The Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad is searching for financial and trust solutions after its former commander was charged Wednesday with allegedly embezzling more than $127,000 through RVRS Visa Card transactions over the past 11 months.
In a Facebook post Wednesday, newly appointed RVRS Commander Brian Forbes said that former Commander Timothy Pittman was relieved of his duties.
Roanoke Rapids police Chief Lawrence Wiggins said in a statement Wednesday that on February 3, the police department received a report of potential embezzlement by a member of the RVRS. He said the investigation revealed that on multiple occasions, Pittman allegedly converted funds from the RVRS through the department’s credit card to pay his personal utility expenses as well as other expenses.
Pittman surrendered to the police department Wednesday and received a $250,000 unsecured bond, which, according to court records, was posted. He has a March 10 district court date where the court will review the charge of embezzlement greater than $100,000 that has been lodged against him.
According to the warrant filed by R.B. Biggerstaff of the RRPD, the transactions totaled $127,876.93. The warrant notes that Pittman, 32, was in a capacity where he had been entrusted to use the card. The warrant was issued on Tuesday and served Wednesday.
For the rescue squad, which has been operating for 70 years, the charge has been a blow. “These investigations revealed catastrophic damage to the squad's ability to operate and maintain budget liabilities,” Forbes wrote in the Facebook post. “The board learned of multiple business partners who have gone unpaid as well.”
Forbes said in the post that the RVRS board became aware of financial irregularities in January and at first thought them to be accounting mistakes “easily made by an unseasoned commander.”
However, the vice chair of the squad’s board continued to investigate and on January 23 called an emergency board meeting to discuss the preliminary findings. “The board declared a state of emergency for the department and, later that day, Mr. Pittman was relieved of his duties.”
A more detailed internal investigation and audit into his administrative expenses began. On February 3, the board of directors filed a complaint with the Roanoke Rapids Police Department.
“The all-volunteer board of directors is deeply saddened and embarrassed by these events and the breach of trust they represent to the members of the Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad, our business partners that are so vital to operations and, most importantly, to our community, our neighbors, our friends, and our families who we serve. To you we extend our deepest apologies,” the post said. “Moving forward, the Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad will stay focused on our commitment to proudly serve the people of the Roanoke Valley area with a renewed commitment to transparency. The board is confident and fully committed to restoring the squad’s ability to serve the people while re-earning the trust that Roanoke Valley Rescue has enjoyed for the past 70 years. We have committed to and are currently developing new stringent financial protocols to ensure this never happens to our community rescue squad again.”
The post concluded by saying, “We humbly ask for your patience and understanding as we grow past this devastating time and know the administration of the department is working diligently to implement enhanced oversight measures to safeguard the squad's future and restore lost confidence in the community where we live and serve.”
During Wednesday night’s city council meeting, City Manager Kelly Traynham said that the city was aware of an issue with the RVRS. “I just want to say that we will continue to work with the rescue squad to identify any service gaps until there’s a better handle on the situation.”
She said the city understands that the squad has fiscal needs and requests. “We will work to balance those and we look forward to some communication from the rescue squad.”
Forbes said today that before this happened, the RVRS had no short-term debt and little long-term debt. “Not only did we have very little long-term debt, we also had liquid securities to back it up. We had the cash to pay that debt off in the event that we needed to.”
In 2020, a property tax referendum allowed the squad to receive a 1-cent per $100 tax rate levied only within Roanoke Rapids. Last year, Pittman went to the city council and requested that tax increase to 5 cents, although the board had instructed him to ask for a cap of 3 cents. That request was denied.
As a taxpayer in Roanoke Rapids, Forbes said he would be willing to pay another 1 cent “to keep the rescue squad around because we know rescue squads are rare and they’re dying. I’m proud of our rescue squad and I’m proud we have one. I want the history of our squad to continue.”
Since this happened, the squad has negotiated a better deal on phone and internet service and the bank has agreed to work with the squad’s leadership on building payments. “That was a godsend. Those things help and that hopefully will get us through. We’ve also worked really hard at reducing our costs.”
During this time, the squad will be taking more fuel-efficient vehicles on calls, such as using its small crash truck as opposed to the big one. The small truck, he said, is fully capable of handling most collisions.
The squad is also working on strategies for the water rescue phase of its operations. “What we’re going to have to do is tighten our belts and sharpen our pencils. We might be a little light for a little while. We’re going to have to have the support of the citizens. At the end of the day, the citizens are the ones that decide if they want us or not.”
The squad plans to sell equipment that’s not being used.
Forbes said, "We would be excited to get the money back, but we're not planning on it."
Former Commander Mark Collier has been spearheading the insurance initiative, Forbes said. “Our insurance company has been working with the police department. We are hopeful that pans out and if it does, that will get us through the lean months until our tax money starts to flow again.”
