'I'm hoping that you'll just let us go': Tampa police chief resigns after golf cart traffic stop

Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor has resigned from her position as top cop of the department after an internal affairs investigation into last month's golf cart traffic stop in which body camera video showed her displaying her credentials and saying, "I'm hoping that you'll just let us go tonight."

The Nov. 12 encounter in Pinellas County involving O'Connor's husband did not meet the level of "high standards for ethical and professional behavior that apply to every member of our police force," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement Monday morning. O'Connor's husband was behind the wheel of the golf cart, which authorities say didn't have a license plate and was being driven outside a residential area.

According to the city, Castor made the request and received the resignation letter. O'Connor wrote, "I promised that I would serve the community I love to the best of my abilities, as I did for 22 years prior to retirement, and I feel that I've done just that."

Assistant Chief Lee Bercaw will serve as acting chief while a "comprehensive national search is conducted."

"Is your camera on?" O'Connor asked the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputy after he explained why he was conducting the traffic stop at a Truist bank in Oldsmar.

[jtl-enyx]

The fact that she asked if his camera was on means the she was going to cause trouble for him if he did not let her go! The smugness is absolutely disgusting! You just know this is how she is with everyone who has to work with her!

[briobrandon]

People that think everyone in a position of power are glorified and dignified individuals really need to reassess their realities because that is so far from the truth. People with power will most of the time abuse their power either discreetly or blatantly as is the case here. The audacity is high.

[InnAdTech]

What a silly way to lose your position…

[Moellmoell]

*She resigned so she can keep her pension smh but that's how they let things happen*

[achromatic]

Tip of the iceberg! I would bet money this kind of behavior is universally rampant

[redwood]

Good riddance to a bad apple. Hope the deputy faces consequences as well for not performing his duty.

[PumpkinKingXXIII]

Asks “Is your camera on?” And still says who she is and asks for preferential treatment.

[Grendelbc]

Lol. Hard to believe when so many cops do so much worse and either get a slap on the wrist or get away with no discipline at all.

[brettdowden]

Her background check alone would disqualify anyone else from becoming an officer, much less Chief. Known quantity and performed just as expected. While I certainly believe in second chances, some offenses are not such that they should be ignored or explained away. This person committed battery on a deputy years ago during a traffic stop. Why in hell was she allowed to wear a badge again? Sometimes you get what you ask for. Another black eye for law enforcement.

[wrecker]

I swear the world is filled with DUMB people, Imagine the example she would have set for the rest of the rank and file had she kept quiet on who she was and just accept the Penalty. Not only she would still have her job but folks would say " how refreshing to not try to use her position to get out of something".

[stephenpatterson]

One down, one to go. The cop should have said I respect your position as a police chief, and with that in mind, I have to write you a ticket the same as I would for a non police chief. He did not do that, so he needs to be punished in some fashion or another.

[lombardo]

It’s just shows the inner culture of the police as a whole. This is just one of thousands of so call favors that go unreported.

[cpl.oralove]

I see nothing shocking here. This is how they operate with each other.

[appalachianqueen]

Wow, O’Connor was so confident and smug in her approach to asking the cop to pretend he didn’t see the traffic violation she and her husband were committing.

[bigquest]

Why are they not talking about her assaulting another officer and pleading guilty to it. And later being promoted to chief 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[audramuth]

I love how people who are “somebody” in their county, city …. Think they are ABOVE, regular citizens. Like listen, just bc you are chief of whatever doesn’t make you exempt from standard every day law of the streets!

[johnzajac]

The cop should have said, 'sorry, but I have to do my job'. Is that on the video?

[GACTVDX]

Here you go Polk Sheriff Gady Judd - Do your duty with your stand-up press comedy with this former Tampa Police Chief.

[manipetty]

what a wonderful service that we all pay taxes on

[alanmorris]

Who really cares that she has "resigned?" All she's going to do is go to a different county and land another job in law enforcement. She needs to be prohibited from applying for a job in law enforcement throughout the entire State of Florida! I've lost all respect for our police agencies.