Leopold: Firemen who quit must pay

If a county firefighter quits within five years of being hired, County Executive John R. Leopold wants him to repay the department for his training.

New fire recruits already are required to sign a contract to that effect, but an audit last month of the Fire Department and its hiring practices found that the county's Office of Personnel wasn't fully enforcing the condition.

County Auditor Teresa Sutherland said only seven of the 80 firefighters who quit the department within the past four years were billed - and they were charged only for the cost of books and materials. The audit estimated the lapse cost the county at least...