A financial scandal has rocked the state’s largest American Legion post in Bristol.
Police are investigating the alleged theft of more than $25,000 from the Seicheprey Post #2, where David Page was recently removed as finance director.
“It’s really a stab in the heart,” Mayor Art Ward said Tuesday.
Page, a 61-year-old Martin Road resident, said police have been probing the case “for a long time,” but he otherwise insisted he “can’t say anything” on the advice of his attorney.
The commander of the 728-member Legion post on Hooker Court, Jay Meisinger, said that officials of the veterans group discovered “some discrepancies” in the books.
They amounted to at least $25,000, according to several sources.
Meisinger said that Page served as the post’s finance director until November, when he was stripped of the position. An investigation began about the same time, he said.
Lt. Edward Spyros said Tuesday that police are actively probing a theft at the American Legion reported to them in early March.
“Unfortunately I cannot give any more information as it may jeopardize the investigation. I cannot release the name of the suspect,” Spyros added.
Meisinger said he couldn’t talk about the details until an arrest is made, which he expects soon.
“It’s in the police and court’s hands,” Meisinger said.
“It’s terrible. It really is,” said Ward, who has been active in the Legion since his return from service as a U.S. Marine in the jungles of Vietnam. He is a past commander of the Seicheprey post, named for a World War I battle in France that claimed eight Bristol natives.
Page serves as the chairman of the Boys Scouts Committee for the Connecticut Department of the American Legion, a 3-million member veterans organization formed in 1919 by soldiers returning from World War I.
He was actively involved in the Sea Scouts through the Bristol post.
Bristol has more veterans among its residents than any other city in Connecticut, with over 5,000 out of a city population of a little more than 60,000.
Police are investigating the alleged theft of more than $25,000 from the Seicheprey Post #2, where David Page was recently removed as finance director.
“It’s really a stab in the heart,” Mayor Art Ward said Tuesday.
Page, a 61-year-old Martin Road resident, said police have been probing the case “for a long time,” but he otherwise insisted he “can’t say anything” on the advice of his attorney.
The commander of the 728-member Legion post on Hooker Court, Jay Meisinger, said that officials of the veterans group discovered “some discrepancies” in the books.
They amounted to at least $25,000, according to several sources.
Meisinger said that Page served as the post’s finance director until November, when he was stripped of the position. An investigation began about the same time, he said.
Lt. Edward Spyros said Tuesday that police are actively probing a theft at the American Legion reported to them in early March.
“Unfortunately I cannot give any more information as it may jeopardize the investigation. I cannot release the name of the suspect,” Spyros added.
Meisinger said he couldn’t talk about the details until an arrest is made, which he expects soon.
“It’s in the police and court’s hands,” Meisinger said.
“It’s terrible. It really is,” said Ward, who has been active in the Legion since his return from service as a U.S. Marine in the jungles of Vietnam. He is a past commander of the Seicheprey post, named for a World War I battle in France that claimed eight Bristol natives.
Page serves as the chairman of the Boys Scouts Committee for the Connecticut Department of the American Legion, a 3-million member veterans organization formed in 1919 by soldiers returning from World War I.
He was actively involved in the Sea Scouts through the Bristol post.
Bristol has more veterans among its residents than any other city in Connecticut, with over 5,000 out of a city population of a little more than 60,000.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
