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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 19, 1992                   TAG: 9202190124
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short

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RADFORD FIRE FUNDS INVESTIGATED

State police are investigating a complaint about the management of Radford Fire Department volunteer funds.

According to Cecil Handy, special agent in charge of investigations, state police learned of the allegations through a letter. He would not say who made the allegations.

State police investigators have been questioning potential witnesses within Radford government and examining documents for about 10 days. Handy said he wasn't sure how much money was involved, if any.

"The way the complaint read, it could have varied," he said.

He also declined to comment on the kind of funds affected. The allegation accused a member of the fire department of misusing or misappropriating funds.

Handy said he expected the investigation to take at least another 30 days.

City manager Robert Asbury said Tuesday that he was aware of the investigation and was cooperating with state police.

Asbury called the state police involvement a preliminary investigation into the management of the fire department volunteer funds. He said the investigation "was not initiated internally," meaning city officials did not request it.

The city manager said he would not speculate on the investigation. However, he said he believed the matter needed to be resolved one way or the other.

Fire Chief Calvin Whitt said he couldn't comment on the investigation.

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