Mary O'Connor

Castor offers her thoughts on several issues ahead of the March 7 Tampa mayoral election.

An internal investigation found that Mary O’Connor violated regulations involving “standard of conduct” and “abuse of position or identification” after she and her husband were pulled over.

Police Chief Mary O'Connor is under investigation after bodycam video showed her flashing her badge to a deputy during a traffic stop. Assistant Chief Lee Berkaw is acting chief.

She faced disciplinary action after showing a Pinellas County deputy her badge when she and her husband were pulled over for driving a golf cart without a license plate.

"We're not out of the woods yet," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said, while Pinellas officials say the county could experience 110 mph winds, heavy rains and storm surge through Thursday morning.

Mary O'Connor held the news conference a day after two gun-related homicides occurred two hours apart.

O'Connor is the second woman to serve as Tampa's police chief. The first was Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who picked her for the job.

The Tampa City Council voted 4-2 to confirm O'Connor, whose appointment by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor met with some opposition.

Mary O'Connor served the Tampa Police Department for 22 years and was assistant chief when she retired in 2016. In 1996, she was arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer.