Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Clearwater fires twin firefighters after arrests

The brothers have until Wednesday to appeal the decision or resign. They are accused of beating a man by the beach.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published April 11, 2006

CLEARWATER - The twin brother firefighters who were arrested after they were accused of beating a man in a Clearwater Beach parking lot have been fired, city officials said Monday.

An internal investigation found that brothers Sean and Matthew Lefort violated department, city and county policies stemming from their March arrest, said Clearwater's human resources director Joe Roseto. They were fired Friday.

The brothers, who did not return a call seeking comment, have until Wednesday to appeal their dismissal or resign, Roseto said.

Meanwhile, the Pinellas County medical director has suspended their paramedic certifications pending that office's investigation, executive director Jeff Barnard said. Without the certifications, the Leforts cannot be hired for similar work in Pinellas County.

Sean Lefort, who was hired Feb. 9, 2004, and Matthew Lefort, who was hired six months later, both were paid $42,429 a year. Fire Chief Jamie Geer said Monday that administrators followed standard city procedures in dismissing the two.

"What we uncovered in the investigation was inconsistent with citywide policies," said Geer, who did not wish to elaborate because of the Leforts' pending criminal charges.

The Leforts, both 24, were the aggressors in a scuffle with a third man that broke out about 2 a.m. March 27 at Clearwater Beach Gulfview Resort, 521 S Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater police said. The brothers appeared intoxicated and were striking and kicking the man, police said.

The brothers were charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. Sean Lefort also was charged with resisting arrest without violence, also a misdemeanor.

A fire department investigation also found that the brothers berated Clearwater police officers for more than 30 minutes, treating them "with complete disrespect," according to the city's termination report.

In all, the Leforts violated 12 city, county or department policies, most relating to conduct.

"They violated really a whole myriad of rules, really," Roseto said.

Both men have been arrested in the past.

In November 1999, Largo police arrested Sean Lefort on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence. Prosecutors later abandoned the case.

In July 2003, St. Petersburg officers arrested Matthew Lefort on a charge of battery to a paramedic. That case was eventually dismissed.

[Last modified April 11, 2006, 02:30:31]