A Pennsylvania state trooper who was fired in September after being acquitted of criminal charges was reinstated this week, but a related federal civil rights suit against top state police officials continues to wend its way through the court.

Trooper Carrie Ann Gula, 37, of West Pittston, Luzerne County, resumed working at the Fern Ridge barracks, said state police spokeswoman Maria Finn."Trooper Gula returned to work on March 17. She is at full duty status but she isn't back on the road yet. She must complete some training that she missed. I can't comment further on her case or the outcome," Finn said Friday.Gula, who began her career as a state trooper in 2009, was charged in December 2012 with unlawful use of a computer, and computer crimes; criminal use of a communication facility; criminal trespass; false reports to law enforcement authorities; and unsworn falsification to authorities.The charges stemmed from a domestic dispute in August with her then-boyfriend, landscaper Eric Thomas of Exeter, Luzerne County.On Dec. 13, 2012, Gula was suspended without pay. In March 2014, a jury acquitted her of the charges. She returned to work at the Fern Ridge barracks later that month.But on Sept. 30, 2014, she was suspended without pay pending termination, Finn said. Gula successfully took the matter to arbitration.Gula's federal suit has yet to be resolved.Gula on Nov. 19 sued six state police officials in U.S. District Court, Scranton, contending they violated her civil rights by retaliating against her for exercising her First Amendment rights, and denying her equal protection of the laws on the basis of her sex in contravention of the 14th Amendment.Gula's suit contends there was a "concerted pattern of harassment sufficiently pervasive to have altered the terms, conditions and privileges of Ms. Gula's employment on the basis of sex and denied her equal protection of the laws in violation of the 14th Amendment."The officials are Commissioner Frank Noonan, Lieutenant Richard L. Krawetz, Trooper Lisa Brogan, Captain David Dougalas, Major Edward Hoke and Assistant Department Disciplinary Officer Anthony J. O'Hara.Finn declined to comment on the suit.Gula asks for the $100,000 in back pay from the time she was suspended in 2012 through her acquittal and payment of her medical bills while she was suspended.The suit contends that the six failed to take proper action after Gula repeatedly reported incidents in which Thomas stalked, attacked, threatened and harassed her, and that they botched the investigation.Instead, she contends, they targeted her, unfairly placing her on restricted duty status, and that some male troopers harassed her.When Eric Frein of Canadensis on Sept. 12 opened fire on troopers Cpl. Bryon Dickson, killing him, and wounding Trooper Alex Douglass at the Blooming Grove barracks in Pike County, Gula, who had worked with Dickson, offered to help with the investigation, but was rejected, according to the suit.At the time, before Frein was captured on Oct. 31, troopers were told to always travel in two's and to carry their weapons.Gula, on restricted duty, was instead ordered to turn in her weapon. She was ordered to clean vehicles in the Fern Ridge barracks parking lot, alone, unarmed and in uniform, the suit says.