‘He Stabbed Us in the Back and Front’: Fire Chief on Firefighter Accused of Stealing $1.6M to Gamble

Hambden Township Fire Chief Scott Hildenbrand didn’t hold back after his longtime assistant chief was accused of stealing $1.6 million from the department to cover massive gambling losses.

Richard Vandevander, 59, spent nearly four decades with the Hambden Volunteer Fire Department before his abrupt resignation in late July 2026.

Vandevander, who spent 38 years with the department and most recently served as the nonprofit’s treasurer and assistant chief under Hildenbrand, turned himself in and was arraigned on Tuesday (Aug. 18) in Geauga County Common Pleas Court on five felony charges.

Prosecutors allege Vandevander abused his position to embezzle approximately $1.6 million from the fire department between January 2023 and May 2026, transferring funds and writing checks from Hambden Fire Department accounts directly to accounts he controlled.

He stabbed us in the back and in the front. I can’t believe that this is a guy who called himself a brother, a brother we depended on in many life-threatening situations.”

Hambden Township Fire Chief Scott Hildenbrand 

“We work very hard to keep a good image. We work very hard to help the community. And he’s destroyed that,” Hildenbrand continued.

Among the felony charges against Vandevander are first-degree telecommunications fraud and aggravated theft, which both carry potential prison sentences of three to 11 years.

Gambling Addiction Ignited Theft

Vandevander pleaded not guilty on Tuesday (Aug. 18) and was released on a personal recognizance bond. As part of his release terms, he was ordered to surrender his passport and refrain from entering any gambling establishments or accessing department accounts.

Geauga County prosecutors noted that the evidence is overwhelming and reported that Vandevander has been cooperative with law enforcement throughout the investigation.

Hildenbrand, who was the first to notice the financial discrepancies and alerted prosecutors, said Vandevander admitted to taking a “large amount of money.”

Charging documents allege that Vandevander used the stolen money to fund extensive gambling trips, with “most, if not all,” of the activity taking place at the JACK Thistledown Racino in North Randall.

The gaming venue, located roughly 40 minutes southwest of the Hambden Fire Station, features over 1,400 video lottery terminals (VLTs). JACK Thistledown is operated by Cleveland-based JACK Entertainment, the gaming group backed by billionaire Dan Gilbert.

Fire Department Funds Secure

The Hambden Fire Department had recently accumulated significant capital through federal and state grants designated for the construction of a new fire station. Federal funding totaled roughly $6.7 million, alongside $2 million allocated by the state of Ohio.

County officials do not believe any federal dollars were stolen, as those funds are disbursed on a strict reimbursement basis after construction invoices are audited. Hildenbrand added that state funds held by the department are insured against theft.

Construction on the $8.75 million facility began in May, with completion scheduled for summer 2027.