A 27-year-old Long Island woman is claiming that a Nassau County police officer sexually abused her while she was in the back seat of his patrol car after being arrested on drunken driving charges.

Jenny Hannigan says she was attacked in June of 2010. She says the officer put her in the back seat and touched her inappropriately. She says he sent her a text message days later asking her how she was doing.

She filed a federal lawsuit on Monday accusing the police department of failing to prosecute the officer and violating her civil rights. She seeks unspecified damages.

Newsday reports that county attorney John Ciampoli said his office was prepared to defend the county and the police department "vigorously in court."

The police department declined to comment.