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Dep. fire chief accused
of embezzlement
Arrest result of six-month long
investigation

Updated: Thursday, 16 Jul 2009, 12:52 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 16 Jul 2009, 12:51 PM EDT

* Nancy Krause

WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - Rhode Island State Police arrested West Greenwich's deputy fire chief Thursday on charges of embezzlement and unlawful appropriation.

The investigation began six months ago, after state police received a complaint from the International Association of Firefighters, Local 4267 about Gregory Hitchcock, 38, of West Greenwich.

According to investigators, the union's treasurer examined the bank statements for the previous five years and found suspicious bank transfers between the union's account and Hitchcock's personal bank account.

Once the state police's Financial Crime Unit got involved, it uncovered numerous transfers from the IAFF account to three different Hitchcock family accounts. It also found deposits from Hitchcock's account to the union account.

State police said over a five year period, Hitchcock withdrew a total of $7,757 dollars from the union account, sometimes leaving the balance as low as 25 cents. However, they said Hitchcock did return $6,339 to the IAFF accounts, leaving the union at a loss of $1,418.