Danville Resident & Former Fire Chief Admits To Grand Theft: DA

DANVILLE, CA — Danville resident and former Contra Costa Fire District Battalion Chief Louis Manzo admitted to felony grand theft as part of a negotiated disposition, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Manzo, 58, was charged with 12 felonies in 2019 in connection with allegations that he falsified payroll records and misappropriated taxpayer monies during his time with the agency. The Fire Protection District lost over $46,000 in fraudulent salary payments to Manzo, according to the DA.

Prosecutors alleged that between December 2014 and January 2019, Manzo took vacation days, but changed his timecard to claim special pay for extra assignments.

Prosecutors further allege Manzo listed events for his special assignment that he did not attend, or that did not happen on the days he said they did. To ensure his bank of vacation hours remained unaffected in relation to his pension, Manzo would go back and not claim vacation time, according to the DA.

Manzo also claimed overtime pay for out-of-office work events he said he attended, prosecutors said. A review was conducted of GPS logs on his work vehicle, which found Manzo did not attend the events or was never near the event location, the DA's office said.

Manzo could have faced up to nine years in prison. Instead, as part of a negotiated settlement, he will serve 30 days of custody time through the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, one year of court probation, and 30 hours of community service. He will also have to pay full restitution and fines, and is barred from contact with Fire District employees and locations. He must also comply with searches and seizures of records and other materials related to his finances, and his county pension will be affected.

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