Former Walnut Creek Con Fire Battalion Chief Admits To Grand Theft: DA

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A former battalion chief for the Contra Costa Fire Protection District most recently assigned to Walnut Creek, Lafayette and Pleasant Hill admitted to felony grand theft, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.

Louis Manzo Jr., 58, of Danville, 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. Con Fire lost over $46,000 in fraudulent salary payments to Manzo, according to the DA's Office.

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 alleged 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 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 retired from Con Fire in March 2019, the same year Con Fire contacted the DA's office about his suspected illegal activity and an investigation was initiated.

"Immediately after discovering timekeeping irregularities, District leadership moved swiftly to order an internal investigation, which indicated the allegations involving Lou Manzo were limited to one individual and did not involve the public, other employees, or affect our services provided to the public," Con Fire Chief Lewis Broschard III said in December 2019 when the charges were first filed.

Manzo could have faced up to nine years in prison. Instead, as part of a negotiated settlement in which he pleaded no contest to one count of felony grand theft, he was sentenced to serve 30 days of custody time through the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s work alternative program. He must also complete one year of probation and perform 30 hours of community service.

Further, Manzo has to pay full restitution and fines, and his county pension will be affected. He must comply with searches and seizures of records and other materials related to his finances.

Lastly, Manzo is barred from contact with any Con Fire employees and must stay away from all official Fire District locations.

"Acts of public corruption erode the integrity of our institutions that are here to serve our communities," Contra Costa County District Attorney Daina Becton said ."The resolution in this case ensures that the misappropriated funds are returned to the Fire District."

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• Former Con Fire Battalion Chief Charged With 12 Felonies: DA