Authorities arrest two fire officials in an Ulster County town, one of them a former chief, on charges of corrupting the government and official misconduct. The charges are for actions going as far back as 2012.

West Hurley Fire Captain David Gutierrez, 52, the former chief, and 44-year-old Board of Fire Commisioners member Michael VanValkenburgh were arrested, after a joint investigation between the State Comptroller and the county DA.

They say the pair used the fire district's water tanker to aid Woodstock Landscaping and Excavating, a business that belonged to Gutierrez's wife. That includes mixing concrete, filling ponds, and watering plants, as well as using other department resources for the business.

VanValkenburgh, who is an employee of the landscaping business, is also accused of laundering more than $20,000 with the help of a family member. That family member, according to authorities, had a cleaning contract with the fire district.

Authorities say the two cost the district more than $30,000.

Hurley Town Supervisor John Perry has responded to the arrests, thanking authorities and others for reporting the issue.

"The West Hurley Fire District should not and will not be tarnished by these few individuals. The men and women who volunteer as our first responders are some of the best around. We need to look at this as an opportunity to form a renewed bond with the residents and the Fire District, and this will only better West Hurley as a whole,” Perry said.