As a woman, I can tell you that that really doesn't matter. He used his profession as a cop to track down where she lived. He owns a gun. He is a cop in a system that isn't supposed to be corrupt, but occasionally is. She could have seen it as stalking, or perhaps even blackmailing her into going on a date with him.

If he really wanted to ask her out on a date, there are many other socially acceptable ways to do that, including, as someone else mentioned, facebook.

Niavas, personal distress covers a lot of groung, lol, ask any personal injury lawyer. They love those cases, so many psychiatric aspects for a jury to consider.

Sorry everyone, but I'm a straight male and this guy used his position to gain information on her, and stalked her as a result. I'm not saying he should be kicked off the force or anything like that, or that she should even win any kind of suit she might bring against him, but he was definitely in the wrong.

If you he used municipal computers to access a municipal data base, he has to answer for that.

But let me ask a dumb question...would this lady or any of you have complained if he had let her off without a ticket just because he thought she was cute? I'm pretty sure that happens more often than anyone cares to admit. One thing to his credit, there was no quid-pro-quo, 'I'll let you off if you go out with me'.

What? She couldn't do what women are experts at doing? - Ignoring men hitting on them. So does this mean she could sue any guy that hits on her?

First of all, he didn't need to abuse his authority to find out her address. I'm pretty sure she handed him her license when he gave her the ticket and he wrote the address on the ticket. What did he have to search for? Second, he didn't stalk her, he left one note on her windshield and, at least according to this article, made no further effort to contact her.

Certainly I don't think this was the best way for him to go about asking her out, but a lawsuit is so over the top that she should be found in contempt for filing a frivilous suit.

IDK, the cop did abuse his right to go through her records, but I don't think he did anything wrong as far as she was concerned...certainly not anything that would warrant a lawsuit. If anything, he probably should be disciplined internally for abusing his access to people's personal information, not sued.

If she was that attractive to the dude, I would have asked her out right then and there during the traffic stop (which probably would have been a bit weird). Men meet women while either (or both) is on the job all of the time, I dont see the huge difference here. I would have still given her the ticket (which probably would have reduced my chances of getting a "yes"), but cleared me from any accusations of police misconduct/abuse of authority, while still doing my job correctly.

Oh for christs sake. All she had to do was say no thank you but nooooo that wouldn't get her any money. Jeez this SUE SUE SUE crap is sickening

I'm not condoning what the cop did, but my guess is she's retaliating against him because he gave her a ticket. There a 1.125% chance I'm wrong here!

This is a slippery slope--suing a police officer for abuse of authority by asking someone on a date. It leads me to ask the public this questions: When is it ok for a police officer to ask a girl out on a date? Does he or she have to hide the fact that they are police officers so that the person they ask out does not feel intimidated by authority?

Ficticious example: Let's pretend a police officer and another person go on a first date but the person doesn't feel like going on a second date with the police officer. Will the date feel pressured to go on a second date because of their position as a cop? There are tons of senarios like these that I can throw at you guys.

Bottom line: The cop in the article didn't threaten to take action against her if she refused--just the opposite. He wrote her a ticket, THEN asked her out, which clearly shows honest intentions. It might have been different if, while stopping her vehicle, asked her out on a date as he held the pad of paper near her while waiting for her answer. But that didn't happen.

Was his method of leaving a note on her vehicle a bit creepy and stalkery? Yes, maybe. Others may view it as romantic. But no matter how you look at that part, the officer didn't break any law by doing it.

I think the only real problem was that he used information he gleaned from issuing her a ticket to track her down. You've got to admit, that's pretty creepy.

To answer your question, a cop may ask a girl out on a date if he's off duty and meets her while off duty.

I think what he did was inappropriate.

that's exactly what I logged on here to comment.

If she had thought he was cute, or had been attracted to him this wouldn't be happening... she'd be telling all of her friends the story of how the "hot cop" tracked her down. If they got married it would be a great story.

Instead, she's taking advantage of his attraction to her and his way of asking her out to try to make a fast buck.

ace I agree with you that is EXACTLY TRUE

Add to that, the fact that she MUST have handed him her driver's license when he stopped her...it DOES HAVE her address on it! Did he search her records or just remember her address from the speeding ticket? Regardless, I agree that this lawsuit would not have been filed had she found him attractive.

Irrelevant. He abused the authority of his position and should be fried for it.

@ Dean... I don't think that he should be fired BUT I am sure he will be dealt with. I do agree with everyone that says that if she had found him attractive this would not be happening. He should have done this different although I am not sure how.

