Tampa Police Chief

[cernjSHU]

My reaction of this story is what a complete overreaction from public officials in this case. Police Chief was a passenger in a golf cart without a license plate that was on a street when police pulled them over. The Police Chief flashed her badge and asked to be let go. Apparently the police officer did.

Police officers have been extending courtesies to each other for ever. This was such an innocuous incident. My first question is how did this become public. My second reaction is since it did become public is this worthy of suspension and resignation? I mean to me this is like a verbal reprimand maybe a two day suspension. Just curious about how people feel about this.

Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor resigns after flashing badge and asking to be let go from a traffic stop | CNN

O'Connor was put on administrative leave after body camera footage taken from a traffic stop last month revealed she told a sheriff's deputy she was "hoping that you'll just let us go tonight" and showed her badge.

www.cnn.com

 

[HALL85]

I would tend to agree on this. I saw the body cam and while it's not right, the Police Chief was pretty courteous about it and it seemed like more of an embarrassing situation than anything else. Not like her husband was driving 100 mph...it was a golf cart.

It makes me wonder if there was something else there (political or a series of other incidents) that this became a reason to get her out. On the surface of this alone, it's pretty weak.

 

[shu09]

I agree, should be a minor reprimand. She was a passenger in a golf cart, not a driver in a vehicle doing something dangerous.

I think the reason for this escalation is the fact that the Tampa mayor is the former police chief, so there is public and political pressure on her to "do something." To 85's point, there could also be more there.

 

[ed odowd]

I have gotten out of four tickets in last two years by flashing my PBA card courtesy of friend who is cop so I am a little biased ,but reaction was overkill.

 

[Pirata]

Being the son of an NYPD detective, I witness a few occasions when the flash of the badge was met with a courtesy extended.

Separate from that, about 40 years ago I was returning from a Vermont back to Fort Devens, MA We were all active duty. We got pulled over for speeding. At that time, you could let your home state drivers license expire and show that along with your Military Id and you were OK as far as having a license.

When the trooper asked for my license, I gave him my expired NY license and my Military ID. He replied to the effect that "we are in the same line of business" and asked us to keep it close to the speed limit. Those days are gone.

 

[jmt6762]

My father was a police chief here in NJ and he gave me a stack on business cards when I got my license. It definitely got me out of tickets but the officers would call my dad the next day to let them know lol