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Skeeter Manos, 34, embezzled $112,000 from the Fallen Officers Fund, which was set up to benefit the families of four Lakewood police officers shot to death in a coffee shop in 2009. (AP Photo)

Lakewood cop who stole from fallen officers sentenced 33 months

BY Brandi Kruse  on June 29, 2012 @ 2:56 pm (Updated: 10:00 pm - 6/29/12 )

The disgraced Lakewood cop who stole money from a fund for the families of fallen officers has been sentenced to 33 months in a federal prison.

Skeeter Manos, 34, was also ordered to serve three years supervised release and pay $159,000 in restitution

He embezzled $112,000 from the Fallen Officers Fund, which was set up to benefit the families of four Lakewood police officers shot to death in a coffee shop in 2009. In addition, he stole more than $47,000 from the Lakewood Police Independent Guild.

During sentencing, Manos apologized to those he had hurt.

"I've dishonored pretty much everybody that I've ever liked or loved. I've dishonored my profession," he said, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, whose office turned the case over to the Department of Justice to avoid a potential conflict of interest, called Manos' actions "as low as it gets."

"A high-end sentence was clearly called for, and obviously the judge agreed," Lindquist said.

In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Robert L. Bryan told Manos his crimes were "egregious."

"Skeeter Manos' betrayal runs wide and deep. He betrayed the families of the fallen officers, his colleagues in the Lakewood Police Department, and the community which contributed to recognize the four who made the ultimate sacrifice," said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan, who called his greed "despicable."

According to prosecutors, Manos used the funds to purchase airlines tickets and to gamble.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (4)


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  • Seattlenomatterwhat wrote...
    C'mon Don
    June 29, 2012 9:44 pm
    Where's Don from The Ron & Don show to stick up for this guy. No mattter what a member of law enforcement does he comes to the rescue ! We know you have a blue light in your heart no matter what right ?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ottmilkr wrote...
    I wonder
    June 30, 2012 5:49 am
    how life in jail for a cop will be?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Howdy wrote...
    ottmilker
    June 30, 2012 6:12 am
    life won't be good for this guy

    1. he's a cop

    2. he stole from cops, so might 'accidently' get put in gp

    3. his name is Skeeter

    33 months is a mild sentence considereing the amount of money stolen so I bet they will do their best to make it miserable for him.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R L M 456 wrote...
    This must have put a lot of conflict
    June 30, 2012 6:44 am
    On the INTERNAL INVESTGATION TEAM

    trying to figure out how to keep thier record of ALWAYS clearing a cop of any wrongdoing

    While looking for a way to bring justice for this crime

    (opps, I mean this "training manual violation"

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }