Lakewood Police officer charged with embezzling from Fallen Officers' Fund

karmaworks said on February 13, 2012 at 7:54 AM

Despite what he did was wrong their is always a darker side to a dark story. I cant imagine what tragedy the men and women in blue suffered that november day in 2009. Losing 4 family members. Lets not be the first to cast a stone on this man. Their is always two sides to a story. His story must be dark and deep with personal numbness, tragedy, addiction, and anger. Cops and firefighters have the hardest jobs in the world. They have to look into worlds despitefulness every single day and see the worst of the worst and then go home and live a normal life. I see PTSD in this story as I see many of our soldiers coming home having it. It comes at extreme lengths. God bless this mans family and himself and glad to hear he is taking responsibility into his own hands. We will get through this and so will he.

freedomfrank said on February 9, 2012 at 7:46 PM

I don't think that comment was mine Slappy,,,

bfailing21667331 said on February 9, 2012 at 5:18 PM

This al seems fishy, I bet there is a piece of paper somewhere that says he is the registered fund manager, there is no way he could just write checks off that account and deposit them into his personal account, or transfer the money, without being a signer on the trust fund.

Conseula said on February 9, 2012 at 5:01 PM

I wonder when was the last time this Fallen Officers Fund was AUDITED!!?? He didn't embezll $120,000 over night! Audits need to be done in any arena every year or two at the most..If the public has donated 3.2 million dollars, I would assume that there is a lot more missing funds... Someone in the Police Department is also resonsible for something like this happen..there always should be at least two people involved when it comes to money, counting the incoming money/donation , depositing the money, withdrawls and on and on

duanesworld said on February 9, 2012 at 3:30 PM

Ehhh-yeah. They just don't get it. Just another dirty cop. This guy is at the bottom of the cess pool, taking advantage of four fallen officers. "To Protect & Serve"

a6chris said on February 9, 2012 at 12:13 PM

so very sad

kingster said on February 9, 2012 at 11:40 AM

I read about a hole in eastern washington that allegedly has strange properties. I think it would be an excellent place for this rat for his violation of public trust and disrespect to the bereaved families and the public itself.

awol50 said on February 9, 2012 at 10:45 AM

So the charity is bringing in millions of dollars and they put ONE PERSON in charge of opening the mail, counting the money, including the number and amounts of individual contributions and depositing the money? And as I understand, over many months? While no way I am condoning what this cop did, you don't make it easy for people with access to money to commit embezzlement. You have at least two people, preferably three or more handle separate steps in the process. That way no single person can do what this guy did. It would take all of them conspiring together, which is much, much harder to do. Do banks put money on the counter and leave it up to the customers to count out their cash withdrawls? Of course not. I believe the trustees of this charity had a fiduciary duty to put reasonable financial controls in place to essentiallly remove from any single person's mind that they can easily embezzle. They failed miserably.

Daytrader said on February 9, 2012 at 10:40 AM

Darn another dishonest cop caught with his hands in the cookie jar, surprise, surprise..

slappywag said on February 9, 2012 at 8:35 AM

@freedomfrank: removing money will not do away with crime. That's a rather dumb assumption.

linda32 said on February 9, 2012 at 8:26 AM

So - is he on paid administrative leave, have they fired him? What's his employment status???

tennisbum said on February 9, 2012 at 8:14 AM

I guess there isn't anywhere left in government, at any level, where corruption hasn't permeated power. No wonder people don't trust those in charge - anywhere!!! Now - I am not saying the whole department is bad - but those that lose our trust sure make it hard for the others who are trying to stay uncorrupted amidt all the temptation to take advantage of their power. Can we please do a better job of finding government employees with integrity, honesty and a sense of right and wrong?

ankh5 said on February 9, 2012 at 8:08 AM

Thank you Skeeter for reinforcing my view that there are no limits to the depravity of the human race.

fwkc63 said on February 9, 2012 at 7:59 AM

Oh...he is such a kind face, the kind the inmates are going to LOVE! Your gonna get exactly what you deserve you POS!!

