Fire Department Treasurer Faces Grand Larceny Charges In Rockland

SPRING VALLEY, NY — The former treasurer of the Columbian Engine Company No. 1 has been accused of stealing $37,932 from the Spring Valley Fire Department.

Christopher Nau was the Treasurer for the Columbian Engine Company and served as the Assistant Treasurer for the Spring Valley Fire Department, Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh said in his announcement.

Nau has been indicted on four counts of grand larceny 3rd, and one count of attempted
grand larceny 3rd related to the misuse of his role in each organization.

It's a huge blow to the department, which is still reeling from the death in March of firefighter Jared Lloyd in the massive blaze at the Evergreen Home for Adults, and from the arrests of six people in connection with that fire, which also killed a resident. One of those arrested, Raymond Canario, the village's chief building inspector charged with filing false reports, is a volunteer firefighter with the department.

Spring Valley Fire Chief Kenneth Conjura assured the public that all of the money donated to Lloyd’s family is safe and secure.

"Members of both the Spring Valley Department and the Columbian Engine Company feel betrayed by a trusted friend and fellow firefighter," Conjura said in a statement. "After being elected Chief of Department in June of 2020, I appointed a new Treasurer and commissioned an audit of the department. After completing audits of both the Columbian Engine Company and the Spring Valley Fire Department, discrepancies were noticed and reported to the appropriate authorities."

The Rockland County District Attorney's Office began a thorough investigation in the fall of 2020, Walsh said. It analyzed transactions related to various department accounts dating from Jan. 3, 2016 up until February 2021 that Nau oversaw in his roles as treasurer and assistant treasurer, respectively.

In total, $32,033 was taken from the Spring Valley Fire Department and $5,899 from the Columbian Engine Company. Nau was removed from both treasurer positions and suspended by
the department on Aug. 20, 2020.

Friday’s arrest was yet another example of a member of a volunteer organization entrusted with the safekeeping of funds that keep the operation running who instead used them for their own benefit, Walsh said.

Nau appeared before The Honorable Judge Kevin Russo who presided over the
arraignment. Nau was released on his own recognizance and will return to court on August 11,
2021.The case will be prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney George del Fierro.

It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a
defendant is innocent until proven guilty.

The Spring Valley Fire Department's full statement:

Christopher Nau had been a member of the Spring Valley Fire Department and the Columbian Engine Company No. 1, having joined on November 8, 2001, right after 9/11.

During the 18 years, he was an active and trusted member of both the company and department.

He was elected Treasurer of the Columbian Engine Company and appointed Assistant Treasurer for the Spring Valley Fire Department.

In June 2020 Kenneth Conjura was elected Chief of the Department and chose to bring in a new treasurer at which time the books of the Spring Valley Fire Department were audited. During the period from April 2016 to June 2020 the auditing committee found many questionable transactions and discrepancies in the treasurer reports.

The results of the department audit were confidentially shared with Robert Johnson Jr., President of the Columbian Engine Company at which time an audit of the company’s books was also conducted.

Following the conclusion of both audits Chief Conjura and President Johnson took the matter to the Spring Valley Police Department who turned the matter over to the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office. Christopher Nau was suspended on August 20, 2020 by the Fire Department.

During this time he has not been allowed to attend any company or department functions and has had no access to any of their bank accounts.

At this time both the members of both the Spring Valley Department and the Columbian Engine Company feel we have been betrayed by someone that we thought was a trusted friend and brother firefighter.

SEE ALSO:

• Volunteer Ambulance Corps Captain Pleads Guilty
• Adult Home Fire: Manslaughter, Arson, False Report Charges
• Grieving Community Turns To Action After Fatal Spring Valley Fire