A former employee of the Galveston Park Board is facing scrutiny for allegedly embezzling over $40,000 from the Galveston Lifeguarding Association, a nonprofit linked to the local beach patrol. The investigation was prompted by the discovery of missing funds as the organization sought to honor Black lifeguards with a statue.
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The Galveston Lifeguarding Association, a nonprofit organization associated with the local beach patrol, is the subject of an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of over $40,000 by a former employee of the Galveston Park Board. As indicated by a probable cause affidavit from the Galveston Police Department, the employee had reported suspected misuse of a debit card she possessed nearly six months prior to being placed on leave.
The embezzlement was brought to light by the Galveston Lifeguarding Association, which discovered the missing funds while preparing to construct a statue in recognition of Black lifeguards. As a result of the investigations, the employee had been withdrawing money from ATMs in Galveston, Lake Charles, Oklahoma, and Las Vegas over the course of several months.
As a result of the missing funds discovery, the park board examined its financial records and identified prospective instances of fund misuse by the same individual. The significance of establishing robust financial supervision, particularly in smaller nonprofits that frequently lack the resources to conduct external audits, was underscored by Jason Zirkle, a trainer with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. According to Zirkle, it is imperative to prioritize the separation of responsibilities within an organization in order to prevent fraud. Ongoing anti-fraud training for employees and the establishment of reporting mechanisms, such as hotlines, were also recommended by him.
The park board placed the employee on unpaid leave as a result of the ongoing investigation. At this time, no charges have been filed; however, experts consider law enforcement involvement essential for the effective resolution of such cases. In the event of potential financial misconduct, Zirkle emphasized that numerous nonprofits and smaller organizations frequently hesitate to contact law enforcement.
