Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010

SBI takes over fire department case

More than $300,000 missing from Garner fire department

The state Bureau of Investigation has taken over a probe into money missing from the Garner fire department.

Investigators believe more than $300,000 is missing from the Garner Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department, which is independent of the town, Garner spokeswoman Michelle Howell said in a statement released last week.

Town Manager Hardin Watkins wrote in a memo to Town Council members that the investigation was focusing on Amy Moore, a former secretary for the fire department. Moore, who helped prepare the department's annual budget, resigned from her post this month.

Although the fire department is independent, most of its budget comes from tax dollars from Garner and Wake County. This year, the department's budget is about $3.1 million.

Garner leaders announced last week that auditors discovered missing money during a routine audit of the fiscal year that began July 1, 2008.

In the memo to town leaders, Watkins said he learned from Garner's deputy police chief, Eric Copeland, that auditors said $10,000 was missing from the fire department.

The letter said Fire Chief Phil Mitchell had wanted to press criminal charges in the case but that the department's board of directors advised against doing so as long as Moore repaid the $10,000.

She offered to do so, the letter said.

Last week, Mayor Ronnie Williams said an ongoing investigation revealed the department was missing "substantially more" than $10,000 over a period of several years.

Moore has not been charged in the case. Garner police asked the SBI to take over, Howell said in the statement. A criminal investigation could take weeks.

Watkins wrote in the letter to Town Council members that he learned that Moore was going to be allowed to remain in her post through Feb. 1 and then be fired. Mitchell needed Moore to help with a grant application and a budget proposal before her employment ended, Watkins wrote.

Last week, Garner fire officials met with town leaders and the director of fire and emergency management for Wake County.

"We want to make sure those public funds are being used properly," Assistant Town Manager Rodney Dickerson said last week.

Councilman Gra Singleton said town leaders should have been notified sooner about the missing money. "A courtesy phone call would have been nice," he said.

Town leaders said the criminal investigation would not affect the fire department's ability to respond to calls.

"This is an administrative situation and not a service-delivery issue," Dickerson said.