Docs: Former Indiana fire chief accused of stealing funds

HOWARD COUNTY, Ind. -- An arrest warrant has been issued for a former fire chief for the Taylor Township Fire Department, who allegedly used the department's funds for personal finances worth thousands of dollars.




According to court documents obtained by FOX59/CBS4, 35-year-old Justin Zimmerman faces three felony counts of Official Misconduct (Level 6 Felony) and three counts of Theft (Level 6 Felony).

Thousands of dollars unaccounted for

An investigation was launched on July 2 when Kokomo police met with a Taylor Township Trustee. This person said the department's current fire chief had informed him that Zimmerman had allegedly sold extrication equipment, including a spreader and cutters, to a local company for $2,500.




The trustee said the sale of the tools was "unauthorized and unknown," according to court documents. He also claimed the money received by selling the tools was never put back into the fire department's funds.




The officer was also made aware of additional fuel purchases worth an estimated $150 that were unauthorized, in addition to allegations that Zimmerman had falsified his payroll between $6,000 and $10,000.




The Taylor Township deputy trustee explained during a subsequent interview with police that she was responsible for paying payroll and would oversee a provided list documenting the hours each fireman employed by the Taylor Township Fire Department worked.




The deputy trustee recalled being presented with Zimmerman's number of worked hours and observing that they appeared to be "very large" and that "it didn't seem accurate."




As officers continued investigating, they reviewed biweekly reports from multiple departments and an ESO Report, which tallied the fire department's time clock system.




Court documents show that between March 24, 2025, and April 7, 2025, Zimmerman reported working 74 hours, indicating that he should have been paid $1,110.




The deputy trustee said this couldn't be right, as nobody is permitted to work more than 40 hours per week since the department does not employ any full-time firefighters.




The next pay period, April 7 through April 20, 2025, indicated Zimmerman worked 62 hours and should have been paid $930. Court documents noted that the ESO report for this specific pay period did not include Zimmerman's name.




The officer noted in the court documents that he was "unable to locate any times on the ESO report in which Justin worked and should have been receiving pay as he reported throughout 2025 in his biweekly report."




The officer was also given a payment summary report, which confirmed that Zimmerman was reportedly paid a total of $9,7773.48 so far for the year.




Zimmerman was paid $5,011.29 in 2024 and $1,895 in 2023.




"Obviously the amount [Zimmerman] has received in the first half of 2025 is substantially more than the amount he received in prior years for the entire calendar year," court documents said.




The deputy trustee said it appeared that Zimmerman was attempting to justify his pay and that he allegedly tried to "write the situation off as an error" when he was initially questioned about these purchases and withdrawals.




Zimmerman is also accused of taking money from the fire department's First Farmers' Bank Account, which is described as a checking account with an active debit card. Zimmerman was the only individual who had access to the debit card. The officer reviewed the bank statements from that account.




The account's balance was $9,334.64 as of Sept. 30, 2024, before Zimmerman allegedly withdrew $1,300 the following month. Township officials also pointed to a "large transaction" on Oct. 24, 2024, in Kokomo for $83.96 and a check for $1,100 as he allegedly celebrated his father's birthday.




As the investigation unfolded, detectives discovered other transactions that included Zimmerman allegedly taking his family to Monster Jam, costing $624.05.




"It appears through unauthorized withdrawals and purchases, and payroll-related monies, Justin has cost the Taylor Township Fire Department several thousands of dollars," court documents concluded.

Zimmerman's account

After compiling evidence documenting the alleged financial misconduct, officers attempted to call Zimmerman's phone before realizing that it had been shut off. They then visited his residence but could not find him there.




Police were eventually able to make contact with Zimmerman and he met them at the Kokomo Police Department for an interview.




Zimmerman said he served as the fire chief from October 2024 to June 2025. He said he recorded his hours and supplied them to the deputy trustee. When asked if he would clock in while working, he reportedly said no. He explained that he was told to keep track of his work hours and provide them to the deputy trustee for final approval.




When he was questioned on the sale of the extrication equipment, he said the township trustee was aware of it and authorized the transaction. He also claimed all of the purchases and withdrawals on the department's First Farmers' Bank Account were approved.




He said he had a binder containing receipts to prove all of this, but that he had misplaced it. He maintained that all of the transactions were authorized despite beginning his tenure as fire chief with a beginning balance of $8,334.64 and ending with a negative balance.




When he was presented with the bank records and bank statements, court documents show that Zimmerman reportedly admitted to using money from the fire department to support himself.




Online court records show that an arrest warrant was issued for Zimmerman out of Howard Superior Court 2 on Friday. His bond has been set to $20,000.





via: https://fox59.com/news/docs-former-indiana-fire-chief-accused-of-stealing-funds/