Monday, the police chief of Tampa, Florida, resigned after exploiting her position to avoid a penalty during a traffic encounter involving her husband’s golf cart.
Mary O’Connor tendered her retirement following the conclusion of an internal affairs investigation that she violated police department policy on November 12 during an encounter with a Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy.
During the stop, which was captured on film by the deputy’s body camera, O’Connor introduced herself as the chief of Tampa, presented her badge, and said, “Please let us leave tonight.”
RAW: The Tampa police chief and his wife were seen driving a golf cart without a license plate by 10 Tampa Bay on YouTube.
The deputy just gave a verbal caution and not a ticket. The golf cart lacked a license plate, which is required when such vehicles are used on public roadways. Keith, the husband of O’Connor, explained that they had just left a restaurant and did not often drive the cart on streets.
The internal investigation revealed that O’Connor, who had been on the job for less than a year, had breached standards of behavior and “abuse of position or identification” restrictions.
“The Tampa Police Department has a code of conduct that includes high standards for ethical and professional conduct that apply to every member of our police force,” said Mayor Jane Castor, a former Tampa police chief, in a statement asking the resignation. “In addition to abiding by and enforcing these standards as Chief of Police, you are also expected to set a good example. Clearly, this did not occur in this instance.”
Castor nominated assistant chief Lee Bercaw as acting chief until a countrywide search is conducted.
“Lee Bercaw is a well-considered and highly esteemed pioneer in innovative policing. I am thankful that he can hit the ground running and continue working with our community to ensure the safety of our city “Castor declared in his statement.
O’Connor released an apology statement last week for her behavior.
She stated, “In hindsight, I see how my handling of this problem may be perceived as wrong, but that was not my intention.”
In her resignation letter, O’Connor boasted of her successes as chief of police, but also accepted responsibility for her conduct.
“I would never want my personal error to impede the work I’ve achieved in rebuilding ties between the police department and the community,” she wrote. “Therefore, I am retiring.”
»Police chief steps down after avoiding a traffic ticket by displaying badge«