Fire Chief Exposes $1.6M Theft | Cleveland News

A former top-ranking volunteer firefighter in Hambden is facing serious charges after allegedly stealing $1.6 million over three and a half years — the kind of betrayal that shakes the very foundation of a community-run department. As treasurer and assistant chief, Richard Vandevander had access to funds, and now prosecutors are hunting him down with a warrant in hand. The fire chief reported the fraud in July, triggering an emergency financial lifeline from township trustees — who approved a $100K advance (half of their October payment) just to keep things running. More help may be needed soon, highlighting how deeply this scandal has cratered the department’s finances. With court proceedings looming and public trust fraying, this story is far from over — and the hunt for justice is just beginning. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/138af49d3ba57e7e