California Union Treasurer Charged With Embezzlement of $63k

Posted by: Curt Varone October 31, 2011 0

A career fire captain with the Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District in Sonoma County, California has been charged with stealing more than $63,000 from the firefighters’ union. Michael Bechtold, 39, was arrested last Wednesday on charges of embezzlement.

Bechtold was the treasurer of the Rancho Adobe Firefighters Association, from whom the funds were stolen. Sheriff’s investigators claim he used the money on season tickets for the San Jose Sharks and a trip to Disney Land.

If you have been following this blog for a while, you no doubt realize the fire service is having a serious problem with theft in the volunteer service. Consider this story. We are not talking about theft from the homes and businesses of citizens we serve – but rather we are talking about the embezzlement of large sums of money from volunteer fire organizations.

The Rancho Adobe case is a reminder that the embezzlement problem is in no way limited to the volunteer service. However, the root cause is probably the same: the trust we put in a brother or sister firefighter. In the immortal words of President Ronald Reagan: “Trust, but verify”.

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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