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Twin firefighters quit to avoid being fired

The results of Clearwater's internal investigation into allegations that they beat a man will not appear in their personnel records.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published April 13, 2006

CLEARWATER - The twin brother firefighters who were arrested and accused of beating a man in a Clearwater Beach parking lot have resigned rather than be fired.

Sean and Matthew Lefort resigned Wednesday, days after the city said they would be dismissed. The decision to resign ends any possible legal challenge to the termination, city officials said.

It also means the results of the city's internal investigation of the beating will not appear in their personnel records, said city human resources director Joe Roseto.

The investigation, which concluded the twins violated 12 department, city and county policies, will remain a public record, however, Roseto said.

"When things are heading south, it's not abnormal to resign," Roseto said.

The Leforts, 24, were arrested last month by Clearwater police and charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, after police said the beat up a 21-year-old man while they were off duty outside a Clearwater Beach hotel. Sean Lefort also was charged with resisting arrest without violence, a misdemeanor.

A city investigation found the brothers berated police officers and violated a dozen local policies, most relating to conduct.

Sean Lefort, who was hired Feb. 9, 2004, and Matthew Lefort, who was hired six months later, both were paid $42,429 a year. Their paramedics licenses have been suspended by the Pinellas County medical director pending the outcome of that office's internal investigation.

[Last modified April 13, 2006, 00:52:17]