Florida Firefighter Accused of Payroll Fraud

Posted by: Curt Varone December 14, 2022 0

A Polk County firefighter is facing felony charges for fraudulently submitting for working extra 24-hour shifts he did not work. The firefighter, Lance Taylor Dunn, has since resigned from Polk County Fire.

Dunn, 28, is accused of accessing the department’s payroll system online through his own login, and submitting his name as having worked three 24-hour shifts he did not actually work. The shifts in question were September 13, October 22, and November 21, 2022.

Dunn was improperly paid a total of $1,265.03 for those three shifts despite not having worked. He attempted the same ruse for November 30, 2022, but the submission was caught before payroll was finalized.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd was quoted by Fox13 as saying: “Dunn not only stole money from Polk Fire Rescue, he stole taxpayers’ money. In addition, he embarrassed his colleagues who risk their lives for this community. Dunn resigned, and that is good because he no longer meets the high standards expected of public servants.”

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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