Volunteer firefighter surrenders on theft charges

LOWER SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. (WPVI) -- A volunteer firefighter is accused of stealing and selling tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

Action News was there on Tuesday as 26-year-old firefighter Timothy Kennelly surrendered to Lower Southampton Police.

He has since been arraigned on charges that he stole, and then sold, $30,000 worth of equipment from the Lower Southampton Fire Department, where he volunteered.

He then allegedly use that money to fuel his addiction to prescription painkillers.

Fire Chief Stephen Krippel says he still can't believe it.

"It hurts a lot. All firefighters, all emergency services are family, so every member is considered a family member and when a family member does this to you - very disheartening," Krippel said.

Local emergency officials first realized the equipment was missing the last month when they received the call about an out-of-control boat on the Delaware River with no one on board.

Members of the fire company quickly went to the storage area where they keep their scuba equipment, only to find most of it was missing.

Over the following days they started to see that other expensive items were gone as well.

The ensuing investigation led police directly to Kennelly.

Detective Shane Hern says the whole thing is heartbreaking.

"We knew him, as we know all the members of the fire departments. It's a shame, and the members of the fire department there are in a lot of pain over this," Hern said.

Investigators say Kennelly sold the equipment to a local resale shop called Nickle's.

Most of the items have already been sold, thought the township was able to buy back a little bit of it.