Storm Lake, IA (KICD)– An employee of the Storm Lake Firefighters Association has been charged with transferring 77 hundred dollars from the organization’s bank account to his own use. 28-year-old Jesus Rojo was taken into custody Thursday without incident.

Association President Adam Kutz has issued a statement clarifying the missing money is from a pool of donations, and not public funds collected for the purpose of firefighting.

Kutz says he’s disheartened by the incident and hopes the action of one individual will not detract from the good will the department has worked hard to earn. He said an outside audit has been ordered and says changes in the accounting system will be enacted to prevent theft in the future.