SAN DIEGO
A five-year courtroom standoff has ended between the Chula Vista Police Department and a former officer who was also a beauty queen.
A San Diego Superior Court judge ruled the Chula Vista Police Department had the right to fire Deanna Mory.
Chula Vista police Capt. Gary Wedge said Mory, now 27, was fired after she stole an $18,000 diamond ring from her ex-fiance's home. Mory gave him the ring after their engagement broke off, authorities said.
"She engaged in conduct that is unacceptable from a police officer," Wedge said of Mory's firing.
The lawsuit ended a series of three lawsuits filed by Mory against the City of Chula Vista and the police department.
Mory was named Ms. California in 2006 -- during her time as a police officer. However, Mory's superiors did not like the beauty contests distracting from her police training.
With help from the Chula Vista Police Officers Association, Mory sued for discrimination, but lost her case.
"She then filed a second lawsuit against several of the supervisors alleging that she was harassed by them for filing the first lawsuit," said Wedge.
Mory's second lawsuit ended in a loss.
In 2008, the ring was stolen, and then Mory was fired.
She filed a third lawsuit for wrongful termination, and last week, a judge said the ring rightfully belonged to Mory's ex-fiance. Additionally, another judge said the department had the right to fire her based on those grounds.
The city of Chula Vista's attorney told 10News the city spent "hundreds of thousands" in its defense.
10News learned one more wrongful termination lawsuit is still waiting in federal court, and the city's attorney said he hoped that would be thrown out.
10News tried reaching Mory through her attorney, but never heard back.
The Chula Vista Police Officers Association declined to comment.
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