By Craig Crosby
The Kennebec Journal
AUGUSTA, Maine — A former officer of the Augusta Fire Department has been charged with theft in connection with missing union funds.
Robert MacMaster, who was a captain with the department until resigning this summer, was summonsed Friday on a charge of theft by unauthorized taking, Augusta police Lt. Keith Brann said.
He declined to discuss specifics of the investigation, but said the charge against MacMaster is a felony.
MacMaster, who was not arrested, is scheduled to appear in Kennebec County Superior Court on Nov. 24.
Brann said the investigation was expected to be handed over to the district attorney’s office Monday.
City Manager William Bridgeo offered few comments, but said he was aware police were investigating funds missing from the firefighter’s union.
MacMaster voluntarily resigned from the Fire Department in July, just a few months after being promoted to captain, Bridgeo said.
MacMaster had been president of the Augusta Uniformed Firefighters Association for a number of years.
City records indicate MacMaster, who joined the department in 1993, was making a base salary of more than $48,000 at the time of his departure.
P.J. Perrino, MacMaster’s attorney, said he has been given no details of the investigation, including how much was allegedly taken or when.
MacMaster has thus far been issued only a summons that charges him with theft on or about March 1, 2009, in Augusta, Perrino said.
“It doesn’t say any amount, when he did it, how he did it or anything else,” Perrino said. “I expect the district attorney to give me more information as time goes on. We requested it (Monday).”
Perrino said confidentiality laws prevented him from commenting on why MacMaster left the department in July.
Augusta Fire Chief Roger Audette, speaking shortly after MacMaster was promoted to captain in May, said MacMaster is a licensed paramedic and hazardous materials technician.
MacMaster was one of several firefighters recognized in January for helping save several people during a New Year’s Day apartment fire.
MacMaster was the local union president in 2004 when the union filed a complaint with the Maine Labor Relations Board alleging unfair negotiating practices in 2002. The labor board sided with the union.
The union went without a contract for more than two years.
“The hope of the union with these findings is that the city of Augusta will bargain in good faith to reach a final resolve to the outstanding contract issues,” MacMaster said at the time.
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