He should have just found her address and stalked her to a nearby public place & pretended to run into her....does this man know nothing!

WHATEVER!! These days, all you have to do to find someone is put their name into google, and it's like MAGIC. This women is a crazy, no sense of humor, gold digging low life. And guess what, I'm a woman too, and no, I would not sue someone for this. She needs to get a life.

I wouldn't sue for sure, but I would call his superior and let him know that I was highly creeped out by what he did. Even if he was handsome, it was still creepy.

Over reacting. Not a problem if she thought he was attractive?

I had a cop who did the same thing to me.He stopped me every time he saw me and when he could not stop me .....he had fellow cops stop and hold me until he could get there.When I protested......he laughed and said "What are you gonna do ,call the cops"! I had to move out of state to get away from him.This is not funny.

@Carolyn: that wasn't what happened here.

nah she saw a chance to make a buck

couple of points: yes, she's out to make a buck & police man should have waited a few days, or a month or so to try to contact her in another way, if his feelings for her were that strong for her!!

It is stalking....and you need the mental help!

not stalking if she has posted info on facebook and your incident did you protest to the pd or to him when he stopped you if you didn't file a complaint with the commanders of the pd then your fault it didn't stop

How does ONE attempt to contact someone constitute "stalking" ?? This woman wants money AND attention ... she knew her filing a lawsuit would would "make the news." I wouldn't even have thought of the things this woman did, if this had happened to me (that he used his position to access my info, etc....) And if I did, I would have replied my feelings to HIM alone, and not in the form of a lawsuit that would find its way to the public and possibly destroy his career and reputation. If, after that, he continued to contact me, then I would consider more drastic measures. We've all had a terrible "momentary lapse in judgment" that was clouded over by love, where we did something we regret. Unless there's evidence of a pattern of this behavior on the officer's part, there's no reason to destroy his life over this. This woman is a self-centered, egotistical, MEAN person with low self-esteem who is clearly making an issue out of a non-issue. And I'll repeat: One contact does not equal "stalking." If you think so, you're delusional. Or ignorant. (or both)

Wow, it is strange to hear this from a woman. I know people don't tend to feel sorry for attractive women but their lives are not as easy as people think. I would have been scared too if some guy with a gun who only had my information because of his job, used it to pursue me romantically. Come to think of it, I'd be scared even if he had no gun. So what if the guy from your medical lab or your dentist office looked in your records and then went to your house? That is just wrong and we have to hold public servants to a higher standard. As far as the woman suing, if she had just told him to leave her alone he might or might not, but there would be no guarantee he would never do it again or even think it was wrong. Now his whole department will know they have to educate their officers about things like that, so I think she did the right thing and if it brings her peace of mind, then good for her.

An interesting statistic is that one in 4 women in this country will be the victim of sexual violence at some point in their lives. So that means everyone either knows someone or has been a victim. So if you know someone or are someone who has been a victim and you go out to your car and see that a strange police officer has used private information to track you down and tell you he can't stop thinking about you, then yeah, I can see how frightening that would be. All of you people calling her names should work on developing some empathy skills.

It's called stalking!

Yes, but how bad was it? Without repeated harrassment, it's no big deal.

@carolyn-814278 ... how many times do we have to say it - ONE attempt to contact someone is NOT stalking!!!! Quit being so PARANOID, would you?! Sorry you experienced a stalker ... but note how you say his behavior wouldn't stop? It happened more than once. etc. In this case, he has only tried to contact her once. That is NOT stalking!!!! Obviously you still need counseling/therapy for your issue.

This sounds like the beginning of a great rom-com!

I don't feel that this is stalking. A note on a car window, identifying who he was (in a cute way) and asking to buy her dinner isn't stalking. I could get her address in 1 minute online. Anyone can. I don't think he abused anything.

This lady needs to get her head out of her own a$$ and take it as a compliment. She's not interested, fine, move on! I bet if he was some hot dude (with hair) she would have been much more flattered but instead she feels she's better than him. Grow up and stop making women look like bitches!

Yeah - I think stalking consists of several instances after being turned down.

Maybe when his trial is over you can get in touch with this guy find true love and end his stalking.

If you can go online and find someone's SSN, then your county is about to get sued big time. My SSN is not public information.

I had a guy help me get my car unstuck from the snow and I got his tag number and asked a cop friend if he could look it up for me. He said that they're not allowed to do that. So why did this guy think it was okay?

I agree with you Anna...creepy.

