Two retired Butler police officials are suing the city, demanding nearly $62,000 combined for lost compensation time, pensions and personal days.

On Wednesday, attorney Al Lindsay filed the lawsuits in Butler County on behalf of former city police Chief Ronald Brown and former Deputy Chief David Adam.

According to the filings, both men worked for the police department for 28 years before retiring in 2018. The lawsuits contend the city miscalculated Brown and Adam's individual pensions and compensation for overtime, adding that both were entitled to be paid for unused sick and vacation days.

Brown is seeking $32,564.50 from the city, and Adam is seeking $29,178.32.

The lawsuits were not the first course of action for Adam and Brown, according to paperwork filed in Common Pleas court. Both men sent letters to city solicitor Thomas Breth last summer requesting the money, but neither received a response.

The Butler Eagle reported last summer that Mayor Ben Smith placed both men on administrative leave in July 2018 in response to a no-confidence vote taken by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 32 in June. The union, which represents department officers, issued a statement at that time saying the vote was taken because of a lack of leadership, poor decision making, a lack of strategy in addressing criminal activity in the city and a lack of cooperation with media.

The police union didn't respond to requests for comment.

According to both lawsuits, Adam and Brown met with Breth the same day they were suspended. At those meetings, the men contend in their separate lawsuits that Breth promised them both compensation for unused sick and vacation days if they retired.

Breth disputed the claim Wednesday afternoon. He described the situation as “an old-fashioned disagreement.”

“The city believes it has paid everything that is owed to its former chief and deputy chief,” Breth said in an interview. “That was communicated to them on numerous occasions.”

Breth said he couldn't comment directly on the legal actions because he hadn't yet been “served” the lawsuits.

“There were numerous conversations with the chief and deputy chief and their legal counsel, so there's no confusion with respect to the city of Butler,” Breth said.

Smith also said he was unaware of the action and declined to comment.

In the lawsuits, Adam and Brown claim that the city breached its contracts with them.

According to Brown's lawsuit, his salary was $91,395 at the time he retired, yet the city incorrectly calculated his pension at a lower salary of $88,660.

Adam's lawsuit makes a similar claim, arguing that $74,500 was the salary used to calculate the pension he was owed at the time of his retirement, a figure lower than his $78,700 salary.

A portion of the money the men want comes from unused sick days, vacation days and holidays; however, it is unclear how many sick days city employees are allowed or how those days are accrued. The remaining amount reflects the difference between the amount the men have been compensated and the amount they claim they are still owed.

Brown claims he did not use 2,365 sick hours during his time with the police department, which would have equaled $34,631.48 at the time of his retirement. However, the lawsuit said the city only paid him $31,939.38. Brown claims in his lawsuit that he is owed another $2,692.10.

Additionally, he claims to be entitled to another $8,786.36 for unused vacation days and holidays.

Adam's lawsuit, on the other hand, said he was owed 2,840 hours in sick time at the time he retired that should have totaled $35,812.40, but that he received $32,358.48. He contends he is owed an additional $3,453.92.

Additionally, he claims to be entitled to another $8,785.56 for unused vacation days and holidays.

The figures used to calculate money owed to Brown and Adam in their respective lawsuits were based on 33 percent of their individual hourly rate.

Jury trials have been demanded in both lawsuits.

“I won't comment until we see the lawsuit,” Breth said. “Once it's served, we'll take a look and discuss it and then I'll get my marching orders.”

Lindsay declined to comment, noting the dual lawsuits contain all the information he wishes to share.