County wins big in police federal lawsuit

The county government won a big victory last week in a federal lawsuit filed by three women who claim a former county police officer asked them to expose their breasts during traffic stops.

A judge dropped three of the four defendants from the lawsuit, finding no basis that the county, Police Chief James Teare or former chief Thomas Shanahan violated the women's constitutional rights.

Former officer Joseph Mosmiller, who was convicted in 2007 of misconduct in office for groping one of the women, remains the sole defendant in the federal lawsuit.

The Jan. 22 ruling by Judge Benson Legg in U.S. Federal District Court...