Former Rescue Squad Chief Now Accused Of Stealing $157,000

The former chief of the Bucks County Rescue Squad is facing allegations that he stole more than $157,500 through forged checks, misusing the nonprofit’s credit cards, and falsifying financial reports.

Scott Mel Bahner, 49, of Bensalem, was arraigned Friday morning on charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, theft, identity theft, unlawful use of a computer, and access device fraud. District Judge Robert Wagner Jr. set bail at $500,000 unsecured.

Bahner was already awaiting a preliminary hearing on charges from March that he used a Bucks County Rescue Squad credit card in 2015 to pay $2,912.78 to get the transmission on his son’s 2010 Mazda repaired or rebuilt at a shop. He also allegedly used squad funds to cover a $1,876.61 in additional repairs to his son’s Mazda.

The previous charges are likely to be merged into the new case filed Friday.

Bahner was chief of the Bucks County Rescue Squad, which provides service to all of Bristol Borough and parts of Bristol Township, from 2009 until he resigned in July 2018. He earned a salary of $79,000 per year as chief.

Bucks County Detectives allege in their latest filings that Bahner stole more than $87,232 between July 2009 and January 2018 through 70 fraudulent checks issued to himself and his wife. A total of $13,380 in fraudulent checks were used to pay for Bahner’s various credit cards and one covered a bill from a family member.

“A majority of the checks were issued with no legitimate purpose, while 31 purported to be reimbursements for Bahner’s time and expenses with the Bucks County Major Incident Response Team – time for which he told Bristol Township in signed paperwork that he received no other compensation,” the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.

Detectives alleged that some of the checks were issued through squad accounting software, and a number of the checks had the forged signatures of three ranking officials in the organization, a step often used by organizations to attempt to avoid fraudulent checks being issued.

Bahner used squad credit cards to make an alleged $40,710.67 in unauthorized personal purchases.

In court papers, detectives said the cards were used at local eateries and gas stations. The cards were also used to make purchases for three firearms registered in Bahner’s name, items from Amazon, QVC, wholesale clubs, Advanced Warfighting Solutions, the National Rifle Association, and an outdoor power equipment business. In addition, the cards helped fund repairs for his son’s car and services at a Florida drug rehabilitation center.

Detectives alleged that Bahner presented gun sellers a Bristol Township ID card that read “police/medic” that entitled him to law enforcement pricing for the firearms he purchased.

Bahner spoke with detectives in March and admitted to issuing fraudulent checks, forging signatures, using credit cards for personal purchases, and false entries in the squad’s accounting software, court papers said.

“Following the March 20 interview, you affiants reviewed the information provided by Bahner and found that he was less than truthful,” detectives wrote.

Investigators said they discovered additional thefts that were included in the charges that were filed on Friday.

LevittownNow.com reported last year after reviewing public records that Bahner allegedly misled Bristol Township on the hours he worked as a community service officer at the police station and running errands for the department. Police Chief Robert Coulton sent Bahner a letter on October 30, 2017 outlining allegations and documents relating to hours he worked for the municipality, separate from his squad chief job. The police chief said that Bahner was not on-site for 1,777 hours of 2,503 hours he submitted for payment.

After receiving the letter, Bahner repaid the money voluntarily via check in November 2017 and resigned from his job with the police department, according to township documents and a copy of the check.

In Friday’s charging documents, detectives mentioned the incident and also said Bahner was untruthful in a statement provided to township officials.

Bahner stepped down from his chief role at the Bucks County Rescue Squad in 2018 as Bristol Township Council was eying a plan to remove the medical response service as the primary provider for a large portion of the community. Late last summer, Council tabled the plan after an uproar from the borough and township community.

In previous court papers, authorities wrote that Bucks County Rescue Squad officials first discovered problems with their funds last October and reported it to county investigators, who began an investigation.

The Bucks County Rescue Squad related the following statement on Bahner’s latest charges:

Bucks County Rescue Squad is deeply saddened by the allegations of theft by the former Chief of Bucks County Rescue Squad, Scott Bahner, announced by the Bucks County District Attorney’s office today. Immediately upon receiving information regarding possible financial irregularities that may have been caused by Mr. Bahner, BCRS launched an investigation and cooperated fully in the criminal investigation conducted by the Bucks County District Attorney’s office. Mr. Bahner was immediately placed on leave of absence and he was prohibited from accessing all company property. Mr. Bahner was released from employment when Bucks County Rescue Squad’s initial internal investigation found merit to a number of the allegations. The initial allegations occurred almost one year ago.

Over the past year, Bucks County Rescue Squad, its accountants and the Bucks County District Attorney’s office have reviewed approximately 10,000 invoices to determine if there were any improper payments. In some cases, it appears that improper payment may have been made to Mr. Bahner totaling approximately $128,000 over the course of nine years. Bucks County Rescue Squad has implemented extensive revisions to its purchasing and accounting processes to ensure maximum financial integrity. Bucks County Rescue Squad now conducts monthly audits through its accountants to ensure that all payments are for legitimate purposes with verification of proper authorization from at least two officers.

Bucks County Rescue Squad takes its compliance with all laws, regulations, ethical standards and accounting practices seriously. Bucks County Rescue Squad has for many years performed criminal background checks on all employees and volunteers prior to allowing them to perform any services for Bucks County Rescue Squad. Unfortunately, a clean criminal background check cannot prevent the dishonesty of any individual which is why numerous additional steps to protect our assets have been put in place to substantially reduce the risk of internal theft in the future.

Bucks County Rescue Squad wishes to assure the public that it remains a financially viable non-profit organization and is under sound fiscal management. It intends to pursue all available remedies for any damages that it may have suffered, to the fullest extent that the law and justice permit.

Bucks County Rescue Squad is the oldest rescue squad in the area and continues to provide the communities we serve with the highest quality pre-hospital care and medical transportation service available. Members of the public should always call 9-1-1 with confidence to report any medical emergency which requires an ambulance response. And, as it has since 1962, Bucks County Rescue Squad will be there to respond with skill and compassion.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.