gottabebacon said on February 9, 2012 at 7:30 AM

@William_S, oh yes east coast cops have a long reputation of being honest, loyal and trustworthy. Hahahaha. You left WA physically now please leave it digitally. This Lakewood cop is a selfish POS. How low can one get, what mental defect makes him act so thoughtlessly and be blind to the hurt he can cause? Grand theft = grand time behind bars. You'll have a fun time in prison as an x-cop, miserable thief and the name Skeeter.

deepsee said on February 9, 2012 at 7:20 AM

Released without bail? Just goes to show you how screwed up the legal system is....

treeclimber said on February 9, 2012 at 6:25 AM

they say he is one of theres and not one of ours,the public trust has ounce again been violated by one of theres..

freedomfrank said on February 9, 2012 at 5:53 AM

Maybe we'll get lucky and this cop will commit Hari kari like that worthless cop that got caught stealing crack,,, if I remember right, some of you actually defended that cop talking about how they are just human and they make mistakes too,,, none of you gonna come stand up to this crooked cop?

commonsensewa said on February 9, 2012 at 1:07 AM

I sure hope they come down on him HARD! We have seen so many stories of embezzlement in our govt offices, when will these people get it through their heads that more than one person needs to be required to move money that is not theirs?! Checks & Balances, learn it, USE it.

Kim62 said on February 9, 2012 at 12:48 AM

Oh and good job officer Skeeter. 34 years old and you ruined your entire career. No matter how good the union is you wont be able to get another law enforcement job anywhere in the country. Not even in Louisiana where this kind of thing is the normal way of life.

Kim62 said on February 9, 2012 at 12:00 AM

Awol50, in reality he did divert the money in a short period of time. I have been hearing all day how he did it and when he started. All of the money was diverted during the time that the donations were coming in. His big problem was that since it was all being donated to a cause the checks were written in such a way that all he could do was deposit them. Hence the secret bank account. To the person who wrote the check everything looks just fine. Nothing has been changed so the person who donated has no idea that their money is sitting in a crooked cop's slush fund for gambling. The bright side is this cop is really bad at finances and the other police noticed that the books were very sloppily kept which is why the audit was performed which caused him to get caught.

iowaboy said on February 8, 2012 at 11:18 PM

Why was he released without posting bail? He will get busy and hide assets while he is out. lock him back up!!!!!!

DCal2722 said on February 8, 2012 at 10:45 PM

I just have to say something about awol50's statement, blaming the incident on the organization stating "Shame on this organization for not having the proper controls in place to make this crime much more difficult to carry out." This is the problem, our society, for some reason, has this idea that Police officers are morally superior to the rest of the population which is idiotic, but so is the idea that the organization is at fault for not making it more difficult to embezzle the funds, he was the Treasurer and I am sure that this guy portrayed himself as an upright, moral member of his organization and here is the point of my comments, these guys are no more honest or dishonest than anyone else and I just don't understand how people can think they are, I just don't understand, I guess people WANT to believe these guys are "the good guy's" when in fact they are just guy's that were hired by a municipality, no more, no less.

meatplow said on February 8, 2012 at 10:30 PM

Just look at that egghead pukebag . Thats what I thought he would look like,,Inbread puke scum vomit!

tprop said on February 8, 2012 at 10:29 PM

Doh!

DCal2722 said on February 8, 2012 at 10:27 PM

Isn't it nice to know how very "Trustworthy" our Police Officers are!!! Hell if this guy will steal from "The Fallen Officers Fund" he would steal from anyone, anything, anywhere. In other words he is a POS! But then again perhaps this is all appropriate and some of his colleages will arrange for him to fit the discription of the intended recipients of these funds. But on the serious side, this illustrates very well that Police Officers are no more honest or upright than any other segment of our society and actually tend to be amoung a higher incidense of corruption than the average citizen and I believe it is because they know that our society tends to think they are "above" all the corrupt behavior of civillians. They also tend to think of themselves as being above the law in many instances, even simple things such as adhering to speed limits, parking laws, threatening civilians and just about any law that you can think of that we civilians obey just as a matter of being a citizen.

freemonttroll said on February 8, 2012 at 9:51 PM

Outlaw money and 99% of crimes will go away... Mankind is weak, these kind of things should not surprise us but they should enrage us.

