The Cochrane RCMP has charged a man for allegedly defrauding the Cochrane Firefighters foundation.
A lengthy investigation has alleged that a former firefighter had been personally gaining from the foundation.
Harold (Jeff) Avery (57), a resident of BC, has been arrested and charged with Fraud Over $5,000.
Avery was released on his own undertaking with a court date of March 11, 2025 in the Alberta Court of Justice in Cochrane.
Avery, a former fire inspector, was dismissed in 2023 after serving more than two decades with the Town of Cochrane.
According to the RCMP, in February of 2024, the Cochrane RCMP received a complaint from the Cochrane Firefighter’s foundation in relation to missing monetary funds from their charitable foundation.
The Cochrane Firefighters Foundation executive released the following statement late Friday:
"This is a place we never wanted to be, or thought we would be. The Cochrane Firefighter’s Foundation was an independent not-for-profit group, whose collective goal was to support local community charities. Money was collected directly from the firefighters. Upon a new treasurer assuming the position anomalies in our financial statements were noticed, which were reported to the RCMP. The RCMP investigated this and have pressed charges against the former treasurer of the Cochrane Firefighter’s Foundation. Efforts are ongoing to recover the misappropriated funds the firefighters donated and ensure they are delivered to the community charities as intended. We are committed to continuing to serve the community with integrity. All inquiries regarding this legal matter should be directed to the Cochrane RCMP."
Police state that this matter is now before the courts and there will be no further information released.
If you have information regarding any suspicious or illegal activity within the Town of Cochrane, please contact Cochrane RCMP at 403-851-8000. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.
