INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Former Assistant Fire Chief Brian Burkeen was arrested Monday for a scheme where investigators said he stole nearly $300,000 in tires over several years and then sold them, authorities said.
The arrest was the outcome of an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing involving the retired chief.
“We’re saddened and disappointed of the allegations and arrest of someone who has worked so many years for the county,” said County Attorney Dylan Reingold. “Upon learning of possible wrongdoing, we filed a report with the Sheriff’s Office and they investigated.”
Burkeen would get the tires from two local Goodyear stores, charge them back to the county and then sell the tires at an undisclosed location, said Sheriff Deryl Loar. From June 2014 to February 2018, Burkeen carried out a total of $288,251 worth of tires from both stores, an arrest report states.
Deputies arrested Burkeen, 55, of the 10900 block of 138th Avenue, Fellsmere, on a warrant. He was charged with grand theft and five counts of dealing in stolen property. Burkeen was released about 1 p.m. Monday from the county jail on $125,000 bond.
Investigators said the former assistant fire chief’s frequent tire purchases drew suspicion.
Both store managers had asked Burkeen why he was buying so many tires. He falsely told them the tires would be given out to citizens who file lawsuit claims when their vehicle tires are damaged because of poor county road conditions, an arrest report states.
Deputies also spoke with several people, including a county official, who said they bought tires from Burkeen. They did not know the tires were stolen, authorities said.
Brian Burkeen
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Burkeen worked for the county for nearly 30 years. His retirement was effective Feb. 9.
Indian River County Fire Rescue spokesman Cory Richter said the County Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office will be investigating the case.
Since the Fire District is not a law enforcement agency, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will not be investigating, Loar said.
The Sheriff’s Office held a news conference at 4 p.m. Monday to release details on Burkeen’s arrest.
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What Happened
The Fire District contacted the Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 27 about inconsistencies in some of the billing activities by Burkeen. Fire Chief John King told deputies he noticed Burkeen purchased an excessive amount of tires between Jan. 19 and Feb. 8 in the amount of $28,000.
King told deputies the tires Burkeen purchased were not the right size to fit any of the fleet vehicles. He said there would be no reason for the former assistant fire chief to pick up and carry out so many tires, an arrest report shows.
One of Burkeen’s responsibilities was to main the fleet vehicles at the Emergency Operations Center Garage on 4th Street. Deputies spoke with officials at the garage on Feb. 28, who said they never ordered or took delivery of tires from Goodyear in Vero Beach or received tires from Burkeen to store at the garage.
The garage employees told deputies they don’t have a “mount and balance machine” to put the tires on the rims, authorities said. They said all of the fleet vehicles would have to be taken to Goodyear to have new tires put on.
Tire Purchase Scheme
Deputies spoke with the managers at the Goodyear stores, located at 1920 58th Avenue and 755 21st Street. Burkeen would carry out tires from one shop since January and the other since June 2014, an arrest report states.
Burkeen would use a county work truck and county trailer to pick up the tires. He stole about $170,000 total from one store last year.
Selling stolen tires
Deputies spoke with five people who said they bought tires from Burkeen. The witnesses said Burkeen spoke to them in person and through Facebook, a social media platform, about getting them good deals for new tires.
Burkeen sold different amounts of tires at various prices to the witnesses, an arrest report states.
Deputies spoke with Burkeen on March 5 after he returned from his vacation. He told deputies his lawyer advised him to not make any statements and said “he wanted to pay the money back.”
On Monday, deputies arrested Burkeen on a warrant.
Investigation
Reingold said county officials filed a report with the Sheriff’s Office after learning of the thefts. Details on if the charges will affect Burkeen’s retirement benefits were not available.
The County will conduct an investigation in conjunction with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Jeff Smith, Reingold said. Reingold said Smith has an internal auditor who will complete a full review of the case.
Reingold didn’t have a time frame for when the investigation will be completed. But, he did say, “We will try to handle it as expeditiously as possible.”
Work History
Burkeen was recognized for 29 years of service to the Indian River County Emergency Services District at the Feb. 6 County Commission meeting, during which each Commissioner expressed fond feelings for Burkeen’s work.
“(Burkeen) has earned the respect and admiration of not only the front line responders of the Emergency Services District,” Commission Chair Peter O’Bryan said at the meeting, “but also of the other departments of the county.”
Burkeen, who appeared at the meeting, thanked the Commission for its recognition, saying he was humbled.
“Hard work will get you where you need to be in your life,” he said.
Burkeen started as a paramedic with the Fire Department in 1989, authorities said. He held several supervisor positions throughout the years. He was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief in December 2005.
Image atop story: Asst. Chief Brian Burkeen at a fire station during an inspection in 2015. Photo: Denise Ritchie