Crestwood Fire Department's Health Fair Account Focus Of Probe

CRESTWOOD, IL -- Longtime Crestwood Fire Chief Jon Bruce resigned last week after “questionable expenditures” concerning the fire department’s health fair came to light. Mayor Lou Presta said that Bruce resigned voluntarily and the village board accepted his resignation on Sept. 6. Financial records for the health fair account have been turned over to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, which is conducting an investigation. Bruce has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

According to Presta, the health fair account came into question during a recent audit. The mayor said that former fire chief’s sudden resignation and implications of malfeasance are being blown up by the news media. (SUBSCRIBE: Get Real-Time Alerts and a Daily Newsletter for Alsip-Crestwood.)

“There was no taxpayer money,” Presta said. “[The former fire chief] is not a crook. I can’t comment much.”

The Crestwood Fire Department has hosted a health fair for the past 20 years where the funds raised have been used to purchase heart defibrillators, hydraulic apparatus, thermal imaging cameras and communications equipment, the fire department said in a 2017 news release. The highlight of the health fair has been a raffle, where local businesses donate prizes and a bulk of the funds are raised. Bruce was allegedly the sole signer for the health fair account but there were “misinterpretations” on where the money went, Presta said.

>>> Crestwood Fire Chief Under Probe By State's Attorney: Report

Crestwood’s legal counsel David Sosin said the village of 11,000 is cooperating fully with the investigation. The Cook County State’s Attorney is currently reviewing financial records turned over by the village.

“It’s money that came in that should have gone to the village,” Sosin said. “We can’t tell at this time if it’s taxpayer money.”

Asked about the money in question rumored to be in the six figures, as told to news media by a “resident,”Sosin said that based on the preliminary investigation he’d be surprised if the expenditures were in the six figures.

“We don’t know what it is that the state’s attorney is looking at,” Sosin said. “A resident couldn’t know if it was or wasn’t six figures.”

~ This story has been updated.

~ Former Crestwood Fire Chief Jon Bruce | Village of Crestwood