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ORLAND PARK (STNG) ― The firefighter accused of swindling the Orland Fire Protection District out of almost $200,000 while faking military service overseas is still being paid.

The union that represents Lawrence Masa, 42, has filed two grievances demanding that he receive pay, according to union president Nick Anastos.

Local 2754 filed the grievances after the fire district interrupted his pay in early January when the allegations came to light.

The fire district is now paying Masa's vacation and extra paid time off, which will be exhausted in mid-March, according to fire protection district Trustee Cindy Nelson.

Masa's bond terms forbid him from contacting the fire protection district, so, after Masa's paid leave expires, officials plan to fire him, Nelson said.

"This is extraordinary," Nelson said. "For someone who has scammed us out of so much, how is it that he's still being paid?"

On Friday, after the Daily Southtown inquired about why Masa is still being paid, Fire Chief Don Bettenhausen began the process to fire Masa.

Bettenhausen filed a complaint against Masa with the district's Board of Fire Commissioners, the only body allowed to fire personnel.

Masa confessed to lying about military service on Jan. 2, according to the formal complaint.

Masa has at least 10 days before the Board of Fire Commissioners can decide to fire him.

Anastos said the union's efforts are meant to protect firefighters' rights -- not help Masa.

"It's not Larry, it's the process that we're defending," Anastos said.

On Feb. 6 Masa pleaded innocent to counts of theft, forgery and official misconduct. He and a friend, Lemont Fire Protection District firefighter Steven Slawinski, 37, are accused of working together at two private firms overseas while claiming to be serving in the military.

In January, the fire district filed a lawsuit against Masa, seeking repayment of the $193,870 he earned while away from the district.

The fire protection district hasn't responded to union inquiries and grievances about Masa's status, Anastos said, adding that he doesn't even know if Masa is still a valid member of the union.

"We could have come up with some sort of agreement and explained what the correct response for Masa might be," Anastos said. "All they had to do is sit down with us. Instead, the taxpayers are paying legal fees."

Anastos blamed the fire protection district for not verifying Masa's military papers. "The responsibility rests squarely with the administration for not verifying his credentials or orders," he said.

The fire protection district was tipped off to Masa's whereabouts on Nov. 24, when an anonymous writer left a comment on the fire protection district Web site's comment page, according to a sheaf of documents obtained by the Daily Southtown.

"While you think he is in Iraq or other dangerous place(s), he is now in Kenya making 22K a month," the note read. "Don't let the forged papers fool you into thinking he is honest and legit."

Orland Park police, who are investigating Masa, do not know who provided the tip.

After receiving the tip, authorities contacted the Army to check if Masa's papers had been forged.

U.S. Army Col. James Richardson reviewed Masa's documentation.

"I can state without a doubt these are bogus orders," Richardson said in a Dec. 14 letter.

Richardson detailed five problems with Masa's letter, including misstating orders and locations, and that the letter was in the wrong style and text font.

The fire protection district's board of trustees is taking action against Masa to protect the district's finances while working with law enforcement, according to board of trustees president Pat Maher.

Maher repudiated claims that Masa is being treated unfairly. "We are following the letter of the law to the T," he said.

Bettenhausen declined to comment.

Filing grievances on behalf of Masa has put union members in an uncomfortable situation.

They, after all, took care of Masa's affairs while he was away.

"We're the victims here," Anastos said. "We put a new roof on his home. We fixed his furnace."

Anastos made clear that the union doesn't condone Masa's actions. "We are very upset with him," he said.

"But we're going to let the courts decide what he's done."

(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)