Former Walhalla Rescue Squad Chief Charged With Embezzling $10,000+

William David Tatum, the former chief of the Walhalla Rescue Squad in South Carolina, has been charged with embezzling more than $10,000 in public funds, which he admitted to using for personal gain between January 2015 and May 2022. Tatum, who served as a volunteer and was not paid for his role, was arrested by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and booked into the Oconee County Detention Center. The Walhalla Rescue Squad has confirmed the investigation and emphasized that no current members are suspected of wrongdoing, with the organization cooperating fully with authorities. Documents indicate the nonprofit's cash reserves dropped significantly during the period Tatum led the squad. The case is being prosecuted by the 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, with no further details released at this time.