Police: Verplanck FD Treasurer Stole $13,500 from Fire Department

The volunteer treasurer entrusted with the Verplanck Fire Department’s money allegedly stole $13,500 from the department over the last six months, according to New York State Police investigator Sean Morgan.

Elizabeth Burns-Scott, a 43-year-old Buchanan resident, turned herself into the Verplanck FD on June 3, admitting that she had taken about $13,500 since Dec. 2011; she said she intended to pay them back, police said. The fire department conducted an internal investigation, and then Burns-Scott turned herself into the NYSP on June 7, Morgan said. She had been working as the FD’s treasurer for about two years, according to a fire department official.

Burns-Scott was charged with grand larceny in the third degree and released on her own recognizance by state police. She was arraigned in Cortlandt Town Court this morning, where Judge Klein again released her on her own recognizance, according to the Town of Cortlandt court office. She is due back in court on July 23.

This was Burns-Scott’s second arrest in the last three weeks. She on May 30 by  Peekskill Police for seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, when she was allegedly found with cocaine following a traffic stop. 

The arrest is not currently published in the New York State police's public information report on their website available to the media due to privacy issues related to the case, said Investigator Morgan.

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Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include the reason why the arrest report was omitted from the state police information report.