The female Howard County police officer who accused the department of tolerating sexual harassmentin a “locker room” atmosphere has reached a settlement agreement with the county.
In U.S. District Court in Baltimore Tuesday, lawyers for Howard County and police officer Susan Ensko filed a motion in which Ensko agreed to drop her lawsuit. The amount of money Ensko would receive in return was undisclosed.
Lawyers for Ensko and the county refused to make public the details of the settlement this week. The Examiner filed a freedom of information request for the agreement.
Ensko?s 2004 lawsuit had accused male officers of displaying pornography in the office, making lewd comments about females and attending “bull roasts,” which Ensko described as all-male social events involving prostitutes.
Ensko had sought more than $500,000 in damages, before she agreed to drop her suit.
Ensko?s suit was the second recent discrimination law suit filed by a female officer against the Howard County police department.
In December 2003, county officials reached a $115,000 confidential settlement with now-retired police Cpl. Linda Freeman, who also complained of sexual discrimination and harassment.
Former Howard County Police Chief Wayne Livesay, who objected to the county?s decision to settle Freeman?s suit, said he could not comment on the Ensko settlement.
