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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

Posted on 12/06/2022 3:03:04 PM PST by 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. …

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: corruption; fl; florida; police
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To: Stingray51

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.


21 posted on 12/06/2022 3:17:52 PM PST by heartwood (Someone has to play devil's advocate.)
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To: Stingray51

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


22 posted on 12/06/2022 3:20:13 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: Stingray51

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.


23 posted on 12/06/2022 3:20:40 PM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: TexasGator

And despised, too.

j/k


24 posted on 12/06/2022 3:21:40 PM PST by gloryblaze
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To: Lurker

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.


25 posted on 12/06/2022 3:23:32 PM PST by Iron Munro ((Liberalism is the philosophy of sniveling brats. - P.J. ORourke))
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To: Stingray51

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


26 posted on 12/06/2022 3:25:16 PM PST by Fido969 (45 is Superman! )
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To: Stingray51

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?


27 posted on 12/06/2022 3:26:19 PM PST by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: Stingray51

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.


28 posted on 12/06/2022 3:26:29 PM PST by drSteve78 (Je suis Deplorable STILL)
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To: Stingray51; All

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. ;)


29 posted on 12/06/2022 3:26:55 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: TexasGator

Answering questions with a question is a great tactic.


30 posted on 12/06/2022 3:27:06 PM PST by thefactor
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To: Stingray51; All

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. ;)


31 posted on 12/06/2022 3:27:22 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Lurker

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


32 posted on 12/06/2022 3:28:52 PM PST by drSteve78 (Je suis Deplorable STILL )
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To: Dr. Ursus
"Next up- A BLACK MALE!"

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

33 posted on 12/06/2022 3:29:46 PM PST by unread ("It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required." W. Churchill.)
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To: TexasGator

> “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.


34 posted on 12/06/2022 3:29:50 PM PST by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: Stingray51

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


35 posted on 12/06/2022 3:32:09 PM PST by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV.)
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To: TexasGator

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

CC


36 posted on 12/06/2022 3:34:47 PM PST by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV.)
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To: Stingray51
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?
37 posted on 12/06/2022 3:36:10 PM PST by GLDNGUN
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To: thefactor

“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.


38 posted on 12/06/2022 3:38:39 PM PST by TexasGator (!!!)
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To: Stingray51

Can I call them gentiles or laypeople?


39 posted on 12/06/2022 3:44:28 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: thefactor

Don’t put words in my mouth.

L


40 posted on 12/06/2022 3:46:05 PM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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