A Lakewood police treasurer has been charged with embezzling more than $120,000 from a fund set up for families of four officers killed in the line of duty in Nov. 2009.

Skeeter Manos, 34, of Dupont appeared in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Wednesday afternoon. He was released on his recognizance.

According to the criminal complaint, Manos set up a secret bank account for donations to the Lakewood Police Officers' families. He then diverted about $151,000 intended for the families into the account and spent about $120,000 of that money at Costco, Home Depot, and for airline tickets to Las Vegas. He also withdrew cash to spend at casinos.

"This is just another criminal that needs to be held responsible," said Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar. He told 97.3 KIRO FM's Dori Monson Show that the criminal investigation, conducted by FBI agents with the help of the Lakewood Police Department, is on-going.

"This is a sad day for our community," said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan in a news release. "These acts betrayed the memory of our fallen heroes, their families, fellow officers and all who supported the fund."

"Stealing from the children of our fallen officers is disgraceful," said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. "While these allegations are despicable, we should not lose sight of the honorable work the Lakewood Police Department does for our community."

The money Manos allegedly stole was just a portion of the more than $3.2 million the public donated for the benefit of the families of the murdered officers.

According to Farrar, a Police Guild member first had reservations about how the money was being handled, and he discovered an account separate from the Lakewood families' trust. The police officer brought the information forward, and three weeks later the FBI had gathered enough information to arrest Manos.

"I don't care if it's $120 or $120,000, [Manos] needs to go to jail," Farrar said, adding that they believe Manos acted alone.

Lindquist told 97.3 KIRO FM's Ron & Don that Manos could face up to 20 years for allegedly stealing from the officer's fund.

Mark Renninger, Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, and Gregory Richards were gunned down in the Forza Coffee Shop in Parkland on Nov. 29, 2009. The gunman, Maurice Clemmons, led police on a manhunt for two days before a Seattle police officer shot and killed him.

The Lakewood Police Officer's fund was set up to benefit the sergeant's and three officer's families.

MyNorthwest.com, Staff report

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