By David Hunt
Florida Times-Union
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — A former Nassau County volunteer fire chief is in jail after allegations of mismanaged department funds led to his arrest.
Richard Demick Sr., 55, of Callahan was charged with grand theft Wednesday after a two-month investigation. He remained in the county jail Thursday in lieu of $5,002 bail.
Demick served as chief for Gray Gables Volunteer Fire Department. He was ousted in the spring as other firefighters began questioning the department’s finances.
Sheriff Tommy Seagraves said Thursday that investigators have determined at least $4,400 was stolen from the department. Authorities say the probe will continue.
Demick is accused of using a department fuel account over time to pump $782 worth of gasoline into his personal vehicle. A brush truck also was sold for $500 and the money pocketed, arrest papers said.
Because the lion’s share of the department’s budget comes from a $50,000 county stipend, County Clerk John Crawford audited the department independent of the sheriff’s investigation.
Auditors found Demick had been taking department funds, calling them “loans” as the overall finances were in shambles. The probe discovered $21,000 in debt and $17,000 in fundraiser losses, according to the audit report released in May.
Attempts to reach Demick’s successor, Chief Barry McCance, Thursday by cell phone and at the fire station were unsuccessful.
McCance and Demick gave interviews to the Times-Union about the department’s financial situation in July.
McCance said steps were taken to clean up the books, including appointing a treasurer and board of directors from outside the ranks. He also said Demick promised to pay back the money.
During the July interview, Demick spoke about his love of firefighting and the paranoia and shame he felt as residents of the small town chastised him as a thief. He declined repeatedly to discuss whether any of the audit findings were true, but he said he’d refund the department if the firefighters could give him a dollar figure he owed.
Seagraves said Thursday that Demick has made no attempt to hand over money.
Copyright 2007 The Florida Times-Union