Matthew White, the fire chief of South Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department, is currently facing charges for the alleged theft of $178,000 from his department. According to WPXI, the Pennsylvania State Police initiated an investigation following a report of suspected theft within the department.
Details from the court records obtained by WPXI reveal that the suspected embezzlements date back to 2023. With direct access to the fire department’s bank account, White allegedly labelled certain transactions as donations before transferring the amounts to a personal bank account at Citizens Bank. Residents of the community, having learned of the accusations, wrestle with a sense of disbelief and concern, with Michael Dewberry questioning the department's financial oversight, "Who's in control of the money? Where's the treasurer at?" This sentiment was echoed by another resident, Tom Sidun, who felt that despite the respect White has garnered over time, there should be stronger checks within the firefighting body.
An arrest warrant has been issued for White, with theft charges on the table, as reported by WTAE. The details of the criminal complaint highlight purchases dubbed as "donations" from the department's accounts, which were then allegedly rerouted to White's own finances.
While the South Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department and borough officials have yet to respond publicly to inquiries from Pittsburgh's Action News 4, the community is left grappling with the loss and its implications—on trust, on security, and on what it means to be respected in the community.
