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Subscribe to RSSSEATTLE — A 34-year-old Lakewood police officer was charged with embezzling more than $120,000 from a fund for families of four slain colleagues, then spending the money on trips to Las Vegas and home improvement projects, the U.S. Attorney's Office in western Washington said Wednesday.
Officer Skeeter Timothy Manos also is accused of making purchases at Costco and Home Depot with the money, according to U.S. attorney's office.
“This is a sad day for our community,” U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan in Seattle said in a statement. “These acts betrayed the memory of our fallen heroes, their families, fellow officers and all who supported the fund."
“Stealing from the children of our fallen officers is disgraceful,” Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist told msnbc.com on Wednesday.
Manos was arrested without incident at Lakewood City Hall early Wednesday. He was expected to make his first federal court appearance in Tacoma Wednesday afternoon.
The public contributed more than $3.2 million to the families of the four Lakewood officers who were shot to death by convict Maurice Clemmons in November 2009 at a coffee shop while they were beginning their shifts. The four officers were Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39; Ronald Owens, 37; Tina Griswold, 40; and Greg Richards 42.
Clemmons fled the scene, sparking an intense statewide manhunt that ended when a Seattle police officer shot him to death two days later.
The criminal complaint alleges Manos diverted about $151,000 from the donations to a secret account, then used $120,000 of it, including cash withdrawals at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas in April 2010 and at the Hawks Prairie Casino near Olympia, Wash., in December 2010.
Manos had served as the treasurer of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
The Lakewood Police Department issued a statement: "The department is stunned and saddened by the news of the alleged theft. What makes this news particularly difficult to take is that the alleged theft was from donated funds intended for the victim officer’s families."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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What a scum bag! I hope he gets some prison time for this.
Maybe he was just practicing for when he runs for congress.....??
His sentence should be doubled. Any crime committed by a person in a position of trust through abuse of that trust should result in the doubling of the normal sentence. In other words if the normal sentence would have been 8 years for grand larceny, the sentence should be doubled to 16 years. It is bad enough when someone commits a crime, but when that person is in a position of trust the crime is far worse because of the extreme betrayal of the trust that was placed in that person.
What this officer did, stealing from a fund set up to help the families of fallen officers is utterly despicable. Even worse is he did not do it because of being under some financial pressure or because of some need, he did it to take vacations and gamble in Las Vegas. This makes this crime that much worse, that it was committed for such a frivolous reason as feeding his own enjoyment.
I agree with ya Steve. Toss this man in jail for embezzlement the felony robbery. The man is SCUM and should be sentenced more than 30 years. He is suppose to uphold the law, not break them and anything over 5k in CA is a felony, and he stole more than 120k.
Lock this man away for a very, and I mean very long time.
Take his personal property, car, whatever, auction them off and put the funds back into the pot as well.
He is a democrat and was just redistributing the wealth.
Imagine how he treated the citizens he was sworn to protect
a democrat has morals
I know our police forces in Seattle are under constant investigation nowadays for abuse, so I am not wholly surprised nor shocked. The officer is just a part of the systemic problem here in the State of Washington. We seem to have a few too many cowboys here in our departments and the chiefs and administrators go on record to defend deplorable actions such as murdering a native american woodcarver as justified, or stepping on an innocent kids head and calling him by racial slurs, or punching out a women downtown that is unruly, or beating up a 15 year old girl being booked into a cell, and it goes on and on without end here. The few tend to make the whole barrel smell bad. I got a ticket for J-walking on a dead end street (Yes a dead end street) and the Seattle cop was loud, boisterous and offensive. I was intelligent enough to let the jerk vent without responding. I have not yet had that good experince they talk about with a friendly Seattle cop. We need Feds to come in and clean up this mess. The people running it seem to think everything is okay and the public is the enemy.
Now to respond to AKRandy. Ak, he is assuredly a Republican taking what he believes is his, and of course he had no intention of paying any tax on his acquired wealth. And since he took it all by himself he feels he earned it.
No surprise all cops are crooked, not an honest on in or out of uniform.
AKRandy: Though it will ruin your view of the world. He was reported by a UNION member;-)
The more local report: http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/08/1982379/treasurer-of-lakewood-police-guild.html
But go ahead, make up whatever you think fits, for those who oppose you.
I'd like to see 10 years minimum in prison for him. But I'm just one of those liberals in the room.
AKRandy
He is a democrat and was just redistributing the wealth.
He was a republican stealing from the money from the unemployed, since these families lost their bread winner, they have only the insurance money from the death of their loved ones and keeping it for himself.
Hmmm... I hope this does not turn into a "bash cops" forum. There are far too many excellent to outstanding police officers, sheriff's deputies and state patrol officers, who work hard to try to keep our communities safe.
