A former Ripon fire chief has been ordered to pay more than $3,000 in fines after an investigation revealed he used the Ripon Area Fire District's credit card, resulting in a balance exceeding $30,000, according to the Fond du Lac County District Attorneys Office.District Attorney Eric Toney announced Monday, Dec. 23, that the investigation revealed Timothy Saul Jr. fraudulently used the Ripon Area Fire Districts credit card for personal expenses from 2016 to 2022, accruing a balance of more than $30,000.The investigation found that Saul paid off the balance without using public funds or money from the Fire District.However, he failed to provide proper financial management and communication to the board, allowing him to benefit from a significant line of credit. The high balance accrued late fees while protecting Sauls credit, according to the DAs office.Saul pleaded guilty to three counts of fraudulent use of a credit card. The Ripon community should be proud of the work of the Fire District to expose the defendants criminal activity and hold him accountable, based on the great investigation by the Ripon Police Department, Toney said. The Ripon area community should once again be proud of their Fire District and those serving them on the board.In an apology letter released by the DAs office, Saul wrote: I am deeply sorry for betraying the public that trusted me as its chief. I am equally sorry to the District for the hardship and problems it endured by rightfully investigating my wrongdoings.You can read Sauls full apology letter below:Its about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for TMJ4 on your device.Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.Report a typo or error