Using terms such as “incredulous” and “shocked,” Napa County police officers and firefighters reacted with disbelief to news a former dispatcher is accused of making off with more than $50,000 in donations by falsely claiming she had cancer.

“None of us could believe that someone we thought we knew well would essentially lie, run a scam about a disease that could be that debilitating, and go as far as to changing their appearance,” said Tim Cantillon, Napa Police Officers Association president. “People are pretty upset about this.”

In a photo used to promote fundraisers, Vanderpool — who was charged Tuesday with grand theft and other crimes — is shown wearing a blue bandana to hide her bald head. She told friends she shaved her head rather than wait for her hair to fall out due to chemotherapy treatments.

Vanderpool worked as a civilian employee of the police department for about four years and was named Dispatcher of the Year in 2006 and 2007. “When she was here, she was a very respected employee by her peers,” said Napa Police Cmdr. Steve Potter.

It was that respect and camaraderie among first responders that prompted the large outpouring of support for Vanderpool.

“People view cops a lot of times as cold and uncaring people,” Potter said. “But when she came forward and said she was ill, a lot of people from law enforcement and other agencies throughout the state pitched in together to help out someone they believed needed help.”

The Napa Firefighter’s Association donated nearly $12,000 to Vanderpool through fundraisers.

“We had multiple groups putting together fundraisers and individual members donated,” said Patrick Wamsley, association president. “Last year’s golf tournament money went to it and (proceeds) from the Firefighter’s Ball.

“We are extremely disappointed in what happened,” Wamsley said. “We have been doing fundraisers for people in need and charity groups in this community for years and we are going to continue doing that. This is not going to slow us down one bit.”

Napa County Sheriff’s Sgt. John Robertson said sheriff’s deputies were among those who assisted Vanderpool. The Deputy Sheriff’s Association contributed $1,000 to Vanderpool’s expenses.

“Obviously, we are disappointed that we tried to assist somebody who we thought was in need,” said Robertson.

Potter and Cantillon of the Napa Police Department talked of the diverse efforts on Vanderpool’s behalf, including charity golf tournaments, proceeds from a night at a pizza parlor and donation cans, placed at stores and offices, emblazoned with the photo of Vanderpool in her bandana as she held her then 8-year-old daughter.

“Local businesses, small and large organizations pitched in to help,” said Potter. “This is an example of how giving and how supportive a community we live in.”

Hearing that a dispatcher is accused of defrauding police and firefighters has caused a variety of emotions within the Napa Police Department, Potter said. “People are going through a process. First of all it is denial, it is shock, and then it goes to anger and then it goes to acceptance,” Potter said. “People are at different stages of that process.”