Ex-Las Vegas fire official misused funds, police allege

Police are seeking felony theft charges against a former Las Vegas fire official based on allegations he double-billed the city for travel and other expenses.

Tim McAndrew, who until last year was head of emergency management for the city of Las Vegas, is accused of misappropriating $3,200, Assistant Sheriff Mike McClary said.

In a related investigation, federal authorities are looking into McAndrew's handling of federal homeland security grants.

"We were served with a subpoena last month by the FBI on behalf of the U.S. attorney's office for grant records spanning from 2000 to 2007," said Jim O'Brien, Clark County's emergency management director.

O'Brien's office is the clearinghouse for most emergency and anti-terrorism grants to the county and city.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Lalli said the case submitted by Las Vegas police has been turned over to federal prosecutors.

U.S. attorney's office spokeswoman Natalie Collins and FBI spokesman David Staretz declined comment on federal involvement in the probe.

McAndrew, 44, abruptly left his job as assistant fire chief in May amid an investigation of his spending practices. He spent most of his nearly eight years with the city leading local emergency preparedness efforts. His salary was about $110,000 when he left the Fire Department.

City of Las Vegas spokesman Jace Radke declined to say whether McAndrew resigned or was fired.

McAndrew, who is not in custody, did not return calls to his home seeking comment.

McClary wouldn't provide any additional details about the allegations against McAndrew, who would face between one and 10 years in prison if charged and convicted of felony theft in state court.

Various federal theft statutes carry a wide range of penalties.

McAndrew was among a group of emergency managers who helped shape Southern Nevada's terrorism prevention strategy after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

He was a member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee and served as an advisor to the Nevada Homeland Security Commission, the body that helps decide how the state's anti-terrorism grants are allocated.

McAndrew joined other officials in criticizing the Department of Homeland Security for not giving the Las Vegas area enough grant money in 2005.

Before coming to Las Vegas, McAndrew worked 15 years for the Folsom Fire Department in California, city records showed.

Contact reporter Alan Maimon at amaimon@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0404.