Former Oak Forest Fire Chief Pleads Guilty, Gets 'Second Chance'

OAK FOREST, IL — A disgraced former Oak Forest fire chief is being given a second chance after pleading guilty to theft and paying back what he stole from the department.

David Griffin, 46, was sentenced this week two years of second-chance probation, which gives him a chance to clear his name at the end of the term. The deal comes in exchange for pleading guilty and paying back $3,623 to the fire department. He also was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service, the Daily Southtown reported. Seven other felony counts were dropped.

Griffin was fired in February. He had been serving as a lieutenant after he stepped down as chief in 2016.

Griffin was accused of misappropriating city funds to pay for repairs to his wife's vehicle. The thefts happened three times between 2014 and 2015 while he was chief, prosecutors said. According to the accusations, Griffin used public funds to repair his wife's Pontiac Grand Prix, while claiming the work was being done on a Chevrolet Impala owned by the city.

He was arrested Dec. 28 and charged with felony theft, forgery and official misconduct.
Griffin is the third fire chief or deputy in the city to have been investigated for financial improprieties.