EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. - The Fire Company President confirms the East Greenbush Fire Department is conducting an internal investigation into money that went missing from its bank account. The former Fire Chief Ed DiMartino at the center.
Ashley Palmer said she knows DiMartino.
"He's given a lot to the community so it seemed that he was upstanding person, a volunteer giving up a lot of his time and I'm sure his own money to the community, so shock is the best word I have for you right now," Palmer said.
A source close to the department said there's actually two investigations going on. The first involves DiMartino taking his fire truck to New Jersey on personal business. E-Z pass records proved it and DiMartino stepped down. Shortly after, officials became aware money was missing. Fire Company President Jeff Tooker wouldn't say how long it was going on for or how much was involved.
We stopped by DiMartino's home but there was no answer.
"Its a misuse of taxpayer money. Everybody works hard enough as it is," Richard Heise, who lives in East Greenbush said.
Palmer though hopes people won't rush to judgment.
"It's under investigation, so who knows if that's true or not but like I said, I've never heard anything bad about him," Palmer said.
Volunteer firefighters I spoke with tonight wouldn't go on camera, citing concern for the investigation. But they say Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Hitchcock has been promoted. I reached out to Hitchcock for a comment and he hasn't returned our calls.
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