FOP names officer kicked out of fraternity

Officers discovered funds missing in July

By: Julie n. Chang | Morganton News Herald
Published: August 13, 2010

MORGANTON --

Executive officers at a local branch of a national police organization discovered in July the misappropriation of the group’s funds.

In a press release signed by Morganton-Burke Lodge No. 23 of the Fraternal Order of Police President Calvin Daniels and Vice President Ronnie Gibbs, the organization said the misappropriation was discovered on July 30 while the group conducted regular business.

“As a result of the internal investigation, David Elroy Curry Jr., the secretary/treasurer for lodge no. 23, was suspended and later expelled from the lodge,” the press release stated.

Daniels conducted an internal investigation and presented the results to the lodge and Morganton Department of Public Safety.

Daniels declined to release the amount of money misappropriated due to the pending investigation.

Speaking about the misappropriated funds, Morganton Department of Public Safety Chief Mark Tolbert said last week an investigator at the agency resigned, but did not name the officer.

No charges have been filed.

On Wednesday, both Tolbert and Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt sent requests to the District Attorney’s Office asking the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations to conduct a criminal investigation.

McDevitt said Tolbert asked him to submit a request because it was possible some of the criminal violations took place in the county.

In addition to that investigation, the Morganton-Burke FOP hired Huntley and Sigmon Associates of Lenoir to execute an independent, third party audit of the lodge’s financial records, the press release said.

“Morganton-Burke Lodge No. 23 will not tolerate what it considers unethical or dishonest behavior from any member of the lodge,” the press release said. “It is our stance that we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any member found to be participating in criminal activity.“

The FOP is a national organization composed of more than 325,000 sworn law enforcement officers.

“We are committed to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement and employee representation,” the FOP’s website states.