{"id":27621,"date":"2022-12-05T18:01:37","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T23:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=27621"},"modified":"2022-12-05T18:01:42","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T23:01:42","slug":"tampa-police-chief-resigns-after-footage-shows-her-flashing-badge-in-golf-cart-traffic-stop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2022\/12\/05\/tampa-police-chief-resigns-after-footage-shows-her-flashing-badge-in-golf-cart-traffic-stop\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa police chief resigns after footage shows her flashing badge in golf cart traffic stop"},"content":{"rendered":"        <div id=\"ep-gutenberg-content-0ace75c1e64802b83decf6f8aa1b52ad\" class=\"ep-gutenberg-content aligncenter ep-percentage-width   ep-content-protection-disabled\" data-embed-type=\"PDF\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/OConnor-Resignation-Letter.pdf\">\n            <div class=\"embedpress-inner-iframe emebedpress-unit-percent ep-doc-0ace75c1e64802b83decf6f8aa1b52ad\" style=\"max-width:600%\" id=\"embedpress-pdf-1670281108994\">\n                <div >\n                    <div class=\"ep-embed-content-wraper\"><div class=\"position-right-wraper gutenberg-pdf-wraper\"><iframe title=\"OConnor-Resignation-Letter\" class=\"embedpress-embed-document-pdf embedpress-pdf-1670281108994\" style=\"width:600%;height:600px; max-width:100%; display: inline-block\" src=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/embedpress\/assets\/pdf\/web\/viewer.html?&#038;file=https%3A%2F%2Flakelandgazette.info%2Fnews%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F12%2FOConnor-Resignation-Letter.pdf#key=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\" frameborder=\"0\" oncontextmenu=\"return false;\"><\/iframe> <\/div><\/div>                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mayor Jane Castor said she accepted the resignation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It is unacceptable for any public employee, and especially the city&#8217;s top law enforcement leader, to ask for special treatment because of their position. Public trust in Tampa&#8217;s police department is paramount to our success as a city and community,&#8221; Castor said in a statement. &#8220;This is especially disappointing because I gave Mary O\u2019Connor a second chance, as I believe in second chances for people. Which is one of the reasons that the disappointment today runs so deep.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"465\" height=\"332\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 465px) 100vw, 465px\" src=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/4905.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27624\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I had high hope for Chief O\u2019Connor,&#8221; she added. &#8220;She was off to such a strong start by reducing violent gun crime, proactively engaging with our community, and focusing on officer wellness. But these accomplishments pale in comparison to the priority I place on integrity.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mayor sat for a one-on-one interview a few hours after accepting O&#8217;Connor&#8217;s resignation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if betrayal is the word, but disappointment,&#8221; Castor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She said she gave O&#8217;Connor a second chance after a contentious selection process that highlighted O&#8217;Connor&#8217;s leadership skills, but also her arrest from 1995 after which the rookie cop was fired and reinstated for battering a Hillsborough County sheriff&#8217;s deputy during a traffic stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I think that she was a good choice, and I provide those second chances,&#8221; said Castor. &#8220;You can never know what decisions individuals are going to make down the road. Clearly she made a very poor decision.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The body camera video was released Thursday after&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cltampa.com\/news\/body-cam-footage-shows-tampa-police-chief-using-position-to-get-out-of-traffic-violation-14664104\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Creative Loafing Tampa Bay first uncovered the traffic stop<\/a>. Castor put O&#8217;Connor on administrative leave the following day for the investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"506\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" src=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/221201-tampa-police-chief-Mary-O-Connor-snip-ac-1109p-a99b93.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27623\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to investigators, Mary O&#8217;Connor and her husband were riding in a golf cart without a license plate outside a residential area in Oldsmar on Nov. 12. They were outside a golf cart-friendly neighborhood when they were stopped, along East Lake Road and Woodlands Parkway around 7:24 p.m. The deputy&#8217;s body camera was rolling during the encounter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the video, the deputy explains to the couple that they were pulled over for an unregistered golf cart. O&#8217;Connor is also seen showing her badge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Is your camera on?&#8221; she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It is,&#8221; the deputy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I&#8217;m the police chief in Tampa,&#8221; O&#8217;Connor stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Oh, how are you doing?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I&#8217;m doing good\u2026I&#8217;m hoping you&#8217;ll just let us go tonight.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moments later, the deputy is heard saying, &#8220;All right, well, take care and it was nice meeting you.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then O&#8217;Connor handed the deputy her business card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;If you need anything, call me. I&#8217;m serious,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked to comment on the incident, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told reporters, &#8220;Deputy Larry Jacoby did absolutely nothing wrong. I stand by him 100%. The person who did wrong was Mary O&#8217;Connor.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gualtieri said the video showed that while O&#8217;Connor &#8220;asked for a favor,&#8221; Jacoby did not give her one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of the 91,000 traffic stops conducted so far this year by Pinellas deputies, just 16,000 have resulted in traffic citations, according to Gualtieri. Most stops end with warnings, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s a golf cart, they were about 100 yards from their gated community,&#8221; the Pinellas sheriff said. &#8220;The outcome wouldn&#8217;t have been any different if she had just kept her mouth shut\u2026 That&#8217;s a warning all day long.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He added that O&#8217;Connor seeking special treatment was &#8220;unethical, it&#8217;s wrong, and she&#8217;s paying the consequence for that.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/static.fox13news.com\/www.fox13news.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/TPD-OOConnor-Final-Disposition-Letter.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the full report here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Sunday, the investigation by the department&#8217;s professional standards department was completed, finding that O&#8217;Connor violated the standard code of conduct and abused her position as the chief. The final disposition report was signed by Bercaw, the acting police chief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Chief O&#8217;Connor used her official position and her badge for obtaining privileges, not otherwise available, in an attempt to avoid the issuance of a traffic citation,&#8221; the report stated. &#8220;The actions compromised the professionalism, ethics, and objectives of the Police Chief and the City of Tampa.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mayor Castor says they&#8217;ll look nationwide for a new chief, as they did last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We will ensure that the community is involved, city council, that everyone has the ability to meet the candidates as we did before,&#8221; Castor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New interim chief Lee Bercaw sat with the mayor during her interview, and indicated he would be interested in the top job. But his current focus is providing leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Officers know their integrity and ethics, and what happened here is a constant reminder of the professionalism and ethics they have to maintain,&#8221; Bercaw said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mayor Jane Castor said she accepted the resignation. &#8220;It is unacceptable for any public employee, and especially the city&#8217;s top law enforcement leader, to ask for special treatment because of&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","default_image_id":71799,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[17],"tags":[3990],"class_list":["post-27621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-regional-and-world-news","tag-tampa-police-chief-resigns"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27621\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}