The former chief of the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company, Daniel J. McKinney, is facing serious allegations after being indicted on charges of theft and embezzlement. As reported by FOX Baltimore, a Grand Jury has moved to charge McKinney with five counts of felony theft alongside a single count of embezzlement. McKinney, 37, was released on a $25,000 unsecured personal bond following a warrant served for his arrest.
Released on a Wednesday, McKinney's indictment claims he began misappropriating funds from the fire company as early as July 2019, continuing until at least January 31. During an initial investigation into McKinney's actions spurred by inconsistencies in credit card usage, the Board of Directors uncovered "some irregular purchases on an issued company credit card," according to a statement given to WMAR-2 News. This led to a deeper probe by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, revealing potential criminal conduct.
Specific allegations suggest that McKinney may have stolen amounts ranging from $31,000 to $200,000 over the six years. The former chief also penned a letter in September 2024—cited by Firehouse—addressing the grim fiscal outlook of the department, where it was acknowledged that the Board opted to take "an in-depth look at how we can navigate change that would steer FVFAC to a better path to resolve financial concerns," as McKinney wrote.
The investigation took shape in the wake of this acknowledgement, with other officers in the department noting unusual transactions on the credit card, leading to involvement from local law enforcement. Since the charges came to light, McKinney is no longer associated with the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company, having been separated from membership as of February 2.
