Former Black Forest Chief Cleared of Misusing Funds
Source The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) (TNS)
The Black Forest Fire Protection District said it will reinforce policies in the wake of accusations that employees used taxpayer money to cover personal losses, according to a statement Friday from the agency.
The statement came after the El Paso County District Attorney's Office cleared former district Fire Chief Bob Harvey of wrongdoing for putting four charges on his district credit card: $450 for a psychiatric visit, $226 to replace lost sunglasses, $100 to replace lost firefighting manuals and $26 to purchase postage for thank-you notes to fire station donors. The charges were declared legitimate, according to a letter sent to the district's board and obtained by The Gazette.
Friday's statement from the district indicates that other employees were similarly reimbursed through the years.
"While the district has clear policies prohibiting the use of taxpayer money for personal losses, it was found that on multiple occasions over a number of years, past employees had, in fact, expended taxpayer money to compensate for the personal losses of our members," the statement read. "This board was unaware that this had occurred."
No employees were referred to by name in the statement.
Because there were other incidents, the district said in its statement that it decided not to pursue criminal charges against Harvey.
"As there had been a pattern established, albeit in violation of the policies of the district, this created a situation wherein the filing of criminal charges on these most recent expenditures would have been inappropriate," according to the board's statement.
Former El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa had criticized Harvey's handling of the response to the 2013 Black Forest fire. The Black Forest Fire Board later launched an independent review of Harvey's handling of the fire; he was cleared of the accusations.
In June, Harvey told the district's board members that he was taking a medical leave of absence, effective immediately. Harvey's status with the district later became unclear, and he was replaced in December.
Bryan Jack, the new chief, started the job Jan. 5.
"Moving forward, the board and our new chief will be working together to ensure that this practice does not occur again," the statement read.
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Contact Stephen Hobbs: 636-0275
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