Tampa council members react to police Chief Mary O'Connor's resignation - Tampa Bay Times

TAMPA — Council member Charlie Miranda said he voted for Mary O’Connor for police chief in April because “there was no other choice.

Gudes said he won’t “bash” Castor over her poor choice for police chief, even though he was one of two votes against O’Connor in an April council confirmation vote.

He said that the mayor needs to learn from “this mistake” and build consensus with “the council and community on important issues.”.

Council member Lynn Hurtak, who was appointed to the City Council after John Dingfelder’s resignation and who wasn’t on the board when O’Connor was picked as police chief, weighed in by issuing a statement.

I look forward to City Council having the opportunity to approve a new police chief who will continue the department’s renewed focus on community engagement and officers’ mental and physical health,” the statement read

Council member Luis Viera, who has backed Castor on many issues since her 2019 election, said Florida’s third-largest city needs to step up its game