D.C. Fire Truck Donation Violated Procedure

High-ranking officials in ex-Mayor Adrian Fenty’s administration made several violations when donating a surplus fire truck to a Dominican resort town in 2009, according to the Office of the Inspector General.

The fire truck, and an ambulance, were en route to a Sosua, Dominican Republic, when they were stopped and returned to the city. Such surplus vehicles usually go to auction, but aides in Fenty's economic development office arranged for their donation to Sosua via the anti-youth violence group Peaceoholics. Head Peaceoholic told the Washington Examiner that he and some friends of his regularly visit the Dominican beach town.

Council members Mary Cheh and Phil Mendelson asked for an investigation, and the Committee on Government Operations and the Environment determined there was an abuse of authority by several administration appointees.

“We knew there was something very wrong when the Mayor’s representatives were dealing with District property as if it were their own,” Cheh said.

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