The Storm Lake Firefighters Association released a statement late Friday afternoon regarding a volunteer firefighter who has been charged with stealing several thousand dollars in association funds.
According to Association President Adam Kutz, the fire department member has been placed on leave pending an investigation into the case. The missing funds are from a separate fund that comes from public donations, and not part of the city or Storm Lake Fire Department accounts.
The statement says that the Storm Lake Firefighters Association is disheartened to see such an incident occur. It says the fire department works hard to earn the public’s trust, and will continue to do so, and that the actions of one individual should not detract from the good work the volunteer firefighters perform to keep the community safe.
The Association is arranging an outside audit of its funds to determine the full impact of the losses, and will be making certain changes in policies for handling of funds to ensure that this incident will not be repeated.
28-year-old Jesus Rojo of Storm Lake allegedly misappropriated around $7,770 in fire association funds for his own personal use from January to July of this year. Rojo was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail Thursday on a charge of 2nd Degree Theft, a class D felony.
