police chief resigns in disgrace after pulling rank during golf cart ... trends now

police chief resigns in disgrace after pulling rank during golf cart ... trends now
Tampa police chief resigns in disgrace after pulling rank during golf cart ... trends now

Tampa police chief resigns in disgrace after pulling rank during golf cart ... trends now

The police chief of one of Florida's largest cities was forced to resign in disgrace after she was caught on camera asking a deputy to 'let her go' from a traffic stop.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced on Monday that she has 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 7.30pm, when they were caught driving a golf cart on a road without a license plate tag.

She tried to pull rank on the deputy, body camera footage from the traffic stop revealed, asking him whether his camera was on before telling Jacoby:  'I'm the police chief from Tampa... I'm hoping that you'll just let us go tonight.'

Assistant Police Chief Lee Bercaw will now serve as the interim police chief as the mayor conducts a nationwide search for O'Conner's replacement.

Police Chief Mary O'Connor was forced to resign in disgrace after body camera footage revealed how she tried to pull rank on a sheriff's deputy to get out of a traffic stop

Police Chief Mary O'Connor was forced to resign in disgrace after body camera footage revealed how she tried to pull rank on a sheriff's deputy to get out of a traffic stop

O'Conner and her husband, Keith, were pulled over by Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Jacoby on November 12 at 7.30pm, when they were caught driving a golf cart on a road without a license plate tag

O'Conner and her husband, Keith, were pulled over by Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Jacoby on November 12 at 7.30pm, when they were caught driving a golf cart on a road without a license plate tag 

The shocking body camera footage showed how O'Conner brazenly used her position to skirt any penalties.

She had asked Jacoby whether his camera was on, and when he confirmed that it was, O'Conner flashed her badge at the unassuming deputy.

Jacoby then said he thought he recognized O'Connor, and let her and her husband go after a handshake. 

O'Connor left him with her card and a message as they drove away: 'If you ever need anything call me - serious.'

Local reporters had tried to get the footage, which cops claimed not to have, for weeks before it was finally released on Thursday with O'Connor admitting to the public that she used 'poor judgment by noting my position at the Tampa Police Department.'

'I want you to hear it from me first prior to news stories circulating,' O'Connor told the public when the video was first released.

She said it was 'the first time we had ever taken the golf cart onto a public roadway, prompting the need for a license plate.

'During our conversation with the deputy, which I knew was being recorded on body-worn camera, I used poor judgment by noting my position at the Tampa Police Department and asking him for forgiveness for our mistake,' she admitted.

O'Connor claimed at the time that while 'in hindsight' the interaction could be 'viewed as inappropriate, that was certainly not my intent.'

The chief said she was 'remorseful' and has offered to pay for any potential citation, while also apologizing to the mayor and 'to you employees of our police department as well.'

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

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

But in the aftermath, Castor placed O'Connor on administrative leave before announcing that

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