TAMPA, Fla. (AP) 鈥 The police chief of Tampa has been placed on leave after a video emerged of her flashing her badge from the passenger seat of a golf cart to get out of a traffic ticket.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor placed Chief Mary O'Connor on administrative leave Friday pending an investigation of the Nov. 12 traffic stop in Oldsmar, a city northwest of Tampa.
The , posted online by the Tampa Police Department, shows O'Connor's husband driving the cart and the chief in the passenger seat when a Pinellas County sheriff鈥檚 deputy pulls them over for not having a tag.
鈥淚s your camera on?鈥 O'Connor said. 鈥淚'm the police chief in Tampa.鈥
鈥淚'm hoping that you'll just let us go tonight,鈥 she says, showing the deputy her badge.
The deputy let them leave without a ticket, saying 鈥渋t's nice meeting you.鈥
In a , O'Connor said it was 鈥減oor judgement鈥 for them to have taken the cart out on public roads without a tag. She said it was the first time they had driven it outside of a golf cart-friendly community where they own property.
鈥淎s someone who has dealt with, taken ownership of and grown from my past mistakes, I know that no one is above the law, including me,鈥 she said.
The mayor said an internal review is underway. Assistant Chief Lee Bercaw will serve as acting chief.
鈥淲e hold everyone accountable, no matter their position, and this behavior was unacceptable," Castor said. "Chief O鈥機onnor will go through the due process and face appropriate discipline.鈥
