CRANDALL, Texas – The Crandall Fire Department recently sold two firetrucks and other firefighter equipment to pay off some fire department debt and also to satisfy one of two fraudulent loans which recently put the department in financial turmoil.
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Last year, the Crandall Volunteer Fire Department's treasurer, secretary, and chaplain Denny Mackey was arrested and later released on bond from the Kaufman County Jail after allegedly using department equipment as collateral on two loans totaling $140,934.27.
Crandall Fire Department Chief Allen Cousins provided an update of the fire department to the Crandall City Council at their Monday, March 17, 2014, council meeting. According to Cousins, the department sold a 2003 Spartan engine, a 1993 tanker, and other miscellaneous gear. In total, $153,000 in debt, including one fraudulent loan, was paid off.
The department still has a $75,000 loan at Crandall's American National Bank which has been deemed fraudulent.
The Crandall City Council did approve the purchase of a new city engine with City of Crandall funds at Monday's meeting. The department will be down two trucks until the new engine is delivered in approximately September 2014.
“It's kinda tough times,” Cousins told inForney.com. “We just have to call mutual aid as soon as we have something and if somebody is available we've got to get them to head our way.”
On March 20, 2014, the Crandall Fire Department found themselves in one of those positions. A structure fire in their fire district required immediate mutual aid from surrounding departments including Forney, Seagoville, and Combine.
The case against Mackey is still under investigation with the Texas Rangers who will eventually turn the case over to the Kaufman County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. While not yet indicted, Mackey is facing an abuse of official capacity charge which is a 2nd degree felony on suspicion of misappropriating between $100,000 and $200,000.
The Crandall Fire Department is accepting donations on their website, CrandallFire.com.
Crandall Fire Department Chief Allen Cousins provided an update of the fire department to the Crandall City Council at their Monday, March 17, 2014, council meeting. According to Cousins, the department sold a 2003 Spartan engine, a 1993 tanker, and other miscellaneous gear. In total, $153,000 in debt, including one fraudulent loan, was paid off.
The department still has a $75,000 loan at Crandall's American National Bank which has been deemed fraudulent.
The Crandall City Council did approve the purchase of a new city engine with City of Crandall funds at Monday's meeting. The department will be down two trucks until the new engine is delivered in approximately September 2014.
“It's kinda tough times,” Cousins told inForney.com. “We just have to call mutual aid as soon as we have something and if somebody is available we've got to get them to head our way.”
On March 20, 2014, the Crandall Fire Department found themselves in one of those positions. A structure fire in their fire district required immediate mutual aid from surrounding departments including Forney, Seagoville, and Combine.
The case against Mackey is still under investigation with the Texas Rangers who will eventually turn the case over to the Kaufman County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. While not yet indicted, Mackey is facing an abuse of official capacity charge which is a 2nd degree felony on suspicion of misappropriating between $100,000 and $200,000.
The Crandall Fire Department is accepting donations on their website, CrandallFire.com.