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<p>WEST HAZLETON &#8212; A retired West Hazleton officer has sued the borough and the police department&#8217;s pension fund, saying that part of his pension has not been covered.</p><p>William Harris filed the suit Friday through lawyer Ricardson Todd Eagen of Harrisburg-based Welby Stolenberg Cimballa &amp; Cook.</p><p>The lawsuit says Harris was hired as a police officer in May 1987, and he stayed in that position until June 2007. He receives a monthly pension check from the Borough of West Hazleton Police Pension Fund.</p><p>According to the suit, Harris asked the pension fund to provide him with a cost-of-living allowance, which the suit says is in accordance with provisions of a previous bargaining agreement.</p><p>However, Harris is claiming he has not received the cost-of-living allowance.</p><p>&#8220;Police officers receiving retirement benefits are entitled to receive cost-of-living increases equal to the percentage increases in the Consumer Price Index from the year in which the member last worked,&#8221; the lawsuit states. &#8220;(Harris) has not received cost-of-living increases despite substantial evidence to support his entitlement to the same.&#8221;</p><p>Harris wants a judge to rule that he is entitled to this payment. He is also seeking to have the borough&#8217;s police pension fund begin paying the cost-of-living allowance and to cover Harris&#8217; alleged losses from not receiving it.</p><p>The Times Leader could not get in contact with a representative from the West Hazleton Police Pension Fund for comment.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Retired West Hazleton police officer sues borough over pension problems