FYI ... he had her address right in front of him on the screen on his computer in his car ... when he ran her plate ... plus it was on her driver's license. And NONE of you (including Ms. Money-Grubbing Meanie herself) know how he found her. Like all these posters have been saying, her info is all out there on the World Wide Web - all he would have had to do was remember her name and look it up. Anyone who sees or hears your name anywhere can remember it and look you up. Are we going to start suing everyone who looks us up and finds us through "unconventional means" ?? How do you think bill collectors find us? Or find dead-beat dads, etc. ?? People everywhere use unscrupulous means to track others down and contact them, every single day. I fail to see how this cop is "using his position" or "abusing his authority." The facts of this case don't add up to anything "unlawful." Even if you find it "creepy," unless what he's doing is against the law, there's no grounds for a lawsuit (and as far as I know, cops are allowed to "track someone down" by way of the Internet, just like any other ordinary citizen, and ask someone out on a date - no law being broken there). If "being or acting creepy" was against the law, we'd have jails and prisons on every corner, full of all the creepy people out there.

He left a note, that's it. He even said he expected to never hear from her. So stop overreactiing.

there is not threat or anything, he was only asking her out in a nice and apologist way.

There are levels of unethical behavior. Sounds like yours was a bit more extreme than this. And, I am sorry if it was. Yes, cops have a lot of information at their finger tips. Yes, he was probably unethical in what he did. But..should he be fired for it? No. Had she had not called him and he pursued it more, then I would be on her side. As of now, I agree with the majority of the other posts that she is overreacting. And, if it were my sister, friend, daughter, or me,, I would be saying the same thing. He had an error in judgement. We all do it once in a while. In life and in our jobs. It happens.

Given that he could have not issued her the ticket and then asked her out for a date, I think he made the better choice this way. Well, better of those 2 choices...lol

CopAbused,

He asked her out on a date, one time. How is that abusive and why do you assume that he would "stoop" to anything?

What you're basically saying is that women won't date a guy that doesn't bend the rules, and cut her slack because she's attractive. She broke the law and he did his job, then proceeded to ask her out. You'd probably call him scum of the earth if the story was about a cop who said he'd let her get off if she let him take her out.

Dumb male indeed...

YOU clearly didnt read what i said...and I SAID SHE PROBABLY DESERVED the ticket and i dont give a rats behind if she got slack cut or not...SO dont assume..it makes you look like an ass. Its just sad that this poor shmuck didn't see this coming...and i agree with everyone else if he was a hott cop she would not be sueing him she would be doing somthing else. I probably should have wrote the word sarcasum after my comment but i thought people would be intelligent enough to notice it...sorry i was wrong.

I'm aware that you said she probably deserved it. Doesn't change the rest of your post.

Sarcasm is hard to detect over text, but not only is your comment not plastered with it I'm having a terrible time trying to even find a hint of it. You may need to google the definition of it because it really isn't apparent. Especially when you add in the line of "clueless MALE cop." and "Thanks Romeo"

Doesn't sound very sarcastic. Sounds as if you're calling him a dumbass. If it was meant to be taken sarcastically...I suggest learning to do a better job.

Also

i thought people would be intelligent enough

...

should have wrote the word sarcasum

The word you're looking for is sarcasm. Intelligent people have been using for awhile. How about you?

Get a life dude....its call an oppinion...im entitled to it...so if i think the cop is a sad shmuck...thats my right to think that. And i am a smart human being...i know what sarcasum looks and sounds like and i have it all the way through my comment. So how about you get off your computer and get on with your life.

So it's now clear you don't know what SARCASM is. You're definitely allowed to think what you want, but previously you stated that your initial comment was sarcastic...and that comment was, when read without sarcasm, calling him a sad shmuck. Now you're just flat out saying he's a sad shmuck. Make up your mind, and while you're at it look up the word sarcasm.

And i am a smart human being

Debatable.

So how about you get off your computer and get on with your life.

I challenge you with a "likewise" retort.

You bored me....have a great day

Then why didn't he do just that? Moron. Why use his power to do it the wrong way? Again, Moron.

There is nothing he did that was illegal. As many people already pointed out everything is public information. If you know their name you can find almost anything about a person. The only thing it is actually illegal to use is a persons social security number to steal information. She should lose this case for justice to prevail. If she was frightened then get a restraining order. Can you say frivolous...?

Better recheck your "facts", the rules are different where police officers that have had interaction with the individual are involved.

So you would send a (seemingly) honest man into the slammer for something like this? Pathetic. This lawsuit should be dismissed.

Steve, please cite the statute that makes this officer's actions illegal. Otherwise, we'll have to assume that there was no illegal activity on his part.

