Police Investigate Possible Misuse Of Funds At Fire Company

A truck from the Newportville Fire Company makes it way down Haines Road. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

Bristol Township police are investigating the potential misappropriation of tens of thousands of dollars from the Newportville Fire Company, according to sources with knowledge of the probe.

The investigation began late last year after fire company administration reviewed financial records and raised concerns.

Police have since obtained bank records and bills related to fire company accounts spanning several years, sources said.

No charges have been filed as of Friday afternoon.

The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office confirmed it is aware of the investigation, which is being led by Bristol Township police.

A township police spokesperson said they were aware of the allegations but had no further comment.

“The fire company cannot comment at this time,” according to attorney Keith Bidlingmaier, who is representing the fire company.

Two sources said the fire company’s current leadership has been cooperating with police and have tightened up oversight of the organization’s finances.

Fred Black, the fire company’s former chief and a longtime volunteer firefighter, went on leave late last year after the concerns about finances were raised.

“After 26 years of service to the fire company, my client needed to attend to his medical needs and took administrative leave from his position,” said Paul Lang, the attorney representing Black. “Any suggestion of impropriety is dead wrong.”

Volunteer fire companies are funded through fundraising, facility rentals, tax dollars and grants. It is unclear whether the investigation has uncovered any misuse of taxpayer funds.

Volunteer fire company relief associations are required by law to be audited every few years. However, other fire company-related accounts do not have to be audited by the state.

A 2022 audit found an unauthorized personal loan to a relief association member, which was repaid prior to the audit.

The relief association told the auditor general’s office it was unaware the money could not be used for a loan. Relief association management agreed to fix the issue.

Sources told LevittownNow.com that Bristol Township Council members have expressed interest in reviewing the financial records of all the township’s volunteer fire companies.

Bristol Township Manager Randee Mazur said the municipality is considering additional oversight of volunteer fire companies.

“The Township is going to be requiring annual audits on all volunteer fire companies,” Mazur said. “We will have to modify the ordinance, and of course have a meeting with all fire companies and advise, which neither have occurred just yet.”

Sources in the fire service said township Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator Kevin Dippolito has met with fire chiefs to develop contingency plans in case the Newportville Fire Company closes or is decertified by the township.

The fire company and its volunteers continue to respond to calls.

Mazur confirmed Dippolito has plans in place and “continues to review and update, as needed, contingency plans for most everything.”

Several years ago, the Newportville Fire Company had discussions with the township and the Third District Fire Company about a potential merger, but those plans fell apart in 2022.

The Newportville Fire Company has been serving residents of Bristol Township for nearly 100 years. It has stations on Bath Road and New Falls Road, but a township official said the New Falls Road station has not been regularly used by firefighters in recent years.

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