lhasamom said on February 8, 2012 at 9:47 PM

Throw him in prison with the scum that he had arrested. I'm sure they will be real kind to him.

cantora said on February 8, 2012 at 9:41 PM

Just disgusting. How low can a person go?

awol50 said on February 8, 2012 at 9:24 PM

People embezzle because they get away with it. This guy did not embezzle this money in one day. It was over a long period of time. Usually it starts out in small amounts and grows as time goes on and no suspicions. Shame on this organization for not having the proper controls in place to make this crime much more difficult to carry out. You mean to say they take in millions of dollars and this is how this charity handles the internal controls for all this cash? You always have multiple people involved in the accounting for cash. Period. So now we have a cop heading to jail, a family ruined and a charity with alot less money. Nobody wins.

gibbage said on February 8, 2012 at 8:50 PM

A cop stealing from cops is about as low as you can get, but a cop stealing from dead cops family's? Just remember that this guys life now lies in the hands of the people he stole from. Good luck scumbag when you inmates find out you were a cop.

slappywag said on February 8, 2012 at 8:48 PM

Get a rope.

plungginalong said on February 8, 2012 at 8:46 PM

What a low life scum for a human being. And if it was anyone else that did something like this they would still be locked up in jail, but they let him go home. What in the heck is wrong with this system. You all watch and see he will just get a slap on the wrist. And I'm sure he's getting paid right now from everybody that pays taxes, they get paid leave.

seatownbadger said on February 8, 2012 at 8:41 PM

Larry57 siad it best. While this ****head went out of this way to steal, and go on a spending spree I have to commend the officer from Lakewood PD who discovered this, and did the right thing by coming forward. It could have been easily covered up, and no one would have ever known. This officer stood for what the rest of the Lakewood PD officers represent which is honesty. Like the report said ths was discovered by the Lakewood PD themselves. They saw this was a huge deal, and let the feds take over the case. I will always have the upmost respect for a men and women in uniform. Not many people would do what they do, and face danger day in and day out. This unfortunate that one person slipped through the cracks, and was taken over by greed we can't judge all of law enforcement by the actions of one person. The judicial system will take care of Skeeter Manos, and he will serve his time in jail. Plus you have to remember he will get what he deserves being a cop in jail.

fauxhawk said on February 8, 2012 at 7:24 PM

Police officer corruption is the worst! I am glad his fellow officers turned him in. He deserves the full 20 years if he doesn't get a deal and a slap on the wrist first! What a piece of s***!

freedomfrank said on February 8, 2012 at 7:24 PM

When convicted he should spend everyday of the 20 years in prison.

humevo said on February 8, 2012 at 7:11 PM

Have a nice time in prison scumbag. I'm sure you will be treated with the respect you deserve.

bizirk said on February 8, 2012 at 7:11 PM

Hey Skeeter.. Now that you have a little spare time, wanna go crab fishing with me this week end? I need bait !!!!

fhjthomas said on February 8, 2012 at 7:04 PM

Don't these officers go through some personality and honesty assessment screening during the application or academy process?

logic14 said on February 8, 2012 at 7:02 PM

This proves that no matter what tests and safe gaurds are in place that scum can still make it threw. I know Skeeter, arrogant and pompus, but no one could imagine this. How disgusting.

Lisa_Marie_Vf62 said on February 8, 2012 at 6:56 PM

This man needs to be sent to a federal prison in another state. I feel for his wife and kids...they can't call him a hero.

Lisa_Marie_Vf62 said on February 8, 2012 at 6:50 PM

Is there anyway for this officer to replace what he took from the fundraiser for these fallen officers' families?

freedomfrank said on February 8, 2012 at 6:50 PM

No cop lovers sticking up for this one? Theres a switch,,,,

ginas said on February 8, 2012 at 6:12 PM

if proven i hope he serves every day of that 20 years... that's about as low as you can get. i agree with larry57, hopefully this won't soil the reputation of the honest officers of lakewood.

