
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 15, 1995                   TAG: 9502150060
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SALEM RESCUE SQUAD SUSPENDS COUNCILMAN

The Salem Rescue Squad voted in a closed crew meeting Monday night to suspend Salem City Councilman Garry Lautenschlager's active status on the squad pending the outcome of an internal investigation, Chief John Beach said.

The "investigative suspension" is the latest in a series of ripples being felt by the squad. First, there was the discovery of problems with the Good Neighbor Fund and the subsequent resignation of squad Chief Ray Houff Jr. Next came the scrutiny of the Wiley Fund, which was thought to be a "dormant" rescue squad account. A recent look at the fund's bank records revealed that about $2,000 was unaccounted for, lawyers said.

Lautenschlager, who had signed several checks drawn on the Wiley Fund, resigned from the fund's board and turned over the books to the state police. He said he is confident that no irregularities will be found.

Beach emphasized that "this is not a disciplinary suspension. We decided to do this to give the squad a chance to sort out what's going on with the issues being raised."

The suspension will not affect the councilman's membership. It merely will keep him from responding with the squad on rescue calls until an internal investigation is complete, Beach said.

Lautenschlager said he hasn't gone out on many calls recently. Since he became a squad administrator a few years ago, his participation on calls has decreased.

Also, Lautenschlager will have to find a new home for the Emergency Medical Technician class he's been teaching for Virginia Western Community College. He was using the rescue squad building, but he said he now must relocate.

The 23-year squad member called the decision disappointing.

"This has been very difficult for me personally. I had hoped that action would've been delayed pending the investigative report," Lautenschlager said. "I hope to have the opportunity to continue my membership when the investigation is over."

That may take a while.

The squad is delaying its internal probe until the state police have finished its investigation, which cannot begin until the attorney general authorizes it. State law requires approval from the attorney general, a grand jury or the governor to investigate an elected official.

State police refused to comment Tuesday on whether the department had received such approval.

by CNB