Tampa police chief placed on leave after bodycam video shows her flashing badge during traffic stop

[Leroy N. Soetoro]

https://www.foxnews.com/us/tampa-police-chief-placed-leave-bodycam-video-
shows-her-flashing-badge-during-traffic-stop

Tampa, Florida's police chief has been placed on administrative leave
after body camera footage revealed her flashing her badge during a traffic
stop and saying she hoped the deputy would "let us go."

Police Chief Mary O’Connor and her husband were pulled over by a Pinellas
County deputy for driving a golf cart without a license plate tag on Nov.
12.

In the video, the deputy explains to the couple that they were pulled over
for driving an unlicensed vehicle without the tag on it.

During the stop, O’Connor asked the deputy if his body-worn camera was
recording. The deputy responded, "It is."

O'Connor states, "I’m the police chief in Tampa," while flashing her law
enforcement badge.

"I’m hoping you’ll just let us go tonight," she added.

"If you ever need anything, call me," O’Connor said, handing the deputy
her card. "Seriously."

The couple was let go.

O'Connor released a statement after the video was released, saying her
actions were a result of "poor judgment" to have been driving on a public
road without appropriate tags. She said she realized her handling of it
could be viewed as inappropriate.

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"It was poor judgment on our part to be driving a golf cart on a public
roadway without the appropriate tags. This was the first time we had
exited the golf-cart friendly community in which we own property with this
vehicle, prompting the need for a license plate," O’Connor said. "In
hindsight, I realize how my handling of this matter could be viewed as
inappropriate, but that was certainly not my intent. I knew my
conversation was on video, and my motive was not to put the deputy in an
uncomfortable position. I have personally called the Pinellas County
Sheriff offering to pay for any potential citation."

She added, "I have expressed great remorse to the mayor, and I apologize
to the residents of Tampa who have a reasonable expectation of better
judgment from their chief of police. As someone who has dealt with, taken
ownership of and grown from my past mistakes, I know that no one is above
the law, including me."

On Friday afternoon, Mayor Jane Castor released a statement about the
incident, stating the O'Connor has been placed on administrative leave
pending the outcome of an investigation into the traffic stop.

Assistant Chief Lee Bercaw is serving as acting chief in Tampa during
O'Connor's leave, Castor said.

Comments:

MarkBinder716
21 hours ago

It is common for LE officers to show another LE officer their ID when
pulled over, so the officer knows who he is dealing with.

But don't ever ask for them to "let it go". Anyone in LE knows better than
to break the law. They should hold themselves to a higher standard than
the general public.

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