Investigators from various agencies spent “thousands of hours” solving the Dec. 11 arson case, said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey in a press release.

Chico City Council voted unanimously Feb. 4 to authorize the mayor to use emergency powers to address and enforce measures against unsafe and hazardous fires in parks.

The vote doesn’t alter city codes in any way, but enforcement of some codes has been lax under the Warren v. Chico lawsuit settlement agreement.

The vote thus represents a consensus that safety has to be a priority.

The discussion was sparked by Councilmember Tom Overbeek, who asked the panel to authorize the mayor to declare an emergency in dry conditions that would ban encampments in Bidwell Park, Teichert Ponds and Lindo Channel.

Later in the meeting, Councilmember Bryce Goldstein asked to agendize a discussion “on ordinances, code changes, and programs beyond enforcement that the City can use as tools for addressing homelessness.”

That passed unanimously, too.