Tampa Police Chief Resigns After Reportedly Using Badge to Get Out of Traffic Stop

TAMPA (FLV) – Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor resigned following the completion of an Internal Affairs investigation into a recent traffic stop involving the chief.

According to the investigation, O’Connor was involved in a traffic stop in Pinellas County for operating an unregistered golf cart on a public roadway. O’Connor was the passenger and her husband was driving. They were pulled over by Deputy Larry Jacoby and he cleared the stop with a verbal warning after she identified herself as police chief, showed her badge and said “I’m hoping that you’ll just let us go tonight.”

On Nov. 30, O’Connor called Tampa Mayor Jane Castor to make her aware of the incident and provided the bodycam video footage. The mayor immediately initiated an internal investigation and on Dec. 2 O’Connor was placed on administrative leave.

O’Connor released a statement apologizing for her actions and said it was “poor judgment.”

“I knew my conversation was on video, and my motive was not to put the deputy in an uncomfortable position,” said O’Connor.

Today, O’Connor sent her resignation letter to Castor.

“I would never want my personal mistake to stand in the way of the progress I have made in mending the relationships with the police department and the community, so for that reason, I am resigning,” O’Connor explained.

In 1995 O’Connor was arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop after her now husband, Keith O’Connor was pulled over and charged with a DUI. She reportedly was kicking the windows and assaulted a police officer.

O’Connor was fired from the police force, following the incident and then reinstated as a police officer the next year with a second chance.

In Castor’s statement regarding O’Connor’s resignation she said the situation is “especially disappointing” because she gave her a “second chance.”

Assistant Police Chief Lee Bercaw will now serve as acting chief.