http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-nor.glenbrook6jan17,0,5269641.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines
By Donna Porstner
Staff Writer
January 17, 2007
STAMFORD - City police have launched a criminal investigation into possible fraud and embezzlement in the Glenbrook Fire Department.
Board of Finance member Joseph Tarzia called on Chief State's Attorney Kevin Kane and state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to investigate last month. An audit had found the volunteer department's former treasurer routinely wrote himself checks and used firehouse funds to buy office supplies and electronics, which he had shipped to his private home and office.
Stamford police said the state's attorney's office forwarded the case about a week ago.
"They looked at it quickly and determined the amount of money involved did not reach their threshold," said Capt. Richard Conklin, who oversees the detective bureau. "They asked if we would take the investigation."
Kane spokesman Mark Dupuis declined to comment.
Police Chief Brent Larrabee said he agreed to take the case after the state's attorney's office cleared Glenbrook Fire Department President Edward Rondano, a city police officer, as a suspect. Rondano is a crime scene investigator for the police department's Identification Bureau who reports to Conklin.
"He's not involved criminally at all," Larrabee said of Rondano.
Larrabee said he would not have taken the case if one of his officers were involved.
Conklin said Rondano, who as president is responsible for the administration of the volunteer department, has been interviewed by police and has been cooperative.
Blumenthal's office also continues to investigate.
Rondano has defended Glenbrook's former treasurer, David Judge, saying some of the lackluster financial controls, such as allowing Judge to write checks, were done as a convenience. Judge was home in Bridgeport recuperating from knee surgery, Rondano said, so he and other Glenbrook officials would have had to drive there every time Judge paid a bill.
The $12,600 in stipends Judge paid himself over several years was an accepted practice approved at company meetings, Rondano said. The city hired a White Plains, N.Y., auditing firm, O'Connor, Davies, Munns & Dobbins LLP, that found the stipend payments were not allowed by the fire department's bylaws. Rondano has said the bylaws need to be changed because the department has paid its treasurer a stipend since 1970.
The auditors were left with many questions because they could not find invoices or documentation for many of the purchases Judge made.
Rondano said yesterday he will provide all of the documents state and city investigators request but he does not expect charges to be filed.
"I really don't think they are going to find anything criminal," Rondano said.
Judge did not return a call seeking comment.
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