East Schodack fire company claims $9,300 theft

East Schodack fire company claims $9,300 theft by auxiliary

Posted at: 04/04/2013 11:47 AM | Updated at: 04/04/2013 6:10 PM
By: John McLoughlin

EAST SCHODACK – The volunteer fire company claims it is the victim of a $9,300 theft, by their own ladies auxiliary.

What makes this story really shocking, the woman they are accusing of stealing the $9,300 on behalf of the auxiliary not only had been a member of that ladies group, she also had been an active firefighter. And in fact, she had been Fireman of the Year four times. 

Now this has been going on, behind the scenes for more than three years.  Back in April of 2010, the company says it disbanded the auxiliary but the company claims that's when the treasurer of the auxiliary, a woman by the name of Jean Schweigert, withdrew the $9,300 from a bank account.

The attorney for Schweigert and for two other officers of the auxiliary say the women wanted to donate that money to the Firemen's Home in Hudson.

But the fire company says it's not the women's money and they are really stealing it.

Neither Rodney Powis, the attorney for the company nor members of the company would answer any questions.

They did say that they tried to report this as a criminal matter and were rebuffed but would not say what police agencies might have turned them away. And so far, there has been action on the lawsuit