Hernando emergency management director fired

    BROOKSVILLE -- Tom Leto, Hernando County's emergency management director, was fired this afternoon for having a romantic relationship with his secretary and overlooking the fact that she filed for more than $9,300 in overtime over the last two years -- time the county says she never worked.

    Leto, who has been on paid administrative leave since the end of March, failed to verify the time sheets of his secretary, Stephanie Anderson, misrepresented his relationship with her and lied to investigators as they examined allegations of wrongdoing, according to the notice of termination by County Administrator David Hamilton.

    While Leto is out of a job, he has not been charged with a crime at this point, although the prosecutor on the case said the door is still open to that possibility. Anderson has been charged with official misconduct and grand theft. She quit her job in April.

    Leto has been with Hernando County since 2003; he worked in various emergency management positions in Pinellas County for 12 years before that.

--Barbara Behrendt, Times staff writer

Comments

[Dr_Dug]

Hahahahahaha Hahahahahaha

Tom didn't handle this emergency too good, even though his secretary assisted him in various positions quite nicely

[grobe59]

Sounds like a good time for him to go. Who knows what else has been going on.

[Mimi]

Banging the boss still pays.But not at taxpayer expense!Do it on your own dime Tom.But maybe it was an emegency!

[Appalled Citizen]

Yes, it sounds as if this secretary could really take DICTATION well. Is that why he is smiling like that in the photo?!?!?!

[Morpheus]

The overtime thing I can't defend. The romance, yea I can defend that, A: he is a guy. B: I personally knew Tom from our years at Pinellas. He was excellent at his job then and I am sure he was a great EM for Hernado. I would have hoped however that Tom learned from my mistakes when with Pinellas and would not have repeated them. It is what it is though, and I hope that everyone can take into consideration the 25+ years of community service to the citizens of Pinellas and Hernando Counties before passing judgement on this good man who made the mistake of letting his little head think.