A former Brooke County chief deputy has filed a lawsuit against the county commission and Sheriff Rich Beatty, alleging he was suspended because of his defense of another deputy who was terminated and for actions prompted by his religious beliefs.

The suit was filed Monday on behalf of Scott Adams, a law enforcement officer of nearly 30 years who had served in recent years as chief deputy under two Brooke County sheriffs, by attorney Teresa Toriseva.

Toriseva also is representing about a dozen sheriff’s deputies who allege, in a separate suit, they were unfairly paid for their additional time and duties during the pandemic while one of them was discriminated against for a medical condition.

Both cases involve Caleb Minger, who served from January to July 31 of this year and who has a genetic blood disorder that requires him to take a specific medication said to have been blamed for a rise in health insurance premiums for county employees.

The two suits allege county officials called Minger’s doctor to ask whether he could be prescribed a cheaper medication and when they learned he couldn’t, instructed Beatty to terminate him.

Both suits state Beatty refused to do so.

Adams’ suit alleges he was fired for speaking out against such action, noting it was improper and unlawful, and for his religious beliefs.

It notes Adams was suspended, with pay, on Aug. 18, pending an investigation into alleged misconduct outlined by Beatty in a July 7 letter included as evidence with the suit.

The suit states the letter contains “outright falsehoods and misleading statements.”

According to the letter, Beatty questioned Adams about serving civil process for an attorney while on a routine patrol for the department, noting such private activity is permitted for deputies but not while on duty, in uniform and while using a police cruiser.

The letter states Beatty also raised concerns about Adams approving overtime for sheriff’s deputies for their assistance to Adams during the Wellsburg Junior Police Academy. The academy is a weeklong youth day camp Adams has held for several years in conjunction with the Wellsburg church where his wife is pastor.

Also cited were allegations Adams prayed with an inmate in his cruiser at the prisoner’s request and appeared in uniform and in his vehicle for Facebook messages posted for his church.

The letter states Adams didn’t deny those actions and expressed no regret for those linked to his religious faith, saying he hadn’t harmed anyone.

The suit states Adams has been discriminated against for his religious beliefs, a violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act.

It adds the commission violated the state’s whistle-blower law by suspending him.

In a resignation letter included as evidence, Adams, a retired West Virginia State Police officer with more than 30 years in law enforcement, said he wanted to focus his time on assisting his wife and their church.

At their regular meeting last week, the Brooke County Commissioners accepted Adams’ resignation and approved the appointment of Capt. Doug Mills to chief sheriff’s deputy, a position he had filled since Adams’ suspension.

Commission President A.J. Thomas, who was called for comment, said he couldn’t speak at length on the pending civil suit.

But he refuted an allegation in both suits that the sheriff’s department’s budget was cut by $200,000 and the deputies’ health benefits were reduced as retaliation for the failure to terminate Minger.

“We budget every year for a potential 10% increase in health coverage,” said Thomas, who added that two months after the commissioners had approved the current budget, they learned that cost had risen at least 50%.

Thomas said as a result, all county departments experienced a shortfall and all county employees saw an increase in their deductibles.

Of Minger, he said, “We weren’t involved in the decision to terminate him at all.”

The commission has up to 30 days to respond formally to both cases, which are pending in 1st Judicial Circuit Court.