Prosecutors on Long Island are accusing officials working with firefighting and ambulance organizations of spending more than $550,000 in public funds on personal expenses over the past decade. Long Island reporter Emily Smith has more.
It's a sad day for firefighters across Long Island. Some of these are people who risk their lives every day to save others. Now, they're accused of misusing taxpayers hard-earned money.
Long Island fire officials who have collectively served the community for more than 200 years were in handcuffs Tuesday.
Eight people were arrested for what investigators are calling mismanagement of taxpayer money.
Five of those accused are reportedly current or former members of the Selden Board of Fire Commissioners. Authorities say the other three are affiliated with the Terryville fire department, the Montauk fire district and the East Moriches Ambulance Committee.
Officials say one person inappropriately spent more than $500,000 in taxpayer funds, while the others spent a total of more than $50,000.
Attorneys for the Selden fire officials say the charges in Selden mostly have to do with taxpayer money being spent on dinners during out of town conferences and say it is not that excessive.
"Keep in mind that the airfares were paid for privately...and we're not talking about $70,000 in a year, we're talking about over the past four years," attorney Ray Perini said.
"It's hard to believe, I mean these guys are out there risking their lives," one resident said. "You gotta have a big heart to save somebody's life, and then you're cheating on the tax money? It's just a little hard to believe."
The ongoing corruption investigation began more than a year ago, authorities said.
Copyright 2007 by WABC-TV.
Republished with permission of WABC-TV.
