Longtime Fire Official Accused Of Misappropriating Money

The former chief and treasurer of a Bristol Township volunteer fire company is accused of misappropriating nearly $33,000 from the organization.

Frederick R. Black, 54, of Bristol Township, was preliminarily arraigned Thursday afternoon before District Judge Terry Hughes. Black is charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received, access device fraud, and misapplication of entrusted property.

Black, a former Bristol Township School Board member who served with the fire company for nearly 30 years, was released by the district judge on $100,000 unsecured bail.

The charges follow a yearlong investigation by Bristol Township police into the fire company’s finances.

According to court documents, Black is accused of misappropriating approximately $32,830 from department accounts between 2020 and 2024.

Black served as the fire company’s treasurer from 2017 until November 2024 and also served as chief, police said.

The treasurer position gave him access to the organization’s financial records and credit union accounts, according to court papers.

Investigators allege Black used fire company debit cards and made cash withdrawals for personal use.

A review of company records uncovered 382 Amazon purchases. A panel of long-tenured fire company members identified 237 of those transactions — totaling about $19,330 — as having no legitimate connection to 100-year-old organization’s operations, police said.

Police said the shipping and billing information for the unauthorized purchases were in Black’s name and used his home address.

Authorities also noted an increase in ATM and in-person cash withdrawals beginning in 2020.

Additionally, organization members told police that customers claimed to have paid Black cash security deposits for rentals of the fire company’s facilities that were never recorded in contracts.

The probe began after members grew suspicious of Black’s failure to produce receipts or comply with company bylaws, investigators said.

Police said Black failed to attend scheduled audit meetings and voluntarily left the fire company late last year.

An internal audit committee later flagged an “unusual increase” in spending during Black’s time as treasurer, police said.

“We maintain his complete innocence and will pursue a full defense through the courts,” said Paul Lang, Black’s attorney.

Keith Bidlingmaier, the attorney representing the Newportville Fire Company, said the organization contacted police last year after discovering discrepancies in record keeping and the mishandling of funds.

“They have fully cooperated in the investigation so far, and will continue to cooperate and assist law enforcement as this matter proceeds through the system,” Bidlingmaier said. “They appreciate the thorough investigation conducted by the Bristol Township Detectives.”

The investigation prompted Bristol Township officials to consider increased oversight of volunteer fire companies, which receive taxpayer funding.

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.