Tod Ruse

Historian
Patrol Division

Tod Ruse

Historian
Patrol Division

Tod Ruse was born in San Francisco and raised in Stockton, California, where he attended local schools and graduated from the University of The Pacific in 1969. He later returned to the university to study under Dr. R. Coke Wood and received his Master’s Degree in California History in 1979.

Mr. Ruse served as a reserve officer for the Stockton Police Department from 1965 to 1978. In 1979, Chief Julio Cecchetti sent Mr. Ruse to San Antonio, Texas, to gather information on police historians’ position. After returning from Texas, the Chief appointed Mr. Ruse historian for the Stockton Police Department. The major project at that time was to write a complete history of the police department. The full book was completed in 1990.

In 1970, Mr. Ruse started his career in education with the Linden Unified School District. He served in the capacity of teacher, vice-principal, and principal and retired in 2004.

In 1992, Sheriff Baxter Dunn and Undersheriff Robert Heidelbach asked Mr. Ruse to establish Sheriff’s Office Historian position. Mr. Ruse agreed and was appointed Historian that same year. By 1993, a historical preservation committee was established with four main projects to complete. The first was to purchase and restore a 1946 Pontiac Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. Second, to collect and preserve as many historical artifacts as possible. The next task was to present classes to the community on our sheriff’s history and finally design and construct a monument at our facility honoring those deputies, officers, and k-9s who lost their lives serving our San Joaquin County citizens. As of this date, we have found and restored a 1946 Pontiac, presented classes on the history of our sheriff’s office to the Citizens Academy, and found and displayed many artifacts. Finally, it looks like our monument will be completed by the end of 2021.