SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates uncovered two Seminole County firefighters were cleared of discipline in a case involving two of their off-duty colleagues.
In 2016, investigative reporter Karla Ray exposed a boat crash and what county leaders called a cover-up.
The county claimed missing paperwork forced them to drop the discipline.
Former Seminole County firefighter Brett Leftwich is accused of crashing a boat into a dock on Prairie Lake in Casselberry while under the influence in May 2016.
One of his former colleagues, Lt. Jason Moore, was suspended after riding in the ambulance with Leftwich to the hospital.
That discipline was overturned, as well as a suspension against Moore’s battalion chief, Brad Hawver.
9 Investigates learned the trip to Orlando Regional Medical Center put a firetruck and crew out of service for more than an hour, without notifying dispatch.
International Association of Fire Fighters 3254 Union President Mike Edmiston said the chain of command was aware of the crew’s whereabouts.
Deputy County Manager Bruce McMenemy told Eyewitness News by phone that the reason the county dropped the discipline is because the discipline file, which was housed by the fire department, was unaccounted for leading up to arbitration with the union.
The assistant chief who oversees those records is facing a suspension of his own, even though he was nowhere near the lake during the crash.
Cox Media Group
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