Former Yakima Police Officer Kills Himself After Police Chase

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Story Published: Feb 1, 2009 at 8:29 PM PDT

By Sade Malloy

TOPPENISH -- 41-year-old Mike Rummel killed himself Sunday after leading WSP on a chase in Toppenish.

Rummel had gone through several years of legal battles in an attempt to regain his job.

Washington State Patrol tell us the chase started at Fort Road and Lateral A after the suspect in a white Ford Taurus crossed a center line right towards a trooper. Rummel drove all the way to Campbell Road pulled into the driveway of the home he was living at and killed himself in his car with a handgun.

Lt. J.W. Keightley, Washington State Patrol says, "The trooper exited his vehicle and was in the process of giving the suspect verbal commands from a point of safety, the person didn't react to those commands."

Lt. Keightley says alcohol was found in Rummel''s car and WSP says it is likely he was intoxicated.

Rummel was fired a in 2005 on allegations he drove drunk and abused his badge.
That was strike three after the city gave him a last chance agreement. When the police union appealed, a judge gave Rummel his job back.

But then the city appealed and won. It's been a back and forth ever since.

Recently, the State Court of Appeals had ruled that the city was justified in firing Rummel.

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