Charge: Lakewood cop embezzled from Fallen Officers’ Fund | Crime

LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Police have arrested a Lakewood police officer accused of embezzling more than $120,000 from a fund intended to benefit the families of four Lakewood officers killed in the line of duty. 

Skeeter T. Manos, 34, of Dupont has been charged with 10 federal felonies for allegedly embezzling from the fund while serving as the treasurer of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild. 

Manos was arrested on Wednesday morning, and was scheduled to appear in court in the afternoon. 

Federal investigators said Manos set up a secret bank account under the guild's name and funneled approximately $151,000 in funds intended for the families of fallen officers. He used some $120,000 from the account for "his personal use and pleasure," the complaint said, namely to make purchases at several stores including Costco, Home Depot and REI, buy plane tickets to Las Vegas, and make cash withdrawals at several casinos, both in Las Vegas and in Washington state. 

The allegedly embezzled funds were a part of the $3.2 million contributed for the benefit of the families of Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards who were gunned down at a coffee shop. 

The allegations first came to light in late January when another Lakewood police officer reported that he believed someone within the executive board of the guild was stealing money from the fund. The officer, who suspected donations being made to the fund were not being properly accounted for, said he approached the guild, but the group had failed to provide him with adequate answers. 

The officer said he then went to the local branch of Bank of America where he knew the guild kept its accounts, and requested statements for all accounts associated with the guild. The documents revealed the existence of the account now in question. This account's records had not been published on the guild members' website like the others, the officer told investigators, and the account's transactions appeared personal in nature. 

"Stealing from the children of our fallen officers is disgraceful. As financial crimes go, if theses allegations are true, it doesn't get much lower than this," said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. 

As treasurer, Manos’ tasks involved paying the guild’s phone bill, lawyer fees and disability insurance. No one else was involved in the finances of the group, the guild’s vice president told investigators.