Toledo Firefighter Convicted of Stealing From His Own Station’s Account
TOLEDO, Ohio — A Toledo Fire & Rescue firefighter has been convicted of stealing more than $1,000 from his own station’s account.
A jury found Private Deandre Ware Jr. guilty on Tuesday, Nov. 10, on one count of theft and one count of telecommunications fraud, according to court documents. Ware used the in-house account at Fire Station #4 for personal use, making multiple withdrawals and transactions over six months totaling more than $1,000.
Ware was indicted on the charges on July 22. His bond was continued on his own recognizance, and he is set to be sentenced Dec. 29 by Judge Ken Walz.
The missing money came to light when a captain checked the Station #4 house fund before a vacation and found it short on cable bills, The Blade reported.
A Toledo Fire & Rescue spokesperson said an internal investigation involving Ware remains open and ongoing. Ware is on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome. Per department policy, the department will not comment on the specific allegations, circumstances or details of an ongoing internal investigation.
Source: 13abc
Photo: Toledo Fire Department Station No. 6 opening celebration, Nov. 5, 1895 — Toledo Lucas County Public Library via Wikimedia Commons (public domain). Historic photo; not Station #4.
