Posted on 05/05/2025 5:41:06 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The president and two other top officers of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s labor union were suspended from their posts Monday after an investigation by the union’s parent organization found $800,000 in credit card purchases that were unaccounted for.
The International Assn. of Fire Fighters, which oversees the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City and other local firefighter unions across the country, suspended President Freddy Escobar and the two others over diverse financial improprieties, including “serious problems” with missing receipts, according to a letter by IAFF General President Edward Kelly to UFLAC members.
The IAFF appointed a conservator to take over the labor union to “restore responsible financial stewardship and guarantee the fulfillment of UFLAC’s legitimate objectives,” Kelly wrote.
“The leadership of UFLAC has abdicated its fiduciary responsibilities and placed Local 112 in ill repute. The financial malpractice by the leadership of UFLAC has dealt serious harm to the membership,” Kelly added. The dramatic move came after a wide-ranging audit of UFLAC’s finances revealed different kinds of financial improprieties.
The audit found that from July 2018 through November 2024, Escobar initiated 1,957 transactions on his UFLAC credit card, totaling $311,497.58, the letter said. More than 70% of those transactions — amounting to $230,466 — have no supporting documentation.
“The auditors could not ascertain the purpose of these transactions,” Kelly wrote in the letter. He added that an additional 157 transactions — amounting to $35,397 — were only partially supported with required documentation.
“This means there is no way to determine whether $265,862.34 in dues money spent by President Escobar without documentation was for legitimate union expenditures,” the letter said.
Escobar did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The audit found that two others — former Secretary Adam Walker and former treasurer Domingo Albarran Jr. — together had more...
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We cannot withstand such corruption in our communities
"Hookers and blow, yer Honor. The rest I wasted."
ktla.com news-——
LAFD union chief Escobat took home $540K salary plus $116,000 union stipend
Escobar suspended after audit finds $800,000 in unaccounted credit card spending
LAT by: Cameron Kiszla, Apr 30, 2025 / 10:39 AM PDT
The head of the union representing Los Angeles Fire Department employees took home more than half a million dollars last year, a Los Angeles Times investigation found.
In 2022, the most recent year for which records were available, Freddy Escobar had a base salary of more than $184,000, but through overtime, he took in an additional $240,000 in pay and benefits, the Times reports.
Furthermore, in his role as president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, he received almost $116,000 in a union stipend.
No Worries, Freddy! Just call a press conference, and arrive in a dress with high heels. All will be forgiven!
I’m going to go ahead and assume some political affiliations here based on the modern reporting axiom of (D-idn’t say).
The very tip of the iceberg.
It’s a sad day when you can’t even trust firefighters.
Years ago when I was authorized to go local and procure an electronics component, if I did not deliver the receipt to the storekeepers to close out the purchase order, it was understood I was to be charged with kick-back theft until the store provided another receipt. It would launch all kinds of shat starting at my LT with the ol’ stink-eye.
The Union Officers needed financial support for vacations and new cars.
From the 60’s it’s amazing how much society has deteriorated from honesty.
What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine is the moto.
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