We have learned that the new Chief of the Iola Volunteer fire department has a criminal record.

Ironically, one of the men responsible for alerting Grimes County auditors about suspicious spending was also voted out of the department.
News 3's finds out what set off a red flag and how he's dealing with being voted out of the department.

Lance Anderson has lived in Iola for over a decade.

"I'm not comfortable because of what's been going on, I'm not comfortable being out and about like I usually am," Anderson said.

He's been volunteering as a firefighter for four years, but was recently voted out of his position as president and the department, for being a "whistleblower."

Anderson said, "The assistant chief was in the office one day and received a phone call from a cell phone company, looking for payment for a phone that was under Iola Fire Department's name in care of Earl, the old fire chief."

Lance considered Earl Sword, a friend, and knew his mother, Wanda Sword and sister, Samantha Kimich, who served as the department's accountant and secretary.

"I just thought we was gonna see a few items, nothing to the severity of what they found," said Anderson.

The trio is accused of embezzling nearly $40,000.

Anderson said, "We saw one check in there for $3,500 to Earl and we couldn't figure out what it was for."

An audit for the fire department was already happening, but Lance and the assistant chief uncovered information they needed a week early.

"I was pretty upset when I started hearing about the severity of it and it hit home," Anderson said.

Lance has been volunteering as a fire fighter for almost 20 years.

Anderson added, "If I'm asked to come back by the department, I would more than gladly go back."

He hopes to be able to do what he loves again, after the smoke clears from the scandal.

At 7p.m. tonight, volunteer fire departments from across Grimes county will be meeting in Iola to talk about the embezzlement charges and meet with the Grimes County auditor.

The biggest concern is that Samantha Kimich was the treasurer of the Grimes County Firefighters association.
She was also treasurer of the Iola Volunteer Fire Department when she was charged with embezzling.