Rather this should be a forum about dishonesty, and stealing. It does not matter who the thief is or was - if someone steals from any type of charity, they should get a very long prison term. (More likely than not, in China, such a thief would get a bullet in the back of the head.)
If the suspect is found guilty in this matter, I hope the prosecutor goes for the maximum possible sentence, and I hope the judge can find ways to provide exceptional sentencing to add on to the years.
WOW !! I'm just speechless how long can you possibly go.
Of course not, Whistleberries. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding. There's no way a fine, upstanding law enforcement officer would think laws don't apply to him. No way. I'm sure he was just trying to protect America from the terrorists or something.
You see, if the honest cops would ALWAYS turn in the cops they see breaking the law, the rest of us wouldn't feel that way. But when you act like it's OK for a cop to commit a crime, the rest of us see you as a criminal also. See how that works?
And before all you rednecks start with the "don't call a cop if you need help" crap, save it. The LAST thing I would do I call Jethro and Festus. I don't need a cop. I just need someone to pick the guy up and take him away.
star
If he was a Republican,what is he doing in an Union?? Undercover work??
Scar-414733 Hate to rock your boat but all cops belong to unions. One didn't get his cut and squealed!
a few years in prison certainly should curb his thieving habits I'm sure........stealing from slain brothers' childrens fund. Hard to believe......Think it was his first theft????
Someone call a cop, wait this dude is a cop
No one can perpetrate a horrific crime as well as a cop. Ask Jim King.
Fair trial then hang the scumbag bastard. I donated to that fund when the four officers were murdered.
I wish this had shown a picture of this piece of scum! He doesn't have the right stuff to represent the great men and women in police uniform from all over the country. There are a few bad apples in every barrell (incuding people that work in the Capitol) but to literally steal money meant for fallen soldier's families and spend on Vegas vacations, etc. is just the lowest of the low. He should spend major time in prison and be made to pay every single penny back with interest. How dare he steal from that fund, and how dare he embarrass all the wonderful policemen. Pure scum, just pure scum!
It seems this fund could have been handled better, that nothing is approved or taken without 3 signatures, etc. of others. There should have been a solid wall of protection with that money to prevent this sort of thing. The ONLY good thing, the bad apple is GONE from the barrell.
This is the lowest of the low, why does it take so long for things like this to be caught, where are the checks and balances for these things, sad part is that money is now gone with no hope of ever being repaid. They should sell everything he owns to repay the money.
Sad just plan sad.
Agreed. This would be a good place to start for restitution.
Because their buddies down at the PD ignore the incident or help cover it up so these "checks and balances" never get used.
No way. Police officers NEVER lie, cheat or steal.
I dont know what coppers there make but $120,000 is not much, this was annual salary for a LAPD detective counting overtime. For a patrolman this would be only about 2 years salary. His life and career thrown away over a couple years salary.......very poor charactor.
With $3.2 in the kitty supposedly, who do you think was doing the counting and book work? They only FOUND $120,000. Anyone in charge can divert money before it got into the books. DUH!
The bad are everywhere and that includes those who are expected to live up to much higher expectations than the average folk. There are some who manage to pull the wool over everyone's eyes and use a position such as police officer for their own personal gain and for some others, the temptations are too great.
I have no idea where this bad apple fits but I'm glad that he's been caught. This is a disgrace and a slap in the face to all of those officers who really do care and perform their duties with honor. As far as I'm concerned, he has spit on the graves of all those who have fallen in the line of duty.
I would be happy if the cops could live up to A BARE MINIMUM of expectations of decency and honor.
Leroy, I think that most of them really do live up to their expectations or at least try and try hard. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. I'm sure that we've all had our different experiences with LEO's for various reasons.
Just for your information, this was my husband's cousin. How do you think what this cheap thief has done makes us feel right now??? The anniversary of his murder is coming up soon.
http://www.paulierizzo.com/
Many cops do Chevaz maybe even most of them. But there is a substantial population of cops who are controlling bullies. I expect ALL of them to live up to a bare minimum standard of conduct. Many have murdered people for no reason at all and generally the only punishment they receive for this is losing their job, possible short sentences in PC. Those cops that beat that homeless man to death should be thrown into the general population for life, which probably wouldn't be very long!
You're right, leroy which is why I started off with "The bad are everywhere and that includes..." Everyone expects those in a position of higher authority, and not only just cops, to maintain that higher standard. That's why when some of these people fall short and commit crimes or behave in an unethical manner, it makes the news and it also makes the rest of us very angry and skeptical.
