Lacey Police Dispatcher Charged In $4.6K Theft From EMS Squad

LACEY, NJ — A Lacey police dispatcher has been charged with stealing $4,690 from an emergency medical services squad, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday.

Matthew Bender, 33, was a volunteer with the Lanoka Harbor Emergency Medical Service (LHEMS), Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Bender maintained the LHEMS website and had access to the LHEMS PayPal account.

LHEMS was awarded a grant on Feb. 2 from Benevity, an organization that facilitates grants on behalf of the Macy’s corporation. Authorities found that the grant money was disbursed to the LHEMS PayPal account managed by Bender, Billhimer said.

Further investigation revealed $4,690 was transferred from the LHEMS PayPal account to Bender’s personal PayPal account. Bender made purchases at restaurants, pharmacies and auto stores with the money, Billhimer said.

Bender was processed at the Berkeley Township Police Department and released on a summons pending a future court date.

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