Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor resigns after flashing her badge to escape ticket during golf cart traffic stop

CBS News ^ | 12 5 2022 | not stated

[Stingray51]

The police chief in Tampa, Florida, resigned Monday after using her position to escape a ticket during a traffic stop involving a golf cart driven by her husband. …. During that stop — which was recorded on video by the deputy's body camera — O'Connor identified herself as the Tampa chief, flashed her badge and said, "I'm hoping you will let us go tonight." … f The deputy issued only a verbal warning instead of a citation. The golf cart did not have a license tag, a requirement for when such vehicles are driven on public streets. O'Connor's husband, Keith, said they had just come from a restaurant and didn't usually drive the cart on streets. …

[heartwood]

I was always only given a warning when I was on the rescue squad, the local cops recognized me, I didn’t ask. Same benefit forthe volunteer firefighters.

Of course they always let me off with a warning even before I was on the squad, and in other towns.

[nickcarraway]

Got it. I just meant I was sure a non=LEO would get a ticket for this.

[Bonemaker]

Professional courtesy. Happens all the time all over the country...unless something really nasty happened. I have a feeling the Chiefette was despised by rank and file.

[gloryblaze]

And despised, too.

j/k

[Iron Munro]

The city of Tampa is hard core leftist democrat.

And it’s normal behavior for democrat big-wigs everywhere to expect (and get) preferential treatment.

After all - laws are made for the little people.....

I imagine she was taken aback with the outcome of her attempt to use her position to receive special treatment.

After all - if she didn’t expect it to work she wouldn’t have taken the “Do You Know Who I Am” route.

[Fido969]

If her husband wasn’t there, she would have flashed something else and gotten off.

[Leaning Right]

Same as it ever was. The only difference is that now most cops are wearing body cameras. So it’s not as easy for corrupt cops to flash the badge these days.

Oh, and since we’re on the subject, where is the body cam video from the cops who answered Paul Pelosi’s 911 call?

[drSteve78]

I think that revealing active law enforcement status is no less important that one revealing concealed carry.

This woman should have received a warning or a citation and a fine. They were Riding in a golf cart for crying out loud, and we have looters and shoplifters everywhere.

I’ve gotten warnings about speeding because of my name, and once the fact that my spouse and MIL were nagging the hell out of me, and i told the deputy, and he laughed. And gave me a warning.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m gonna guess that one or both were drunk as skunks, and they knew it, and they drove a golf cart drunk, thinking that that isn’t as bad as driving a car in their inebriated state.

And now you know...the REST of the story. ;)

[thefactor]

Answering questions with a question is a great tactic.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m gonna guess that one or both were drunk as skunks, and they knew it, and they drove a golf cart drunk, thinking that that isn’t as bad as driving a car in their inebriated state.

And now you know...the REST of the story. ;)

[drSteve78]

Are your fire extinguishers out of date? Or your smoke detectors? Likely breaking a law somewhere.
And never, NEVER jaywalk. Oh, okay. /s

[unread]

"Next up- A BLACK MALE!"

Nah.. It'll be a female, black of course..

[Leaning Right]

> “Not after ringing out the body cam is on and you are disposed by the troops.” <

Autocorrect strikes again. But I kinda liked this original version better.
It was more mysterious.

[Celtic Conservative]

Stupid thing to lose your job over. I had a 25 year career in law enforcement and the only thing I ever “flipped tin” for was a LE discount at a sporting goods store. And technically even that was discouraged.

CC

[Celtic Conservative]

Sounds like the golfcart incident was perhaps the straw that broke the camel’s back.

CC

[GLDNGUN]

I thought it was the norm as well. Isn't it professional courtesy to ID yourself as LEO in a situation like this? If she hadn't and the cop caught grief from his supervisor for ticketing her, he would have thought "why didn't she just tell me she was a cop!?"

I have cop friends and family, including a Chief of Police. He told me that he has avoided tickets before by showing his badge.

I once got pulled over for speeding right outside a cafe that I had driven to, to meet a cop friend. After getting written up, my friend came out of the Cafe and talked to the cop who pulled me over and ticketed me. The cop came back to my car and asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were meeting with (cop name)? I wouldn't have written you the ticket!"

My thought was I didn't want to put my friend in a tight spot. It was my problem.

Bottom line is I don't have a problem with a cop using discretion when deciding to write a ticket for a minor traffic offense, and taking into account what the offender does for a living, especially if it's something like a cop, EMT, etc.

I also know guys who have avoided tickets for being a war veteran. Are those who can't stand cops getting "special treatment" as outraged when a vet gets the special treatment?

[TexasGator]

“Answering questions with a question is a great tactic.”

You question was not directed to me. I had no obligation to answer it.

However, my question was directed to you and you deflected.

[nickcarraway]

Can I call them gentiles or laypeople?

[Lurker]

Don’t put words in my mouth.

L