A Florida police chief resigned on Monday after receiving backlash for using her title in an attempt to get out of a ticket.
“Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has requested and received the resignation of Police Chief Mary O’Connor, following the completion of an Internal Affairs investigation into a recent traffic stop involving O’Connor,” according to a statement from the mayor’s office.
O’Connor was put on administrative leave after body camera footage taken from a traffic stop last month revealed she told a sheriff’s deputy she was “hoping that you’ll just let us go tonight” and showed her badge, according to CNN.
O’Connor took part in illegally driving a golf cart in the streets without a license plate tag.
As the deputy explained why the couple was stopped, O’Connor asked if the deputy’s body camera was operating and then identified herself as the Tampa police chief. She then asked him to let her go and showed him her badge.
O’Connor apologized to the deputy and then gave him her business card. “If you ever need anything, call me. Seriously,” she said.
The mayor admonished O’Connor’s actions in a statement released Monday.
“The Tampa Police Department has a code of conduct that includes high standards for ethical and professional behavior that apply to every member of our police force. As the Chief of Police, you are not only to abide by and enforce those standards but to also lead by example. That clearly did not happen in this case,” Castor said.
“It is unacceptable for any public employee, and especially the city’s top law enforcement leader, to ask for special treatment because of their position.”
