FALLSTON, Md. — The former chief of the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company has been indicted on multiple charges related to the alleged theft of department funds over a span of more than five years.
Daniel J. McKinney, 37, was indicted this week on five counts of felony theft and one count of embezzlement, according to court documents. Authorities say McKinney stole tens of thousands of dollars from the department between July 2019 and January 31, 2025.
He was served with a warrant for his arrest on Wednesday and later released on a $25,000 unsecured personal bond.
In a statement released by Fallston Volunteer Fire Company President Christopher Gibbons, the department said it discovered “irregular purchases” on a company-issued credit card. “Further investigation revealed possible criminal activity, which led to the incident being turned over to the Criminal Investigation Division of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office,” Gibbons said.
This internal discovery occurred months after McKinney had publicly addressed financial concerns within the department. In a September 2024 letter, McKinney wrote that leadership needed to navigate structural changes to overcome mounting financial issues.
“The Board of Directors determined within the first several months of 2024 that we as elected leadership must take an in-depth look at how we can navigate change that would steer FVFAC to a better path to resolve financial concerns,” McKinney had written.
It remains unclear whether the financial struggles he referenced were linked to the alleged misuse of funds.
McKinney’s membership with the department was officially terminated on February 2, 2025.
The case is ongoing, and court proceedings are expected in the coming weeks.