As far as cops beating a homeless man to death, you're a little kinder to them than I would be if I had my way. Horrible that something like this could occur. Once again bad apples, rotten to the core and it is these few that make the job so much harder on most of those who take their position seriously and truly care.
Regardless, this Manos they've arrested for stealing from the bereaved families of his fallen brothers and sister should have a very heavy sentence imposed on him INCLUDING a great deal of community service work after his sentence has been served if found guilty.
These acts make me somewhat skeptical of the ENTIRE police force sometimes Chevaz. I believe that all but the most egregious cases of police abuse gets covered up by other cops. Check out the story of Constables Hatchen and Munson, who dropped off a man out of town in the middle of winter who barely made it back without freezing to death. He came forward and the constables did two months and lost their jobs. Several frozen bodies were found in the same area, but these murders were never pinned on the police force. These "midnight strolls" as they were called were common knowledge among the public. Only a fool would believe that it wasn't known by the whole force. I knew Hatchen quite well, went through school with him. He never hung around his grade or the grade behind him, he hung around with and bullied the little kids in the lower grades. No one liked the guy, he had no friends, he was an anti-social bully. It sure seems like the police force could do a much better job of screening prospective recruits.
You're Canadian, leroy??? By the way, I'd just like to give you a huge thanks for an interesting and respectful discussion. Doesn't always happen here!!! :) Sending Friend Request and hope that you'll accept and voted up your posts.
Sick, sad event(s) although I found this link, as well. Interesting that you knew this man from childhood and able to watch his progression through life. Have you thought about writing / seeding an article about your experiences with him here on the vine???
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2007/03/27/hatchen-munson.html
Have you ever seen some of the psychological tests presented to prospectives??? Some of the questions are very strange but then again, I am not a psychoanalyst. Some people are "actors" where they are very adept at hiding their true thoughts and desires to get to where they want to go. Bottom line...we're all human. We make mistakes. Some are a little more "human", some are a little more humane, some are just at the bottom of the food chain.
And he'll probably get his retirement pension after his jail time.
He'll probably still receive his pension.
Thats what the Union is for isnt it?
What would be the law on stolen monies? For instance... If you rob a bank and then turn around and give 100 grand to someone would they not have to return it? Since the Bellagio casino probably keeps some track on winnings and loses would they not have to return this gambled stolen money? They should! Worse case they should make a donation back to this fund. That would be the right thing to do. Any Lawyers here that could answer this? Yes put this poor excuse for a Human in Jail!
Good points, Alan.
I always thought stolen property even if its money gets returned. Cant point a finger at the Casino or Home Depot etc. though. Would be a good gesture on their part if money didnt have to be returned to make a donation. You could always auction off the guys home but that would be putting his family in the streets, not the kids fault. The puke should have to give up ownership of something? If anything give the puke plenty of jail time to think about it.
Sorry for the families that suffered from this dooosch bag. Soon he'll be running for office; treasury dept.
Why should tax payers be on the hook for housing this guy for ever how many years of his crime?
He should be made to work at a donut shop until he repays every single cent he has stolen.
After repayment of stolen funds, he should then be responsible for 20 years of community service as punishment for his crimes.
Wall street bankers stole billions from U.S. citizens and will never see a day of any punishment, nor will they pay one cent in restitution.
The American citizens can't even get our legislature to raise their taxes, and so we will never see one red cent from these thieving crooks.
Tax payer should not be put on the hook for someone else crimes. Make them pay restitution.
Make this cop spend the rest of his life mowing the lawns of the people whose money he has stolen.
They uphold the law, not obey it.
LOL!!
Most cops are not trustworthy at all.
Sounds like it's time for a new round of background checks. All things change over time. I bet their union wouldn't allow that though.
He was turned in by a union member. Kinda rocks your preconceived ideas huh???
http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/08/1982379/treasurer-of-lakewood-police-guild.html
Hmmm...I wonder if he will ever see trial. He could very well have an "accident" before then...
what a complete low life! stone him!
RIGHT.
Most cops ARE honest and have integrity, but in ANY profession, there are the corrupt ones that cast a bad light on all.
Thank You, that goes for all professions.
Didn't these officers have insurance polices, health insurance policies, life insurance polices? Why is it necessary for the public to fund $3.2 million to make the families millionaires?
I don't understand this since it is obvious no one deserves hero status because of what happened in New York 11 years ago.
gulf- good grief! How much do you think it will cost these 4 families to raise their kids in this world??
This thieving cop deserves life in prison! He'll have plently of time to day dream about all the good times he had with money stolen from that fund!
3.2 million donations ??? don`t they have life insurance and that is a lot of money
As with most of us in this day and age I doubt that they had large insurance policies, and this money is split between 4 families that were truly victimized twice once by the shooter and now by this POS.