Whitcom 911 Dispatch Employee sentenced to 60 days with 30 converted to community service after paying full restitution

OLYMPIA – Former Whitcom 911 Employee Guild treasurer Emily Kirk of Pullman, Wash., was sentenced to 60 days with 30 converted to community service after pleading guilty to Theft in the First Degree and Forgery for stealing $13,910 from the guild. The judge also issued fines totaling $800. Kirk has fully paid the restitution owed.
Prosecutors accused Kirk of drafting, signing and endorsing checks to herself and forging Guild President William Cory Brincken’s signature for a period of time from June 2011 through August 2012.
 
In the statement of probable cause, Washington State Patrol Detective Mark Fehler reported during this same time period, Kirk also allegedly deposited Guild dues checks and illegally conducted other cash withdrawals from Guild accounts. The state alleges Kirk then used this money from her personal checking account for other financial transactions. The combined total from the check and cash transactions illegally obtained by Kirk is $13,910.13.

 Brincken became aware of low balances and unexplained transactions in the Whitcom 911 Guild bank accounts on August 8, 2012. Since the Guild’s inception, only the Guild president and the treasurer have had the authority to withdraw funds from the Guild bank accounts, issue Guild checks, or access funds. Kirk, a Whitcom employee, was elected treasurer in Jan. 2012. She previously served as interim Guild treasurer from June 2011 through Dec. 2011.

 Whitcom is a regional E911 dispatch center located in Pullman, Wash. The Whitcom 911 Guild is a collective bargaining organization for Whitcom employees.

Assistant Attorney General Scott Marlow handled the case.

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The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is working hard to protect consumers and seniors against fraud, keep our communities safe, protect our environment and stand up for our veterans. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

Contacts: Janelle Guthrie, Director of Communications, (360) 586-0725
Alison Dempsey-Hall, Dep. Communications Director, (206) 641-1335