I have been pulled over for no apparent reason by a cop who was just trying to feel me out for a date. He had been riding by my house for a few weeks and I guess finally got the nerve to stop me as I was leaving my neighborhood. From the look he saw on my face I believe he reconsidered and let me go without asking me out.

The cop was wrong, he abused his power, and I don't care how much he thought she was attractive he had no business stalking her!

beenstalked,

Your situation was totally different than hers! You WERE stalked, she wasn't. He pulled her over for speeding, yours pulled you over AFTER seeing you several times and knew where you lived. He was doing his job when he met her. Totally different

It was a police officer that gave her the ticket to begin with. Believe me the majority of police departments will find a way to sweep something like this under the carpet. A lawsuit will stop other police officers, also, with no common sense from doing something this wrong and completely stupid and unnecessary.

what difference does it make if he's bald? Obviously you're the idiot, and asking a woman out while having her pulled over is not smart. You also might want to read your post for proper grammar and word placement before you go accusing others of being morons.

I apologize if I insulted you. I didn't mean that people like you who are bald are ugly. As to my grammar, well at least you understood it. As to asking a woman out while having her pulled over, well smart a$$ that very well could of prevented all the ruckus he caused from happening. Which was even worse and still wrong, idgit.

The fact is, what she is claiming happened is an exaggeration for monetary gain. He didn't manipulate her or use his position to threaten her. Furthermore, where we live isn't a secret. As other people have posted, that information is available in a variety of ways. Furthermore, he didn't bother her at home. He left a note on her car, very casual that was expressing the fact he was sorry for the money he cost her and asked her out on a date. She didn't have to agree to it or respond in anyway. Furthermore, just because the man wanted to contact the woman to ask her for a date doesn't mean he's going to do anything bad. I dated a cop and it happened in a way very similar to this. If that woman had been attracted to him, I doubt this would have had this outcome. Cops work several hours a day and barely have any time for personal life. Almost everyone they come into contact with on a daily basis are those they meet at work. If this guy had worked another profession it wouldn't have been frowned upon. People meet people at work all the time and whatnot. People look for any excuse to jump at law enforcement. Guess what? They're people too. They're going to make mistakes. However, I think this cops only mistake was being kind enough to ask that crazy jerk out on a date.

Do gynecologists ask their clients for dates? Do judges go to prisons to start romances with ladies they've sent to them? The cop was unethical. It may work on TV or in the movies, but that is fantasy and whimsy. Fire him for sexual harassment. Hire him for bar bouncer.

Doctors can't ask their patients out on dates because they would lose their medical license and Judges would be disbarred. Their professional organizations have rules that if broken cause them to lose their livelihoods. Now if she was a suspect in a crime and he was assigned to that case, I believe there are rules if not laws against them dating. He asked her out. He didn't say if you go out with me I won't give you a ticket or I will get you out of it. There is a difference. Most people meet their partners either through church or work, so no cop can ever ask someone out that they met on the job? For it to be sexual harassment and have a case you need to tell either the harasser or a supervisor that they are making you uncomfortable and to stop, I'm only talking about verbal sexual harassment. She could have scanned the note into the computer and emailed a complaint to his supervisor. His name would have been on the ticket and if you call the police station and ask for the supervisors name and email address they should give it to you. They would have taken it seriously. If she never asked for his behavior (one note) to stop she has no case, especially against his employers. If there is any justice in this sue happy world, he'll be able to counter-sue and win for the embarrassment she causes him with this frivolous lawsuit.

Doctors can't ask their patients out on dates because they would lose their medical license and Judges would be disbarred. Their professional organizations have rules that if broken cause them to lose their livelihoods. Now if she was a suspect in a crime and he was assigned to that case, I believe there are rules if not laws against them dating. He asked her out. He didn't say if you go out with me I won't give you a ticket or I will get you out of it. There is a difference. Most people meet their partners either through church or work, so no cop can ever ask someone out that they met on the job? For it to be sexual harassment and have a case you need to tell either the harasser or a supervisor that they are making you uncomfortable and to stop, I'm only talking about verbal sexual harassment. She could have scanned the note into the computer and emailed a complaint to his supervisor. His name would have been on the ticket and if you call the police station and ask for the supervisors name and email address they should give it to you. They would have taken it seriously. If she never asked for his behavior (one note) to stop she has no case, especially against his employers. If there is any justice in this sue happy world, he'll be able to counter-sue and win for the embarrassment she causes him with this frivolous lawsuit.