Keokuk County Emergency Manager resigns after arrest, charged with theft

SIGOURNEY — Former Keokuk County Emergency Management Coordinator Larry Smith was arrested in December and charged with theft in the second degree.

Smith was arrested after a state audit showed he allegedly, while acting in his role as emergency management coordinator, traded in a pickup truck for thousands of dollars less than what it was worth, then purchased that same pickup truck for his personal use.

According to his arrest report from the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the audit that was conducted on Smith occurred in February 2021, and concerned a purchase he made in September 2018. At that time, the Keokuk County Emergency Management Commission authorized Smith to purchase a 2018 Chevy Silverado for the emergency management agency.

On Sept. 5, 2018, Smith purchased the Chevy Silverado and at the same time allegedly traded in a pickup truck the EMA owned, a 2006 Ford F-350 diesel truck, for $800 to a Fleet Dealership. Smith allegedly purchased that same truck for $800 from the Fleet Dealership for his own use. The vehicle was estimated to be valued at $6,600 to $14,400 based on NADA and Kelley Blue Book estimates, according to the arrest report.

The state auditor’s office said that, because the trade-in amount received for the 2006 vehicle was less than its value, the EMA incurred additional costs. The auditor’s office released its audit findings to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, the Keokuk County Attorney’s Office, the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office and the Division of Criminal Investigation. Due to the potential conflict of interest, Keokuk County Attorney Amber Thompson referred the case to the Washington County Attorney’s Office and the Division of Criminal Investigation.

Smith was arrested and charged with theft on Dec. 13. The following day, he submitted a letter of resignation from his position as Keokuk County Emergency Management Coordinator.

“Although criminal charges have been filed, this continues to be an ongoing criminal investigation conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Washington County Attorney’s Office,” the news release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety stated.

Since his arrest, Smith posted the $5,000 bond the judge set for him. No trial date has been set yet.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com