Photo: Getty Images
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Tampa police Chief Mary O’Connor submitted her resignation today after an investigation into an embarrassing traffic stop in which she used her position as the top cop to get out of a ticket.
On November 12th, O'Connor and her husband were pulled over for driving a golf cart on the street without a license plate. With the officer's body cam recording, O'Connor flashed her badge and identified herself as Tampa's police chief. She then said, “I’m hoping you’ll just let us go tonight.” She also handed him a business card and told him to call her if there's anything he ever needs. The officer then sent them on their way without citing them.
When the video got out last week, Mayor Jane Castor asked her to resign, saying O'Connor violated the police department's "standard of conduct" and abused her position. In her resignation letter, O'Connor -- who came into the job earlier this year -- wrote "I would never want my personal mistake to stand in the way of the progress I have made in mending relationships between the police department and the community, so for that reason, I am resigning." The city of Tampa is now conducting a search for her replacement. (Tampa Bay Times)