Acquitted officer leaves police force

A Howard County police officer, who was acquitted on a charge of exposing himself to a county 911 dispatcher last year, has left the force, according to police.

Edward Thatcher's last day of service was Nov. 11. Police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said that she could not reveal whether Thatcher was fired or resigned because that information is part of his personnel file.

In October, Howard County Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure found Thatcher not guilty of the charge of indecent exposure, citing insufficient evidence.

Thatcher, 31, a former Baltimore police officer, had joined the force in February 2004.