Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor stepped down from her position after the mayor requested her resignation.
Mayor Jane Castor announced on Twitter that she requested and received the resignation of O’Connor on Monday.
O’Connor was placed on administrative leave on Friday after a video surfaced showing her flashing her badge during a golf cart traffic stop. She is seen on the Pinellas County deputy’s body camera saying, “I’m the police chief of Tampa” at the deputy after asking him if his body camera is on.
TAMPA POLICE CHIEF APOLOGIZES FOR FLASHING BADGE TO GET OUT OF GOLF CART STOP
After he asked how she was doing, O’Connor said, “I’m doing good. I’m hoping that you’ll just let us go tonight.” She had been stopped for not having license plates on the golf cart. O’Connor had voluntarily reached out to the Tampa Police Professional Standards Bureau, which launched an internal review.
Castor said in her statement that it is unacceptable for any public employee, especially the city’s top law enforcement official, to ask for special treatment due to their position.
“This is especially disappointing because I gave Mary O’Connor a second chance, as I believe in second chances for people,” Castor wrote. “Which is one of the reasons that the disappointment today runs so deep.”
She added that she had high hopes for the police chief because she was off to “such a strong start” in reducing violent gun crime and engaging with the community.
“But these accomplishments pale in comparison to the priority I place on integrity,” Castor said.
The second chance refers to charges she faced as a rookie police officer when she pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and obstruction. She had been fired from the Tampa Police Department in an incident that she called “immature” and “unfortunate.”
Despite the incident, O’Connor was Castor’s pick for police chief in February, when she was hired.
I requested and received the resignation of @TampaPD Chief Mary O’Connor. Assistant Chief Lee Bercaw will serve as acting chief while a comprehensive national search is conducted. pic.twitter.com/xRvkclaT8z
— Jane Castor (@JaneCastor) December 5, 2022
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The Tampa Police Department wrote that it does not want the resignation of O’Connor to be a
distraction from the “skilled work and professionalism” the department provides to the community every day.
“We want our community to know that our dedication to protecting our residents and building relationships wit those we serve will continue through the nearly 1,400 dedicated public servants of #YourTampaPD,” the department wrote on Twitter.
Assistant Chief Lee Bercaw will serve as interim chief while a national search is conducted, Castor said. Bercaw has worked for the department for 25 years, according to Bay News 9.