Larry57 said on February 8, 2012 at 5:56 PM

I heart goes out to not only the families of the fallen Officers, but to honest Officers on the Lakewood PD force. These Officers are constantly fighting what seems to be an uphill battle trying to gain the trust, confidence, cooperation and understanding of the public. These men and women put up with a lot every day on shift. Then this "piece of work" does this and it only adds to their burdon of trying to keep the peace and do their job. To those of you who'd bash the honest Law Enforcement Officers, you'd better serve yourselves, and the public, to thank these men and women for the job they try to do. They put their lives on the line every minute they're out there patrolling the streets to keep YOU safe.

snakepliskin said on February 8, 2012 at 5:36 PM

The police union will stick up for him. They're idiots too.

jackwong said on February 8, 2012 at 5:29 PM

So how long is it going to take fire him? 5 years of "paid to do nothing?" Take this on, Sussanah Frame!!!!!

gnirk said on February 8, 2012 at 5:27 PM

I'm disgusted! This man (notice I didn't call him a police officer) is among the lowest of the low. I made a large donation to the fund, and if I ever see this scum, I will personally let him know exactly what I think of him. My dad was a police officer for 30 years, and was a great example of honesty and integrity. Manos behavior is despicable.

2lanepavement said on February 8, 2012 at 5:07 PM

I remember when our parents and teachers told us the police were the good guys. We could trust them and always go to them for help. I doubt I'll be quite as gullible in the future. Granted the guy hasn't been tried yet, but the evidence against him certainly bodes poorly. Just another reason to distrust those supposedly protecting and serving our communities.

bam206 said on February 8, 2012 at 4:43 PM

One moron ruins it for all the hard working officers! Your nuts! Police have incredible ego problems, they think they can't be touched, just in the last couple of weeks numerous reports of abuse, unjustified shootings, steeling drugs from crime scenes and now embezzling money from the public for their own, they are just normal people who do a job no better no worse than anybody else that goes to work everyday, quit putting these people up on pedestals.

nguminh said on February 8, 2012 at 4:25 PM

There go the honesty.

blaze3016 said on February 8, 2012 at 3:45 PM

taking away from the fallen officers familes again. the last time is was from outside the force, this time from with in the force. I'll bet he is still drawing his pay, but at least he won't be able to draw his gun with a badge again...

whataworld said on February 8, 2012 at 3:38 PM

It breaks my heart and makes me SO angry that one despicable unethical moron who happens to have a badge ruins it for ALL of the honorable hardworking officers that do the right thing on a daily basis! At least I know that he will get his when he gets to jail!

bazwest said on February 8, 2012 at 3:33 PM

Goes to show it's not the uniform that determines a person integrity it is the actions of the individual wearing the uniform.. Too bad he took advantage of this position at the expense of families who need the assistance.

comiccon2010 said on February 8, 2012 at 3:26 PM

so you arrest 1 out of the hundreds if not thousands of corrupt police officers in this state. bet he pleads out and gets a slap on the wrist like all the other cops

meatplow said on February 8, 2012 at 3:25 PM

What a jerk!

bekster4 said on February 8, 2012 at 3:20 PM

OMG..................A new low!!!!!!!!!!!!

spartacus said on February 8, 2012 at 3:08 PM

dont bend over for the soap homey!!!

stryker said on February 8, 2012 at 3:01 PM

Yet another POS with a badge and a gun. Feeling safe...?

andyblue555 said on February 8, 2012 at 2:47 PM

That's pretty low. Unfortunately the tax payers will be forced to flip the bill for the best defense lawyers the tax payers money can buy. What a corrupt system the police in Washington have going. The fraud committed on the tax payers with these illegal police contracts is staggering.

Conseula said on February 8, 2012 at 2:40 PM

And we wonder what what/why there is so much crime in Lakewood!!

gritz said on February 8, 2012 at 2:36 PM

This time lets keep an eye on him after he is released.

eagle86 said on February 8, 2012 at 2:21 PM

Skeeter!? Prepare to be Skeeted

kbbcoop said on February 8, 2012 at 1:57 PM

Another police "hero". Disgusting.

paulharvey said on February 8, 2012 at 1:53 PM

I wonder how many times this scum was called a "hero" himself while he stole that money did God knows what else. That's why I don't just throw that word around because somebody happens to be a cop. If you are not noticing the despicable acts committed by police on an almost daily basis then you aren't paying attention.