South Greensburg Fire Chief Faces New Investigation

State police probe Matthew White's time as cemetery superintendent after his arrest on theft charges

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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South Greensburg Fire Chief Matthew White, who was recently arrested and accused of stealing over $178,000 from his own department, is now under investigation by state police for his time as superintendent of St. Clair Cemetery. The cemetery has asked state police to look into White's tenure there, though the reasons are not yet clear.

Why it matters

The new investigation into White's past employment raises further questions about his alleged misuse of funds and potential abuse of positions of trust within the community. The South Greensburg Fire Department has stated it has a 'strict policy of zero tolerance for any misuse of funds' and is cooperating fully with authorities.

The details

White was taken into custody on Feb. 9 in South Carolina after a welfare check turned into a criminal investigation following an examination of his bank accounts. The South Greensburg Fire Department said it became aware of 'serious allegations' involving White and the 'potential misappropriation of department funds', leading to his immediate removal. St. Clair Cemetery has now asked state police to investigate White's time as their superintendent, though the reasons are unknown.

  • White was arrested on Feb. 9, 2026 in South Carolina.
  • White was the South Greensburg Fire Chief at the time of his arrest.
  • White previously worked as the superintendent of St. Clair Cemetery, though the exact dates are unclear.

The players

Matthew White

The former South Greensburg Fire Chief who was arrested and accused of stealing over $178,000 from his own department. He is now under investigation by state police for his time as superintendent of St. Clair Cemetery.

Pennsylvania State Police

The state law enforcement agency investigating the allegations against Matthew White, both regarding the South Greensburg Fire Department and his previous employment at St. Clair Cemetery.

South Greensburg Fire Department

The fire department that removed Matthew White from his position as chief immediately after becoming aware of the 'serious allegations' and 'potential misappropriation of department funds'.

St. Clair Cemetery

The cemetery that has asked the Pennsylvania State Police to investigate Matthew White's time as their superintendent, though the reasons are not yet clear.

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What they’re saying

“It's a large sum of money. That's the part that's scary. How did that amount of money get moved, and I think just having a lack of checks and balances is where that is the stopgap in what caused this, because right now, we don't have any reason to believe somebody else was involved.”

— Trooper Steve Limani, Pennsylvania State Police (cbsnews.com)

“The South Greensburg Fire Department recently became aware of serious allegations involving Fire Chief Matt White and the potential misappropriation of department funds. After careful consideration, he was removed from the department effective immediately. This department maintains a strict policy of zero tolerance for any misuse of funds. The trust placed in this organization by our community is paramount and will be safeguarded without exception.”

— South Greensburg Fire Department (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

White is currently in custody in South Carolina and is awaiting extradition to Westmoreland County to face embezzlement charges. The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow White out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of strong financial controls and oversight within public organizations to prevent misuse of funds. The South Greensburg Fire Department's swift action and cooperation with authorities sets an example for how to address such allegations transparently and with the community's trust in mind.