LAKEWOOD, Wash. – A police officer accused of embezzling money from a fund meant for the families of four murdered Lakewood police officers has been fired and is now under investigation for allegedly stealing money from the police officers' union.
The acting president of the Lakewood Police Officers Guild said Skeeter Timothy Manos is being investigated for taking a "significant" amount of money from the guild. The president would not give specific amounts.
The City of Lakewood announced Monday that City Manager Andrew Neiditz fired Manos Friday. It was based on a recommendation by police chief Bret Farrar.
Manos, 34, served as the treasurer of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild. He was arrested last week for allegedly embezzling more than $120,000 from the Fallen Officers’ Fund. The fund is intended to benefit the families of Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards, who were shot and killed by Maurice Clemmons in a coffee shop in November 2009.
Manos is charged with 10 federal felonies.
According to the criminal complaint, Manos set up a secret bank account for donations to the Lakewood Police Officers' families. He diverted approximately $151,000 intended for the families to this account. He then used about $120,000 from the account for purchases at Costco, Home Depot, for Alaska Airlines tickets to Las Vegas, and for cash withdrawals at various casinos.
The stolen money was just a portion of more than $3.2 million the public contributed for the benefit of the families of the murdered officers.
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