LAPD suspends cops in Rihanna photo leak probe

By Eriq Gardner

Is TMZ's streak of breaking celebrity dirt — and online traffic records — about to come to a halt?

Late last week, two Los Angeles Police Department officers were placed on leave as part of a probe into the unauthorized leak of a photo of battered pop singer Rihanna.

Lawyers for the suspended officers claim they have nothing to do with the photo's leak, but Gawker makes a fair point: "It's going to be harder to get the cooperation of law enforcement sources if they think it is at all likely a witchhunt will put their steady government job and comfy, government-funded retirement at risk, leaving them in the cold during a recession."

We wonder what sort of civil claims might celebrities pursue to further knock TMZ on its heels. An invasion of privacy class action against the LAPD and other government agencies? Public figures have long pursued invasion of privacy claims against paparazzi, but they have gone soft on outlets fostering the spread of leaked information.