Former St. Thomas Township Fire Company chief Richard Roche is charged with stealing more than $5,000 worth of electronic and firefighting items from the fire company.
"We're stunned," Richard Hoffman, president of St. Thomas Fire Board, said Thursday. "We're the ones who hired him."
Roche, who has no known address, was arrested on a felony warrant Tuesday in Mont Alto on Tuesday.
Police received a tip concerning his whereabouts, according to State Police Trooper Skip Sydnor, Chambersburg station.
Roche was fire chief from Oct. 1, 1999, to June 1, 2002. The thefts occurred between Dec. 1, 2001, and Dec. 19, 2002, according to fire company records.
A variety of items were purchased under the fire company name but were unaccounted for in an audit of company equipment, said Robbie Mellott, company president. Some items had been sent to Roche's home when he lived in Hagerstown, Mellott said.
"The fire company was receiving bills for things it didn't have," said Mellott, who became president in July 2002.
Roche, speaking through his attorney, said Thursday he had no comment on the case.
Sydnor said a radio system leased from Sound Communications Inc. by the fire company was installed in Roche's vehicle. The system included a 16-channel radio, remote speaker and battery.
Other items included, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed with District Justice David Hawbaker, Mercersburg:
Remote speaker with clip and cord, a 6-channel radio, a pair of size 8 leather boots, 30 pairs of firefighter gloves, a dash light, three helmet shields, yellow helmet, water proof boots, two "chief of the department" badges, two St. Thomas gold money clips, public employment law report (magazine) and book and a second 16-channel radio.
Total value of the items is $5,222.
"The thefts were done over a period of time," Mellott said. "It went unnoticed until the company received several unpaid notices."
Roche was fired last June when the missing items came to light, according to Richard Hoffman, president of St. Thomas Fire Board.
"The thefts occurred during his tenure as chief," Hoffman said. "He didn't communicate with us, buying stuff without purchase orders."
Roche was released from Franklin County Prison on $50,000 bail.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday in Central Court.
