The Green River Fire Department’s foundation, at the center of an embezzlement investigation by the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, had more than $51,000 in its accounts as of a 2018 IRS filing.
The foundation, classified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is required to file a yearly report with the IRS, known as Form 990. These publicly accessible documents outline the foundation’s finances and its board of directors.
Two filings for GRFD Foundation, Inc., appear on the IRS website. According to the 2018 Form 990EZ filing recorded April 29, 2019, the foundation had $51,963 in assets in 2018. This represents a $14,639 decrease from the amount listed for 2017. In total 2018 revenue, the foundation recorded $16,537 and expenses of $31,230, which include $28,561 in a line item listed as “grants and similar amounts paid.” The other expenses recorded were $2,612 for “printing, publications, postage, and shipping” and $57 in other expenses. The foundation also lists all of its expenses as support for the GRFD. All revenue received by the foundation is listed as cash gifts and are held until distribution into the foundation’s bank account.
The GRFD declined to comment about the foundation, citing legal concerns involving the ongoing investigation.
The foundation’s account was typically used to supplement department needs. For example, if the department creates a wildland fire crew, it may turn to the foundation to help purchase specialized equipment for the crew.
When asked who is in charge of the foundation, Tom Murphy, the department’s public affairs officer said everyone at the department was.
“We all are,” Murphy told the Star.
The filing lists five directors for the foundation.
Those directors are GRFD Chief Mike Nomis, former interim GRFD Chief Mike Liberty, Assistant Fire Chief Larry Erdmann, Austin Rider and Jeb Burnett. The filing also states the directors are elected by active members of the GRFD.
According to the filing, the foundation is a supporting organization that is operated in conjunction with the GRFD, but not functionally integrated.
The SCSO has not released additional information regarding its investigation. A media release from the sheriff’s office announced investigators had served search warrants at City Hall and the Green River Fire Department as part of an embezzlement investigation. The sheriff’s office declined to identify suspects in the investigation as arrests had not been made.
Speaking to the Star, City Administrator Reed Clevenger said the investigation focused on the foundation, which he said was run independently of both the city and the fire department.
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