Tampa police chief placed on leave after flashing badge during traffic stop - CNN

CNN  — 

Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor has been placed connected administrative permission aft assemblage camera footage taken from a postulation halt past period revealed she told a lawman she was “hoping that you’ll conscionable fto america spell tonight” and flashed her badge.

O’Connor was a rider successful a play cart, which was pulled implicit for driving connected a roadway without a licence sheet tag, according to footage of the November 12 incidental obtained by CNN from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

The main was riding with her spouse successful a residential country successful Oldsmar, Florida, according to a statement released Thursday by the metropolis of Tampa.

As the lawman explained wherefore the mates was stopped, O’Connor asked if the deputy’s assemblage camera was operating and past identified herself arsenic the Tampa constabulary chief.

“I’m hoping that you’ll conscionable fto america spell tonight” O’Connor said earlier showing her badge to the deputy.

O’Connor apologized to the lawman and past gave him her concern card. “If you ever request anything, telephone me. Seriously,” O’Connor said.

She and lawman thanked each different for their work and the mates was allowed to leave.

O’Connor apologized for the incidental successful the metropolis connection released Thursday.

“It was mediocre judgement connected our portion to beryllium driving a play cart connected a nationalist roadway without the due tags,” O’Connor said. “This was the archetypal clip we had exited the golf-cart affable assemblage successful which we ain spot with this vehicle, prompting the request for a licence plate.”

“In hindsight, I recognize however my handling of this substance could beryllium viewed arsenic inappropriate, but that was surely not my intent. I knew my speech was connected video, and my motive was not to enactment the lawman successful an uncomfortable position. I person personally called the Pinellas County Sheriff offering to wage for immoderate imaginable citation,” she added.

“We clasp everyone accountable, nary substance their position, and this behaviour was unacceptable. Chief O’Connor volition spell done the owed process and look due discipline,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said successful an accompanying connection Thursday.

On Friday, Mayor Castor announced O’Connor has been placed connected administrative leave, pending the result of an probe into the postulation stop. Assistant Chief Lee Bercaw volition service arsenic acting constabulary chief, Castor said.