Aaron Ruffolo has been a Rockford police officer since 2018.

He was involved in multiple arrests during protests against local police violence in 2020.

Most notably, the arrest of photojournalist Albert “Cheeks” Riley Jr. During this arrest, Ruffolo admitted to pushing, kicking and placing Riley Jr. in a “headpin.”

It’s been alleged that during the arrest, Ruffolo punched Riley Jr. several times.

Four days later, Ruffolo and Wiest attempted to file an OP against Riley Jr. It was dismissed by a judge on the first appearance.

Riley Jr. was found not guilty on all charges after a jury trial.

Ruffolo was not suspended, or reprimanded in any way for his use of force.

On June 5th, 2023, Aaron Ruffolo and Cassie Hames were assigned to work as extra security to Rockford’s City Council meeting. After the meeting ended Hames outside to her squad vehicle when she seen a protester that had been arrested the previous week for disrupting the Mayor’s State of the City Address.

She called for Ruffolo to assist her outside. They both watched as the protester confronted the mayor as he walked to his car. RPD police chief Carla Redd exited the building and informed the two cops that the protester had a ban from City Hall that had yet to be served

En route was Sergeant Eric McClain with the ban paperwork. The officers waited for him to arrive but it was another community member who arrived first. They recorded the incident without saying anything until McClain arrived. The protester walked off without taking his paperwork while the community member who had never been banned before stayed on the property.

The officers lied and said they already had banned paperwork for the community member. It ended with an arrest for criminal trespass.

On July 17th, 2023, Ruffolo was assigned to work with Timothy Huber driving the squadrol transport van. Around 8:27 p.m. they were dispatched to Tenth Avenue Park to transport a man that had been pulled over by Illinois State Police to jail.

The man was Lamar Bell a 34 year old black Rockford resident. ISP officers pulled him over due to his cars tinted windows right at Tenth Avenue Park.

Lamar allegedly swallow baggies of cocaine he had on him at the time. Early on he showed signs of distress causing officers to ask him what he took. They ignored his calls for ambulance. The State Troopers called for the squadrol van to take Lamar to jail before they called for an ambulance.

He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

In 2019, Ruffolo made $59,462 in salary + $27,883 in overtime = $87,345 + $8,060 in health insurance + $30,497 pension pay.

In 2020, they made $65,474 in salary + $23,914 in overtime = $89,388 + $8,450 in health insurance + $33,025 in pension pay.

In 2021, they made $79,901 in salary + $27,004 in overtime = $106,905 + $16,640 in health insurance + $34,932 in pension pay.

In 2022, they made $77,432 in salary + $39,814 in overtime = $117,246 + $16,900 in health insurance + $39,700 in pension pay.

In 2023, they made $90,325 in salary + $39,072 in overtime = $129,397 + $25,350 in health insurance + $46,059 in pension pay.

In 2024, they made $82,213 in salary + $35,687 in overtime = $117,900 + $26,325 in health insurance + $52,059 in pension pay.

If you or anyone you know has been abused, harassed or otherwise mistreated by this officer please email us with the officers name in the subject.