Tampa police chief resigns in disgrace after pulling rank during golf cart traffic stop

The police chief of one of Florida’s largest cities was forced to resign in disgrace after she was caught on camera asking an officer to “let her go” at a traffic stop.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor Announced on Monday that he accepted the resignation of Police Chief Mary O’Connor “following the completion of an Internal Affairs investigation into a recent traffic stop.”

O’Conner and her husband, Keith, were pulled over by Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Jacoby on November 12 at 7:30 pm when they were caught driving a golf cart on an unmarked road.

He tried to pressure the officer, the body camera footage from the traffic stop was revealed, and he asked if his camera was on before telling Jacoby: “I’m the Tampa police chief… I hope we just go tonight .

Deputy Police Chief Lee Bercaw will now serve as acting police chief while the mayor conducts a nationwide search for O’Conner’s replacement.

O’Conner and her husband, Keith, were pulled over by Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Jacoby on November 12 at 7:30 pm when they were caught driving a golf cart on an unmarked road.

Shocking body cam footage showed O’Conner brazenly using his position to evade any penalties.

She had asked Jacoby if his camera was on, and when he confirmed that it was, O’Conner showed the unassuming agent his badge.

Jacoby later said she thought she recognized O’Connor and let her and her husband leave after a handshake.

O’Connor left her his card and a message as they walked away: “If you ever need anything, call me, seriously.”

Local reporters tried to obtain the footage, which the cops claimed they did not have, for weeks before it was finally released Thursday and O’Connor admitted to the public that he used “poor judgment in noting my position with the Tampa Police Department.” .

“I want you to hear it from me first before the news gets out,” O’Connor told the audience when the video was first released.

She said it was “the first time we had brought the golf cart onto a public road, which prompted the need for a license plate.”

“During our conversation with the officer, who knew I was being recorded on a body camera, I used poor judgment in pointing out my position with the Tampa Police Department and apologizing for our mistake,” she admitted.

O’Connor claimed at the time that while “in hindsight” the interaction might “be deemed inappropriate, that was certainly not my intention.”

The chief said she was “sorry” and offered to pay any potential citations, while apologizing to the mayor and “also to you employees of our police department.”

Mayor Jane Castor (pictured) announced Monday that she has accepted O’Connor’s resignation as police chief.

But later, Castor placed O’Connor on administrative leave before announcing that he had requested and received the resignation of the police chief.

In a statement announcing O’Connor’s removal, Castor criticized the former boss for her actions during the traffic stop.

“The Tampa Police Department has a code of conduct that includes high standards of ethical and professional conduct that apply to all members of our police force,” he said. ‘As Chief of Police, you must not only meet and enforce those standards, but also lead by example. That clearly did not happen in this case.’

Deputy Chief Lee Bercaw has been promoted to acting police chief as the nationwide search for O’Connor’s successor continues

“It is unacceptable for any public employee, and especially the city’s top police leader, to ask for special treatment because of their position.”

The mayor then went on to tout O’Connor’s accomplishments since she was promoted to police chief in March after serving with the department for 22 years.

During his time in the department, Bay News 9 reported working with the police chaplain to implement a trauma retreat and training program to help officers cope with the symptoms and stress associated with being a first responder.

She also helped launch an after school program called The RICH House (Resources in Community Hope), which serves hundreds of children across the city and helped connect adults in need with social services.

And according to her LinkedIn, O’Connor served as an instructor for the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association.

But, the mayor noted in her statement, ‘these achievements pale in comparison to the priority I place on integrity.’

He added that with acting chief Lee Bercaw “we have a thoughtful and well-respected leader in progressive policing” as the national search for a new police chief is underway.

“I’m grateful that he can go to work and continue to work with our community to keep our city safe,” Castor said.

O’Connor was promoted to police chief in March after serving with the department for 22 years.

But this isn’t the first time O’Connor has faced disciplinary action while serving the community.

In 1995, O’Connor, then Mary Minter, was a passenger when her then-boyfriend and future husband, Keith O’Connor, was pulled over on suspicion of DUI.

Keith O’Connor was charged with drunk driving, while the future chief was charged with assault on an officer, obstruction and disorderly intoxication for kicking out police car windows and striking an officer.

Mary O’Connor was eventually reinstated, working on the force until she retired in 2016 before returning to serve as chief earlier this year. She said at the time that she believed in second chances.

Later he came under scrutiny again for participating in a police program that disproportionately stopped black motorcyclists and for installing a mute feature on police body cameras.

In its resignation letter On Monday, O’Connor said he “would never want my personal mistake to get in the way of the progress I’ve made in repairing relations between the police department and the community, so I’m resigning.”

“I have every confidence that the nearly 1,000 officers who serve the city of Tampa every day with dedication and integrity will continue our mission,” he continued, adding, “Whether I wear a badge or not, my commitment to service and oath of office are still part of my daily life.’

She said that she will now use her free time to reflect and spend time with my family and children before proceeding with any future projects.

“It has been an honor to serve as your Chief of Police and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity,” O’Connor concluded.