Acting Chief Ron Ruple has thrown his hat into the ring for the top cop position in Mandeville.

However, he said, unless the civil service board puts in place some rules to protect his job under civil service he would not accept the job even if Interim Mayor Bubby Lyons appoints him.

Ruple has served in the position since last November when then chief Tom Buell was forced into retirement following the revelation that he had spent money out of the Toys for Tots Fund to purchase gift cards and gifts for city employees including then mayor Eddie Price.

Capt. Ron Ruple

When Lyons placed appointing a new chief among his priorities to accomplish while in office, Ruple initially said he was not interested in the job.

At the time, Ruple said he would not apply because he feared if appointed by Lyons, he would be replaced when the new mayor is elected next spring.

However, he now feels that because of the wording of ACT 418, his employment would in fact be secure.

However, unless the civil service board adopts a new rule provide for such before an appointment is made, he will not accept the position of chief.

The act removed the chief’s position from the auspices of the civil service board, and in doing so; Ruple said it removed all of protection for whoever is appointed to the position.

The act says that the chief will be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council; however, the mayor has the sole authority to discipline or fire the chief.

Ruple said he fears that since the position has been taken out of civil service, the chief’s position will become more political as whomever is appointed will serve only until the mayor decides to appoint someone new or until a new mayor is elected. Ruple had said with a family to support, he said that is a chance he simply cannot take. However, he said, if he is given some guarantee that if he is appointed chief and then he is replaced when a new mayor takes office, he will be allowed to go back to his former position as captain, he would accept the appointment. He does not anticipate the board making the rule change in time for the Dec. 7 deadline to submit applications. But, he said, by chance they make the change prior to Lyon’s making his appointment, he wants to be considered.

“The only way I would take the job is if my employment was protected,” Ruple said last week after submitting his application. “I am not looking for protection for the (chief’s) position, I am looking for protection for my employment. I need to have a job,” he said.